Hosting
IONOS
Shared web hosting with domain, SSL, email, databases, SSH access, backups and tiered resources.
What it is
IONOS sells domains, shared web hosting, WordPress, VPS, cloud and dedicated products; this record focuses on US Linux shared Web Hosting. Current tiers bundle a domain, SSL, professional email, SSH/SFTP/WP-CLI, databases, one-click apps, daily backup/restore and 24/7 support. Promotional one-year prices rise to disclosed monthly renewal rates, taxes apply, and apparently unlimited sites, storage or databases remain bounded by shared compute, file-count and acceptable-use constraints.
Key features
Shared hosting tiers
Allocates websites, geo-redundant storage, databases and compute levels by plan.
Developer tools
Includes SSH, SFTP, WP-CLI and database access for supported web projects.
Bundled operations
Provides SSL, DDoS protection, daily backup/restore and 24/7 support.
Account mobile app
Offers iOS and Android account functions such as notifications and payment-detail management.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Broad bundle: Domain, SSL, email, databases, SSH tools, app installation, backups and support are packaged together.
- Published renewal figures: Plan cards show first-year discounts and the subsequent monthly price.
- Developer access: SSH, SFTP and WP-CLI support conventional PHP and WordPress workflows.
- Product ladder: Shared, WordPress, Deploy Now, VPS, cloud and dedicated services cover different control requirements.
Where it falls short
- Promotional discontinuity: The $1 Plus offer requires a one-year term and then rises to $14/month at the reviewed date.
- Shared-hosting limits: CPU, memory and a 262,144-file ceiling constrain even plans marketed with unlimited resources.
- Bundle complexity: Domains, email, hosting and optional products can renew on separate terms and require cancellation planning.
- Backup scope needs verification: Included daily restore does not remove the need for off-provider file and database copies.
Who it is for
Individuals and small organizations wanting a bundled shared-hosting service with phone-supported operations and clear tier choices.
Our verdict
IONOS shared hosting fits standard small sites, but select it using the post-promotion price and concrete resource limits; separate domain/email obligations, export independent backups, and move to VPS or cloud when shared hosting no longer matches the workload.
Closest alternatives we track
Same category, ordered by verified starting price.
Cdnjs
Free
Cloudflare-backed public CDN for versioned assets from open-source web libraries.
Cloud Foundry
Free
Open-source application platform for deploying and operating code across private and public infrastructure.
ISPConfig
Free
BSD-licensed Linux hosting control panel for single-server and multi-server environments.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.Yes
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.No
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-08-24
- IONOS — Web Hosting ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: shared-hosting model, current US promotional and renewal prices, one-year term, website storage and database limits, domain SSL and email, SSH SFTP and WP-CLI, daily backup and restore, 24/7 support, tax caveat
- IONOS — Hosting solutions ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: web WordPress Windows Deploy Now VPS and cloud product separation, included SSL domain DDoS protection and backups, root-access VPS distinction
- IONOS Help — Hosting ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: webspace FTP SSH and PHP management, database administration, file and database backup guidance, restore support, performance levels, mobile application availability, Deploy Now support boundary
- IONOS Help — Maximum file count ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: 262144 shared-hosting file limit, per-contract scope, performance and security rationale, backup cache and media cleanup guidance
Limit: Official IONOS US product and help pages were reviewed; ToolCompare did not buy hosting, inspect checkout or every contract term, verify all regional offers, deploy or migrate a site, benchmark compute, restore a backup, test support, use the mobile app or APIs, transfer a domain, configure email, or compare WordPress/VPS/cloud products. Prices, limits, taxes and promotions may change after the review date.