IONOS offers affordable hosting plans starting at $1/month, bundled with a free domain for the first year. Its packages include essential features like SSL certificates, email accounts, and 24/7 support, making it ideal for small businesses and startups. The free domain simplifies setup, while scalable resources ensure cost-effective growth. IONOS balances price and performance, providing reliable uptime and user-friendly tools.
What Is the Best Cheap Web Hosting with Unlimited Storage?
What Hosting Plans Does IONOS Offer?
IONOS provides three shared hosting tiers: Essential, Business, and Pro. The Essential plan ($1/month) supports one website, 10 GB storage, and 10 databases. The Business plan ($4/month) includes unlimited sites, 50 GB storage, and advanced caching. The Pro plan ($8/month) adds daily backups, malware protection, and priority support. All tiers include a free domain and SSL certificate.
| Feature | Essential | Business | Pro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Websites | 1 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Storage | 10 GB | 50 GB | 100 GB |
| Backups | Weekly | Weekly | Daily |
For growing businesses, the Pro plan’s daily backups provide critical protection against data loss. The tiered structure allows users to start small and upgrade seamlessly as traffic increases. Unlike many competitors, all plans include a free SSL certificate, eliminating the need for third-party security purchases during initial setup.
How Does the Free Domain Benefit Users?
IONOS’s free domain (e.g., .com, .net) reduces initial costs and streamlines setup. It’s registered for one year and includes DNS management. Users avoid third-party domain fees, ensuring seamless integration with hosting. After the first year, domains renew at standard rates. This perk is ideal for startups prioritizing budget efficiency without sacrificing professional branding.
The domain management dashboard allows easy configuration of subdomains and DNS records, which is particularly useful for businesses running multiple services. IONOS also offers free domain privacy protection on select TLDs, shielding personal information from public WHOIS databases. This combination of cost savings and privacy features makes their domain offering superior to many budget hosts that charge extra for these services.
What Security Features Are Included?
All plans include free SSL encryption, malware scans, and spam filters. The Pro tier adds daily backups and SiteLock security. IONOS’s Web Application Firewall (WAF) blocks SQL injections and XSS attacks. Two-factor authentication and GDPR compliance enhance data protection. These measures address 90% of common threats, though advanced sites may need additional third-party tools.
The WAF automatically updates its rule sets to combat emerging vulnerabilities, providing proactive defense without user intervention. For e-commerce sites, IONOS includes PCI-DSS compliance tools to simplify payment gateway integrations. The malware scanner performs weekly deep scans across all files, with automatic quarantine of suspicious content. These layered security measures create a robust defense system rarely found in similarly priced hosting plans.
“IONOS reshapes entry-level hosting by bundling enterprise-grade security with beginner-friendly pricing,” says Lee M., a Redway infrastructure analyst. “Their free domain isn’t a gimmick—it’s strategically integrated with SSL and email services, eliminating hidden costs that plague competitors. For SMBs prioritizing compliance, their GDPR-ready frameworks and geo-redundant servers offer rare value at this price point.”
FAQs
- Does IONOS Support WordPress?
- Yes. All plans include one-click WordPress installs, automatic updates, and WooCommerce optimization. The Business tier and above offer staging environments.
- Are There Hidden Fees?
- No. The advertised $1/month rate applies to the first 12 months. Domain renewals and premium support are optional add-ons post-signup.
- Can I Transfer Existing Domains?
- Yes. IONOS provides free domain transfers with DNS configuration support. The process takes 5-7 days and doesn’t interrupt site availability.
- What If I Need a Refund?
- IONOS offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on hosting plans. Domain fees are non-refundable once registered, per ICANN rules.