Welcome to my in-depth 1&1 IONOS Hosting Review, where I’ve conducted extensive tests and research to determine if this host is the right choice for you.
While not as flashy as some competitors, IONOS is Europe’s largest hosting provider, boasting over 30 years of experience and offering a wide range of website solutions, including shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated, and agency hosting.
IONOS has won the hearts of over 8 million users with its affordable prices, user-friendly interface, and robust security measures.
However, I’m not one to rely solely on hearsay. That’s why I took it upon myself to thoroughly test this provider. I’ll share my pricing, ease of use, performance, and security findings in this review. To save you time, feel free to jump straight to the summary of my conclusions.
Table of Contents
1&1 IONOS Hosting Review General Info & Hosting Overview:
| ⭐ Rating: | 4.4 ★★★★☆ |
| 💲 Price: | Prices start at $1.00/mo |
| ▶️ Uptime: | 99.99% |
| 🏘️ Hosting types: | Shared, WordPress, Windows, VPS, dedicated |
| 🌎 Server locations: | The US and Europe |
| 👨💻 Support: | 24/7 live chat and phone |
Pros & Cons Of 1&1 IONOS Hosting
Pros  | Cons  |
| Wide selection of hosting solutions and services. Free domain and SSL are included with all plans. Full-stack security, including Wildcard SSL. | Servers only in Kansas, United States for shared hosting. Hard to reach customer service on live chat. |
1&1 IONOS pricing & plans
With shared hosting prices starting at just $1.00 per month, 1&1 IONOS offers affordable options, and it also provides a range of other hosting solutions, such as WordPress Pro, Windows, VPS, and dedicated hosting.
| Type of hosting | Best for |
| Shared Hosting | For beginners and those with basic website needs such as portfolios, blogs, passion projects, and small businesses, take advantage of the current 90% discount! |
| WordPress Pro Hosting | WordPress developers, designers, and agencies. |
| Windows Hosting | Small and medium-sized projects on the Windows operating system (OS). |
| VPS Hosting | More advanced users who want better resources, control, and performance. |
| Dedicated server Hosting | High-traffic websites, organizations, online stores, and advanced users. |
1&1 IONOS caters to a wide range of users. However, in this review, I’ll specifically delve into their shared hosting plans, which are highly sought after.
With prices ranging from $1.00/mo to $8.00/mo, 1&1 IONOS offers 3 shared hosting packages with valuable features like a free domain, an SSL Wildcard certificate, a professional email address, daily backups, and unlimited traffic.
Each plan has its own set of specifications, ensuring a tailored solution for every user:
| Plan | Features | Price |
| Essential | The best choice for a basic or personal website is hosting 1 website with optimized performance for up to 50 visitors/minute, featuring 10GB storage, 512MB RAM, and 10 databases. | $4.00/mo |
| Business | Ideal for mid-sized projects, optimizing up to 200 visitors/minute, unlimited websites, storage, and databases, and up to 6GB RAM. | $1.00/mo |
| Expert | Designed for larger websites experiencing high traffic, with optimization for up to 500 visitors/minute, including all features of the Business plan, up to 19GB RAM, SiteScan malware protection, and a Content Delivery Network (CDN). | $6.00/mo |
While 1&1 IONOS website hosting may offer less helpful resources with its cheapest plan, the Business plan stands out with its reasonable allocation of resources.
Speaking of the Business plan, it truly shines with a substantial introductory discount, providing abundant resources, including unlimited storage and databases, and much more, all for just $1.00 per month for 12 months.
Best Value
The Business plan offers a remarkably low price of only $1.00 per month when you prepay for 12 months, amounting to a mere $6 for an entire year of hosting, making it the most affordable option.
As expected, longer billing terms offer lower prices, while renewal rates tend to be higher. However, the impressive introductory discount on the Business plan stands out, which is particularly appealing for short-term needs.
Regarding the money-back guarantee, 1&1 IONOS provides a 30-day policy that covers hosting costs, although specific fees like server usage and Search Engine Marketing setup are excluded.
To summarize, 1&1 IONOS offers an incredibly affordable hosting solution. For just $0.50, you gain access to hosting for multiple websites, ample storage, and databases. Furthermore, the provider offers scalability options to accommodate growing needs.
Hosting Management: is 1&1 IONOS Easy to Use?
1&1 IONOS employs a custom hosting management panel that is both functional and user-friendly, featuring a clean interface. However, if you’re accustomed to the classic cPanel, adjusting to the IONOS control panel may require some time.
IONOS control panel
The 1&1 IONOS control panel is the central dashboard for all your website needs, encompassing hosting, domains, and security in one convenient interface. The overall design is clean, intuitive, and user-friendly, balancing simplicity and functionality perfectly.
After logging in, you’ll be greeted by the main dashboard, which functions as the control panel. Here’s a glimpse of its appearance:
At the very top, you’ll find a prompt to complete the setup process for new accounts. At the same time, on the right side, you’ll discover search engine optimization suggestions along with the option to access detailed analysis.
However, the real treasure lies in the center, where you’ll find all the necessary functionalities for your website, conveniently organized under main categories such as domains & SSL, email, hosting, and security.
I understand that the provider has faced criticism for its control panel, with various 1&1 web hosting reviews, particularly scathing IONOS VPS reviews targeting this aspect.
Here’s my take: if you’re accustomed to using cPanel, there might be a slight learning curve. Nevertheless, it’s important to remember that switching between interfaces can naturally lead to some confusion. While it may not match the power of cPanel, especially on lower-tier hosting plans, the 1&1 IONOS control panel still offers a functional and valuable experience.
However, in general, the interface is incredibly beginner-friendly. It is well-organized, intuitive, and practical, making navigation seamless for novice and experienced users.
If you ever need assistance with navigation, the search bar is readily available to help you quickly locate specific items, such as domains and WordPress, which leads us to the next part.
IONOS WordPress management
To streamline and expedite WordPress installation and management, 1&1 IONOS provides helpful tools and features, including a convenient one-click installer and setup assistance.
Whether you choose the managed WordPress, unmanaged WordPress, or shared hosting plan, 1&1 IONOS offers essential setup assistance to simplify the content management system. A significant aid in this regard is the custom installer provided by the provider.
1&1 IONOS provides a custom one-click installer that swiftly sets up your WordPress site, enabling you to get started without any delays. This installer functions as effortlessly as other one-click installers available in the market, requiring you to enter your domain name and click install.
In addition to the custom installer, 1&1 IONOS offers the WordPress Setup Assistant plugin. By selecting the purpose of your site, the Assistant takes charge and assists you every step of the way. It suggests design templates, installs your chosen template, adds various plugins, and simplifies the setup process.
The WordPress Setup Assistant provided by 1&1 IONOS is an excellent resource for beginners who are unsure where, to begin with WordPress. It also caters to those who prefer a more hands-off approach, simplifying the setup process.
Taking everything into account, 1&1 IONOS is exceptionally user-friendly. While its custom control panel/dashboard may not be the industry’s most advanced or cutting-edge interface, it offers a beginner-friendly, organized, and intuitive experience. As customers have attested in their 1and1 WordPress hosting reviews, setting up and managing WordPress is a breeze with this host.
1&1 IONOS performance
Considering its affordable price point, the performance of 1&1 IONOS is highly commendable. The host delivers exceptional reliability and impressive speed, although its traffic-handling capacity could be further improved without causing significant concerns.
In this thorough IONOS review, I subjected the provider to rigorous testing. I conducted three different assessments to evaluate its uptime and response time, speed, and ability to handle stress.
IONOS uptime and response time
Let’s start with the most crucial aspect: long-term reliability. I assessed 1&1 IONOS in this regard, and I’m happy to report that it passed with flying colors. Over the course of nearly a month, the host maintained an impressive uptime of 99.99%, experiencing only three brief outages totaling a mere three minutes. This level of reliability aligns perfectly with the provider’s uptime guarantee of 99.9%.
Now, why not aim for 100% uptime? While perfection would be ideal, a few minutes of downtime are inevitable for necessary server maintenance. Nonetheless, the current uptime performance of IONOS indicates that it is a reliable hosting provider with a healthy server.
The provider’s results were underwhelming regarding server response time. Response times predominantly hovered around the 700ms mark and averaged 758ms, surpassing the market average of 600ms.
However, the situation is far from bleak! It’s worth noting that these results were obtained from a bare server without any optimizations. Furthermore, I’m observing promising improvements in response times, which warrants close monitoring.
Overall, 1&1 IONOS excels in uptime, while its server response times are slower than desired but displaying signs of progress.
IONOS website speed
In this comprehensive review of IONOS.com, I conducted website speed tests on both an empty WordPress site and a fully built one. I’m pleased to report that both performed admirably in this assessment, achieving a Largest Contentful Paint (LCP) that falls within Google’s definition of good.
When evaluating a blank WordPress site, seeing an LCP below 600ms is desirable, while a built area should ideally have an LCP below 2.5s. Such results are indicative of a high-speed performance, which bodes well for an optimal user experience.
In the case of my empty site, the LCP in San Antonio was an impressive 666ms, which is truly commendable. However, London and Mumbai experienced slightly longer LCP load times, clocking in at 880ms and 1.6s, respectively.
Unsurprisingly, the United States showcased the best performance, considering my website is hosted in a 1&1 IONOS’ US data center in Kansas—the sole available location for shared hosting plans.
Moving on, I conducted tests on a fully built WordPress site, and the LCP (Largest Contentful Paint) impressively registered at just 1s. This outcome is promising, as it enhances the likelihood of higher rankings on search engine results pages.
In addition to the Largest Contentful Paint (LCP), the fully loaded time plays a crucial role in achieving improved rankings and enhancing customer experiences. It’s ideal for keeping the fully loaded time under 3s for a built site, and I’m pleased to report that 1&1 IONOS accomplishes this with flying colors, boasting an impressive fully loaded time of just 1.1s.
In summary, IONOS by 1&1 delivers fast website loading speeds, paramount for attracting organic traffic and ensuring a seamless user experience.
IONOS stress testing
Now comes the moment to subject 1&1 IONOS to a stress test, allowing me to evaluate its capacity to handle high traffic volumes. I directed 50 virtual users (VUs) to my testing website to initiate the trial.
The desired outcome is a consistent and stable blue line representing website speed while the gray line indicates the number of visitors rising. It goes without saying that the red line, signifying failures, should not make an appearance.
Unfortunately, the server could not cope with the influx of 50 VUs. The website’s performance began to deteriorate, resulting in a complete failure.
However, it’s important to remember that 50 virtual users (VUs) roughly equate to 50,000 monthly visitors, which puts a tremendous strain on the server, particularly in a shared hosting environment.
Considering this, I decided to lighten the load and gradually reduce the number of VUs until 1&1 IONOS demonstrated stability with 10 VUs, equivalent to approximately 10,000 monthly visitors. While it may not sound like a substantial figure, it surpasses the traffic levels experienced by most websites hosted on shared hosting platforms.
Observe how the speed, indicated by the unwavering blue line, remains consistent even as the number of visitors increases. Additionally, there are no instances of HTTP failures to report.
With its exceptional reliability, commendable stability, and impressive speed, 1&1 IONOS undoubtedly delivers a performance worthy of praise. Considering its affordable pricing, it effortlessly outshines many of its competitors in the market.
Security: is 1&1 IONOS secure?
For security, 1&1 IONOS has you covered with a comprehensive range of web hosting security measures, including fundamental and advanced features.
- SSL Certificates: Every plan offered by 1&1 IONOS includes a free SSL Wildcard certificate, ensuring an encrypted connection between your website and visitors. While a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate is typically the minimum expectation, receiving a Wildcard SSL instead is a delightful surprise. This provides protection not only for your primary domain but also for all subdomains.
- Backups: The provider provides automatic daily backups for webspace and databases. These backups are retained for up to 6 days, allowing easy file recovery. It’s worth noting that many budget hosts typically offer weekly backups, making 1&1 IONOS stand out with its daily automated backup feature.
- Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Protection: By default, 1&1 IONOS activates DDoS protection to safeguard against the threat of targeted site overload caused by traffic from compromised systems. Such attacks can render a site inaccessible, making activated DDoS protection valuable.
- Site Scan: Including a basic version of Site Scan ensures protection against malware. Daily malware scans, reputation monitoring, spam and blocklist monitoring, and platform scanning for WordPress are among the features provided.
- Georedundant Infrastructure: 1&1 IONOS goes the extra mile by storing your data in two separate data centers approximately 60 kilometers apart. This georedundant infrastructure offers added protection against data loss and potential outages.
Overall, I’m genuinely impressed with the extensive array of basic and advanced security measures offered by 1&1 IONOS, particularly when considering its affordability. It’s a level of generosity that surpasses many of its competitors.
Will 1&1 IONOS support help me?
1&1 IONOS excels in providing 24/7 phone and live chat support alongside a wealth of helpful resources in its help center, Startup Guide, and Digital Guide.
However, during my review, attempts to reach the live chat were unsuccessful, suggesting a lack of availability.
Fortunately, the phone support proved reliable and efficient, with agents readily available to assist.
Notably, 1&1 IONOS offers phone numbers for only 13 countries, potentially incurring international call charges for others.
Thankfully, the knowledge base boasts a vast collection of articles categorized under the Digital Guide and Startup Guide, covering various topics such as hosting, servers, online marketing, and productivity.
Additionally, the help center provides extensive step-by-step guides and articles on various products and services, including domain registration, server infrastructure, and web security.
The phone support is fast and efficient, while the knowledge base and help center offer invaluable assistance. However, the unavailability of live chat remains a drawback.
1&1 IONOS Hosting review: the final verdict
After thoroughly reviewing IONOS, it’s evident why it holds the title of Europe’s top provider—its offerings may not suit everyone, but its appeal knows no bounds.
To summarize, here’s how the provider performs:
| Feature | 4.4★★★★☆ | Cheap and secure web hosting |
| Pricing | ★★★★☆ | 1&1 IONOS offers affordable pricing, starting at just $1.00/month for its Business shared hosting plan, thanks to a generous introductory discount. |
| Ease of Use | ★★★★★ | The provider prioritizes user-friendliness with its clean and functional custom control panel, making navigating and managing your website easy. Additionally, its one-click WordPress setup simplifies the process. |
| Performance | ★★★★☆ | While 1&1 IONOS is highly reliable and boasts impressive website loading times, there is room for improvement regarding server response times and traffic-handling ability. |
| Security | ★★★★★ | Regarding security, 1&1 IONOS has you covered with a comprehensive range of solutions, including essential features and advanced options. |
| Support | ★★★★☆ | For support, the provider offers two methods: live chat and phone, with 24/7 availability. However, reaching their agents through live chat can be challenging at times. |
The final recommendation for IONOS?
1&1 IONOS is the ideal choice for beginners, smaller websites, and budget-conscious users, offering affordability, ease of management, and reliable security measures.
FAQs
Is IONOS a German company?
Yes, IONOS is a German company headquartered in Montabaur, Germany.
How speedy is IONOS?
1&1 IONOS boasts the impressive speed, with a fully loaded time of just 1.1s for a WordPress website.
Where are 1&1 servers located?
1and1 servers are strategically located in the US, UK, Germany, and Spain. However, for shared hosting, the US is the available option.
Is 1&1 a reliable web host?
Absolutely! 1&1 is a reliable web host offering affordable prices, user-friendly management, dependable performance, and robust security measures.
What’s the story behind 1and1?
1and1 transformed into IONOS by 1&1 after merging with cloud infrastructure specialists ProfitBricks in 2018.
Does IONOS utilize cPanel?
No, IONOS doesn’t utilize cPanel. Instead, the provider employs its own custom control panel as its primary dashboard.
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