Although IONOS markets itself aggressively as an easy-to-use web hosting solution that offers full functionality and tons of freebies, it is in fact not that much different from your run-of-the-mill web host. Server resources are limited even for their more expensive shared plans. Renewal prices are reasonable and on par with market average though.
Suitable for: Beginners-friendly Budget, or Adult Website Hosting
Website: https://www.ionos.com/
IONOS Who? Quick Intro
With roots tracing back to its establishment in 1988 as 1&1 Internet in Germany, IONOS has evolved into a significant player in the internet services domain. Following mergers and rebranding, including a pivotal union with ProfitBricks in 2018, the company adopted the name 1&1 Ionos under the leadership of CEO Achim Weiss. Renowned for its global provision of web hosting, cloud computing, and domain services.
What We Think About IONOS Hosting
Although IONOS markets itself aggressively as an easy-to-use web hosting solution that offers full functionality and tons of freebies, it is in fact not that much different from your run-of-the-mill web host. Server resources are limited even for their more expensive shared plans. Renewal prices are reasonable and on par with market average though.
IONOS Pros
- Reliable server uptime performance
- Easy-to-use user dashboard
- Built-in DDoS and web applications firewall (WAF) protection
IONOS Cons
- Unhelpful customer support
- Expensive signup price
- Limitations in SSL usage
- Price increase during the renewal
IONOS – Our Overall Experience & Findings
| Performance | What server speed features does IONOS offer?IONOS offers dependable hosting services, with a focus on steady website functionality. While their hosting performance is not especially great, the web host incorporates essential technologies like built-in caching mechanism, HTTP-2, and various server upgrades to further enhance your website’s speed. |
| Security | Are websites hosted at IONOS safe?IONOS excels in security, offering top-notch measures to safeguard your website. Their platform boasts features like free SSL, daily backup, to ensure your data remains secure and your site impervious to common cyber threats. |
| Supports | Is IONOS customer support good?Customer support at IONOS has room for improvement, with some users experiencing longer response times and less personalized assistance. You can reach out to their support team via phone, live chat, and email. |
| Value for Money | Does IONOS offer good value for its pricing?IONOS is reasonable priced when weighed against its feature offerings and long-term cost. At $5 per month (renews at $6/mo), basic shared hosting allows you to host 1 website with 24/7 customer support, a free domain name, daily backup, and 30-days money back guarantee. Higher plans with better features like VPS starts at $2/mo, cloud hosting at $/mo and dedicated hosting at $50/mo. |
| Overall Users Satisfaction | What other users think of IONOS?Based on our market research, IONOS by 1&1 received mixed reviews from its users. Many users like IONOS for its powerful uptime and user-friendly interface. Nevertheless, some users have reported slow response times in IONOS customer supports and expressed concerns over its pricing. The company charges significantly higher compared to other providers in the market.For additional insights, please refer to the user reviews section below. |
| Beginners Friendliness | Is IONOS suitable for beginners?Offering a range of features and reliable uptime performance, we think IONOS is suitable for beginners and first-time website owners. Its shared hosting plans include CDN integration, daily backups, and ample storage, providing a solid foundation for simple websites or small business sites. However, note that the web host does not offer free site migration and is slightly pricier than market average – which can be a turn off for some users. |
| Small Business Friendliness | Is IONOS suitable for small businesses?IONOS may present challenges for small to medium-sized businesses due to its complex pricing structure, where introductory rates significantly increase after the initial period, potentially impacting long-term budgeting. Additionally, IONOS restricts sign-ups from certain countries, which might limit its suitability for SMBs operating or targeting audiences in those regions |
| Web Developers Friendliness | Is IONOS suitable for developers?IONOS is not the best for web developers. Their shared hosting has limited features for developers; and VPS plans are less powerful compared to competitors (fewer CPU cores and RAM). The use of a custom control panel instead of the standard cPanel could lead to a steeper learning curve and less intuitive experience for developers accustomed to cPanel’s layout. |
| Host Own Email | Can you host your own email accounts ([email protected]) with IONOS?Yes, you can host your own email accounts with IONOS. This significantly reduces your costs by eliminating the need for expensive third-party email services. |
| Onboarding | Is it easy to get started with IONOS as a new customer?– |
IONOS Plans & Pricing
IONOS offers various hosting solutions, including Shared, VPS, and Dedicated hosting plans. Additionally, the company also provides specialty hosting services, such as Managed WordPress, Adult Websites, Email, and Minecraft hosting.
When evaluating your options, it’s crucial to remember that many hosting companies offer substantial discounts during the initial signup period, but the pricing often increases significantly upon renewal. You should thoroughly research and compare the renewal prices, not just the introductory rates, to understand the true cost of hosting over an extended period.
To help you make a more informed decision, we have prepared two tables below which compare the initial signup and subsequent renewal costs of IONOS services with several other providers that we actively monitor.
Compare IONOS Signup Price with Others
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | Managed WP | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IONOS | $5.00 – 13.00/mo | $2.00 – 30.00/mo | $50.00 – 150.00/mo | $ – /mo | $4.50 – 11.00/mo | $6.00 – 11.00/mo |
| ScalaHosting | $2.95 – 14.95/mo | $29.95 – 169.95/mo | $ – /mo | $20.00 – 179.00/mo | $2.95 – 14.95/mo | $40.00 – 485.00/mo |
| Digital Ocean | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $4.00 – 96.00/mo | $14.00 – 3569.98/mo | $ – /mo |
| GoDaddy | $4.99 – 14.99/mo | $8.99 – 44.99/mo | $159.99 – 469.99/mo | $ – /mo | $10.99 – 17.99/mo | $ – /mo |
| Kinsta | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $35.00 – 675.00/mo | $35.00 – 675.00/mo | $ – /mo |
| Ultahost | $3.08 – 12.99/mo | $4.67 – 40.50/mo | $116.91 – 370.50/mo | $ – /mo | $2.90 – 27.50/mo | $15.90 – 240.90/mo |
Review IONOS Renewal Price with Others
| Web Host | Shared | VPS | Dedicated | Cloud | Managed WP | Windows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IONOS | $6.00 – 16.00/mo | $2.00 – 50.00/mo | $100.00 – 250.00/mo | $ – /mo | $6.00 – 15.00/mo | $12.00 – 22.00/mo |
| ScalaHosting | $9.95 – 29.95/mo | $49.95 – 239.95/mo | $ – /mo | $20.00 – 179.00/mo | $9.95 – 29.95/mo | $40.00 – 485.00/mo |
| Digital Ocean | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $4.00 – 96.00/mo | $14.00 – 3569.98/mo | $ – /mo |
| GoDaddy | $4.99 – 17.99/mo | $14.99 – 74.99/mo | $179.99 – 519.99/mo | $ – /mo | $12.99 – 22.99/mo | $ – /mo |
| Kinsta | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $ – /mo | $35.00 – 675.00/mo | $35.00 – 675.00/mo | $ – /mo |
| Ultahost | $4.39 – 17.32/mo | $7.33 – 48.93/mo | $129.83 – 389.00/mo | $ – /mo | $3.87 – 36.67/mo | $16.74 – 253.58/mo |
Bottomline: Is IONOS Right for You?
Navigating the world of web hosting with IONOS feels like a breeze for beginners and those keeping an eye on their budget. It’s a package that comes with the peace of mind of reliable server uptime and shields you with DDoS and WAF protection.
Yet, IONOS is not without its hurdles; getting a timely response from customer support can feel like a quest, and the SSL certificate freedom isn’t as expansive as one might hope. And while the initial price tag looks friendly, a hike in rates at renewal time calls for some forward-thinking in your budget strategy.