Cloud86 web hosting review 2026

Choosing the right hosting plan

The technical requirements for web hosting vary depending on the project. That is why we first analyse the solutions offered by Cloud86 in order to find the webspace package that best suits our needs. The focus here is on choosing the optimal option for our specific goal: building a WordPress website.

Cloud86 offers a range of different webspace packages. In addition to classic shared hosting plans, Cloud86 also provides dedicated Managed WordPress and Managed WooCommerce packages with extensive features and premium support. Furthermore, Cloud86 offers Managed VPS plans as a high-performance hosting option for customers who need their own server. The Cloud86 portfolio is rounded off by a wide range of domain options and several email solutions.

For our Cloud86 web hosting test, we chose a classic shared hosting package – the Webhosting Start plan.

The classic shared hosting plans at Cloud86 are divided into three tiers, which differ in terms of the resources provided:

• Webhosting Start comes with 5 GB of SSD storage and can be used for up to 2 websites. It also includes 5 databases and allows the creation of 10 email addresses. With this plan, customers have to accept a low performance level in terms of available system resources.
• Webhosting Medium includes 50 GB of SSD storage and can be used for up to 5 websites. It also provides 10 databases and allows up to 50 email addresses. With this plan, customers can expect a medium performance level in terms of available system resources.
• Webhosting Power offers 100 GB of SSD storage and can be used for up to 10 websites. It also includes 20 databases and allows unlimited email addresses. With this plan, customers benefit from a high performance level in terms of available system resources.

For our Cloud86 web hosting test, we chose the Webhosting Start plan.

Features

All Cloud86 plans come with fast SSD storage. On the entry-level plan, however, the storage is rather limited at just 5 GB, while the higher tiers with 50 GB and 100 GB are much more generous.

On the lowest tier, traffic is limited to 250 GB. This is a restriction that is rarely seen these days. It is also unclear what happens when the limit is reached or exceeded. According to the terms and conditions (Article 7.1 ff.), the provider may upgrade the plan to a higher tier in this case, which would involve additional costs. The two higher tiers, as expected, come with unlimited traffic.

Databases are available on all plans. Even the Start plan includes 5 databases, although the number of websites per account is limited to 2. On the highest tier, there are 20 databases, with a maximum of 10 websites per account.

On the entry-level plan, 10 email addresses can be created; the mid-tier allows 50 email addresses; and on the top-tier plan, the number of email addresses is unlimited.

Cloud86 specifies a performance level for each of the three plans, ranging from “low” to “medium” and “high”. This refers to the available system resources such as CPU and RAM, although exact values are not disclosed.

A free migration service for moving existing websites, databases, and email accounts to Cloud86 is included with all web hosting plans except the Webhosting Start plan.

What technical features are included?

Cloud86 web hosting benefits from HTTP/2 and HTTP/3, including improved page loading times through more efficient use of connections and reduced latency via multiplexing and header compression with HTTP/2, as well as further optimised transfer speeds and better resilience to packet loss via the QUIC protocol with HTTP/3. The WordPress Toolkit provides a management tool that simplifies the installation, configuration, and administration of WordPress websites, while the WordPress staging environment allows changes to be tested before being applied to the live site. LiteSpeed Cache accelerates website loading times through efficient server-side caching, improving performance and user experience. Via LiteSpeed Cache, the QUIC.cloud CDN can also be used optionally to speed up content delivery worldwide by serving content from servers closer to end users. With the modern Plesk control panel, customers can manage their Cloud86 hosting easily and intuitively.

What security features are included?

Free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates can be used for all domains hosted with Cloud86, ensuring secure data transmission at all times. Anti-spam and antivirus solutions protect email accounts by filtering spam messages and scanning emails for viruses and malware. These tools help secure communications and reduce the risk of cyberattacks. Automatic DDoS protection helps safeguard websites against traffic-based attacks. Cloud86 also creates automatic backups every 24 hours. These are retained for 7 days and can be restored to the webspace at any time to recover lost or changed data.

Verdict on the feature set

Cloud86 web hosting offers an attractive feature set and a solid overall configuration with fast SSD storage, plenty of databases, and generous email allowances. Customers benefit from numerous options, including security features such as automatic backups, performance-enhancing measures like caching solutions, and user-friendly tools such as the Plesk control panel and the WordPress Toolkit. Only the entry-level plan falls short with just 5 GB of storage, and the traffic limit there is an unnecessary restriction. The included domain being free only in the first year is another area where a more generous offer would be welcome.

Pros

• All plans include SSD storage
• Extensive technical features and user-friendly tools
• Automatic backups

Cons

• Traffic limit and very limited storage on the entry-level plan
• Domain only free in the first year

Next, let’s take a look at the ordering process and the setup of the webspace.

Cloud86 Web Hosting – Ordering process

Via the Web Hosting menu, you can access an overview of the individual Cloud86 webspace packages. Here, you can choose one of the three available plans that best suits your project. The ordering process starts with a click on the “Order” button.

First, you need to choose a domain for your webspace. Cloud86 offers two options: you can register a new domain, which is included free of charge for the first year as part of the plan, or you can specify an existing domain that can later be transferred to Cloud86.

In the next step, you are shown an order summary and can choose the length of the first billing cycle. You can select between 12 and 36 months, which also changes the total price of the webspace package accordingly. Click “Next step” to continue.

You then need to enter your personal details and billing address, and set a password for your Cloud86 customer account. At the bottom of the order form, you can choose your payment method. The available options include credit card, PayPal, Apple Pay, Sofort, and Giropay. By clicking “Checkout”, you are taken to the payment page to complete your order.

Done! Once the order has been paid, it is processed immediately and your webspace package is set up. You are automatically logged into your Cloud86 customer account, where you can start configuring your hosting straight away.

Cloud86 Web Hosting – Setting up the webspace

Via the Cloud86 customer account, you can manage your contracts and products. For example, you can register domains, order, renew, or cancel webspace packages, view your customer details and invoices, or open support tickets. The interface is modern and clearly structured. From here, you can also access the Plesk control panel to manage the technical aspects of your webspace.

The Plesk Control Panel is used for the technical administration of your webspace. Here, you can create email addresses and mailboxes, manage databases, assign domains, or install software applications. You can also run backups and security scans or view usage statistics. An integrated file manager is available as well. The graphical interface of the control panel is modern and user-friendly.

Installing the WordPress CMS on the webspace

For our Cloud86 web hosting test, we installed the popular content management system WordPress on the webspace. To do this, we opened the WordPress Toolkit via the “WordPress” section in the Plesk Control Panel.

For the installation, you only need to specify a few details, such as the installation path and the login details for WordPress and the database. The installation then runs automatically and is completed in just a few seconds. You can then log directly into the WordPress interface and start building your website.

Verdict on ease of use

The ordering process at Cloud86 is quick and straightforward, and the hosting is activated immediately after the order without any additional verification by customer support. Another plus point is the wide range of available payment options. The Cloud86 customer area features a modern and well-organised design, which makes managing your account easy. The technical administration of the hosting via the Plesk Control Panel, as well as installing software such as WordPress using the auto-installer, is also very simple and does not require any technical prior knowledge.

Pros

• Fast and straightforward ordering process
• Multiple payment methods available
• Modern user interfaces with intuitive operation

Cons

• None

To assess the performance of Cloud86 web hosting, we take a closer look at uptime and loading times. For this purpose, we use well-known tools such as Google PageSpeed Insights, the Pingdom Website Speed Test, and the Uptrends Website Speed Test.

Cloud86 Web Hosting – Uptime

The performance of a web hosting service can be judged primarily by its uptime. This indicator can be monitored using a website monitoring tool and provides insight into the reliability of the services offered. A website needs to be available at all times, so uptime should be as close to 100 per cent as possible. Although a perfect 100 per cent is practically unachievable due to necessary maintenance windows, hosting providers still aim for the highest possible availability.

According to its terms and conditions, Cloud86 guarantees an annual average server uptime of 99.98%.

Cloud86 Web Hosting uptime test:
Unfortunately, the chart cannot currently be displayed.

Cloud86 Web Hosting – Loading times

Loading times are another key factor when evaluating the performance of a web hosting service. Short loading times are beneficial, as visitors do not want to wait long for a website’s content to load. To assess performance, we use several metrics:

TTFB (Time to First Byte)

The TTFB (Time to First Byte) metric measures the server’s response time by calculating the time between requesting a resource and receiving the first byte of the response.

This is how Cloud86 performs in the TTFB measurement compared to other hosting providers:

LCP (Largest Contentful Paint)

The LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) metric measures the rendering time of the largest image or text block in the viewport, which usually corresponds to the moment when the main content of the page has loaded.

This is how Cloud86 performs in the LCP measurement compared to other hosting providers:

PageSpeed

The PageSpeed metric indicates how long it takes for the entire website to load in the browser.

This is how Cloud86 performs in the PageSpeed measurement compared to other hosting providers:

Metrics and scoring

Good = 3 points | Average = 2 points | Poor = 1 point

Uptime:
Good: 100% | Average: 99% to 98% | Poor: below 97%

TTFB:
Good: below 300 ms | Average: 300 ms to 500 ms | Poor: above 500 ms

LCP:
Good: below 1,500 ms | Average: 1,500 ms to 2,500 ms | Poor: above 2,500 ms

PageSpeed:
Good: below 500 ms | Average: 500 ms to 1,000 ms | Poor: above 1,000 ms

With a measured 100% uptime, Cloud86 web hosting performs very well and receives 3 points in this category.
With a value of 0.077 s for TTFB, Cloud86 web hosting also performs very well and receives 3 points.
With a value of 0.9 s for LCP, Cloud86 web hosting performs well and receives 3 points.
With a value of 0.167 s for PageSpeed, Cloud86 web hosting again performs very well and receives 3 points.

Overall, Cloud86 web hosting achieves 12 out of 12 points for performance, which corresponds to a 5-star rating.

How does Cloud86 perform overall compared with other web hosts?

Verdict on performance

In terms of performance, Cloud86 web hosting meets all expectations for speed and reliability. The measured values for connections from Europe are very low, meaning visitors can expect very fast loading times. Uptime is also at the top level, with an overall result of 100%. Overall, Cloud86 web hosting delivers an excellent performance result.

Pros

• Very low loading times
• Excellent uptime

Cons

• None

Cloud86 customers have access to several support options if they have questions or run into problems. You can either contact a support agent directly by phone or submit your request in writing via email or the ticket system. Cloud86’s support team also helps with specific questions about WordPress or performance-related topics. In addition, the Cloud86 website features a comprehensive help centre with detailed guides on a wide range of subjects.

Cloud86 customer support

If you want to speak directly to a support agent, you can reach the support hotline on weekdays from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Alternatively, you can submit your request in writing via email, the contact form, or directly through the ticket system in your customer account. Written enquiries are answered on weekdays between 9:00 am and 9:00 pm within two hours. On weekdays between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, the live chat function in the customer area is also available.

Cloud86 help centre

If you prefer to look for a solution yourself, the help centre on the Cloud86 website offers an extensive collection of guides and tutorials covering a wide range of topics. You can find information on administrative tasks, such as transferring a domain, as well as technical settings, for example setting up an email mailbox.

Our experience with Cloud86 customer support

As part of our Cloud86 web hosting test (March 2024), we were able to gather our own experience with Cloud86’s support team. Our enquiries were answered promptly and competently.

Verdict on customer support

Cloud86 offers a solid support setup. Direct communication with customer support is possible per Livechat. On weekdays during business hours, Cloud86 impresses with fast response times and competent answers to support requests. Unfortunately, telephone support is only available on weekdays during business hours. The extensive help centre on the website provides detailed information and practical guides on a wide range of topics.

Pros

• Fast response times to support requests, including WordPress and performance-related topics
• Direct contact with support possible per Livechat
• Extensive help centre with detailed guides

Cons

• Telephone support only available on weekdays

In the final part of the Cloud86 web hosting review, we take a closer look at the costs and the price-to-performance ratio.

Key contract details

Cloud86 offers its webspace plans with contract terms of either 1 year or 3 years. With the longer term, customers benefit from lower promotional prices during the initial contract period. After this initial period, the packages are renewed at the regular price. Cancellation is possible at any time with one month’s notice. There is no setup fee.

Cloud86 also provides a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing customers to test the packages risk-free.

It should be noted that the included domain is only free for the first year and is renewed at the regular price in subsequent years, regardless of whether a 1-year or 3-year term is chosen for the hosting.

The range of web hosting plans at Cloud86 is clearly structured. For classic shared hosting, there are three options, which mainly differ in terms of storage space, performance, and the maximum number of websites that can be managed. Since customers can choose an initial contract term between 12 and 36 months, they can benefit from attractive discounts during the initial term. However, this choice has no impact on the renewal prices, as the packages are extended at the regular rate afterwards.

Unfortunately, even with longer contract terms, a domain is only free in the first year and is charged at the regular rate from the second year onwards. Domain prices are in line with the market.

On the positive side, the 30-day money-back guarantee stands out.

Overall, Cloud86 offers a good price-to-performance ratio. Even on the entry-level plan, customers get PHP support and databases, which makes it possible to run content management systems such as WordPress. However, the storage allocation of just 5 GB is relatively limited here. In addition, the traffic limit on the lowest-tier plan is a minor drawback.

Pros

• Choice of initial contract term
• Good price-to-performance ratio
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

• Domain only free in the first year
• Traffic limit on the entry-level plan