Quick answer
IONOS is a large European web host founded in 1988 (formerly 1&1) and based in Germany. Its web hosting plans include NVMe SSD storage, a free domain for the first year, a Wildcard SSL certificate, professional email and 99.99% uptime. Prices start from $1 a month on a 1-year term.
What is IONOS?
IONOS is one of Europe’s largest hosting providers, formerly known as 1&1. It offers domains, web hosting, WordPress hosting, website builders, VPS, cloud and dedicated servers.
Its web hosting plans come with large NVMe storage allowances, a free domain and Wildcard SSL, email addresses and a malware scanner, and IONOS assigns a personal consultant to help customers.
IONOS key features
01
NVMe storage
100 GB to 500 GB NVMe SSD storage.
02
Free domain
A free domain for the first year.
03
Wildcard SSL
Wildcard SSL certificate to protect your domain.
04
Email included
1 to 5 email addresses depending on plan.
05
Malware scanner
Malware scanning, with automatic repair on Ultimate.
06
CDN
Performance boost with CDN from Starter up.
07
99.99% uptime
High-availability hosting.
08
Personal consultant
A real consultant to help you.
09
Unlimited SSL
Unlimited SSL certificates on Ultimate.
IONOS pricing plans (2026)
IONOS web hosting prices below are for a 1-year term. After the first year, plans renew at the “then only” price shown; monthly billing is also available.
Web hosting
Essential
$10/mo · 1-year term · then $8/mo
- 100 GB NVMe SSD
- Standard server resources
- 1 email address
- Malware scanner
Starter
$12/mo · 1-year term · then $10/mo
- 200 GB NVMe SSD
- Extended server resources
- 2 email addresses
- CDN performance boost
Bestselling
Plus
$16/mo · 1-year term · then $14/mo
- 350 GB NVMe SSD
- 5x server resources
- 4 email addresses
- CDN performance boost
Ultimate
$20/mo · 1-year term · then $18/mo
- 500 GB NVMe SSD
- 10x server resources
- 5 email addresses
- Malware scanner Pro + unlimited SSL
Web hosting plans compared
| Feature | Essential | Starter | Plus | Ultimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-year price | $4/mo | $6/mo | $1/mo | $10/mo |
| Then | $8/mo | $10/mo | $14/mo | $18/mo |
| NVMe storage | 100 GB | 200 GB | 350 GB | 500 GB |
| Server resources | Standard | Extended | 5x | 10x |
| Email addresses | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 |
| CDN | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Malware protection | Scanner | Scanner | Scanner | Scanner Pro + repair |
| Free domain (1st year) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What every plan includes
- Free domain for the first year
- Wildcard SSL certificate
- Professional email
- NVMe SSD storage
- 99.99% uptime
- Personal consultant
Prices are in USD, exclude taxes and were checked on 29 October 2026. Check the latest prices on the official IONOS web hosting page.
How to use IONOS
- 1
Go to ionos.com and open Web Hosting.
- 2
Choose a plan and monthly or annual billing.
- 3
Claim your free domain for the first year.
- 4
Install WordPress or use the IONOS website builder.
- 5
Manage email, SSL and your site from the IONOS dashboard.
Who should use IONOS?
Budget site owners
Start with very low first-year prices.
Small businesses
Get domain, email and hosting in one place.
Content-heavy sites
Use large NVMe storage allowances.
European businesses
Host with a major European provider.
Pros and cons
What we like
- Very low first-year prices
- Large NVMe storage allowances
- Free domain, Wildcard SSL and email
- Personal consultant support
Watch out for
- Plan pricing and renewals can be confusing
- Limited email addresses on lower plans
- CDN not on Essential
- Best deals need annual billing
Best IONOS alternatives
Our verdict
IONOS offers some of the cheapest first-year hosting around, with generous NVMe storage, a free domain and Wildcard SSL. Check the renewal price carefully, but it is great value for budget sites and small businesses.
IONOS FAQs
Is IONOS hosting free?
No. IONOS has no free hosting plan, but first-year prices start from $1 a month.
How much does IONOS hosting cost?
On a 1-year term, Essential costs $4, Starter $6, Plus $1 and Ultimate $10 a month, then $8, $10, $14 and $18 a month.
Does IONOS include a free domain?
Yes. IONOS includes a free domain for the first year, plus a Wildcard SSL certificate.
Does IONOS include email?
Yes. Plans include 1 to 5 professional email addresses.
Where is IONOS based?
IONOS is based in Germany and was formerly known as 1&1.
Is IONOS good for WordPress?
Yes. You can run WordPress on IONOS web hosting, and it also offers dedicated WordPress hosting.
