Written By
Daren LowUpdated On
December 26, 2024
When comparing Hostinger vs IONOS, we find Hostinger to be the better web host overall. Hostinger stands out due to its fast performance, value for money, and its custom hPanel control panel. It also offers solid global coverage with 10 data centers across multiple continents. IONOS supports more operating systems and control panels, but suffers from limited email accounts and less generous storage options on entry-level plans.
In this article, we compare Hostinger vs IONOS on the grounds of plans, pricing, features included, and performance. We also explore their software support, developer tools, data center coverage, customer support, and security features. Finally, we answer the question, “Hostinger vs IONOS: Which is better for you?”
hostinger vs ionos
Plans
| Hosting Plan Type | Hostinger (US$ /month) | IONOS (US$ /month) |
|---|---|---|
| Shared Hosting | $2.99 – $7.99 | $4 – $9 |
| VPS Hosting | $4.99 – $19.99 | $2 – $30 |
| WordPress Hosting | $2.99 – $7.99 | $4 – $8 |
| Cloud Hosting | $7.99 – $29.99 | $7 – $420 |
| Dedicated Hosting | Not Available | $75 – $590 |
| Reseller Hosting | Not Available | Not Available |
| Managed Hosting Available | Shared, WordPress, Cloud Hosting | All plans |
Hostinger offers 4 types of hosting and these are Shared, WordPress Hosting, VPS Hosting, and Cloud Hosting. IONOS offers a wider variety with 5 types of hosting including Dedicated Hosting. Managed hosting is available on Hostinger’s shared, WordPress, and cloud hosting plans, whereas IONOS provides managed hosting across all of its plans.
Pricing
| Pricing Type | Hostinger (US$ /month) | IONOS (US$ /month) |
|---|---|---|
| Introductory Price | $2.99 | $3 |
| Renewal Price | $7.99 | $6 |
| Monthly Payment Option? | Yes | Yes |
Hostinger introductory pricing starts at $2.99 per month, while IONOS begins at $3 per month. Hostinger’s renewal price jumps by 167%, and IONOS sees a 100% increase. This makes Hostinger slightly more expensive in the long run despite the similar starting prices. Note that cross-referencing these prices with the features included in these plans (see section below) indicates that Hostinger offers better value for money.
Features Included
| Feature | Hostinger | IONOS |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Space | 100 GB SSD storage | 10 GB HDD storage (SSD on higher plans) |
| Bandwidth | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Number of websites | 100 | 1 |
| Email Hosting | 100 email accounts, each with 1 GB storage | 1 email account with 2 GB inbox |
| Free Domain | Yes | Yes |
| AI Website Builder | Yes, Hostinger website builder | Separate service |
| Unlimited Storage? | No | Higher plans |
| Unlimited/Unmetered bandwidth? | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Hostinger offers much larger storage features in its cheapest plans and these start from 100 GB SSD. IONOS starts with just 10 GB HDD on its lower plans. IONOS also only reserves SSD storage for its higher-tier plans and uses slower HDD on its cheaper plans. Hostinger supports up to 100 websites on its cheapest plan compared to only 1 website for IONOS. Hostinger includes an AI website builder, while IONOS offers this as a separate paid service. Both hosts provide unlimited bandwidth.
Performance
| Performance Feature | Hostinger | IONOS |
|---|---|---|
| CDN | Yes, Hostinger CDN (Higher plans) | Higher plans (Cloudflare) |
| Type of SSD Server | SSD (NVMe on higher plans) | HDD (SSD on WordPress and VPS) |
| Caching | Yes | Higher plans |
| Uptime Guarantee | 99.9% | 99.9% |
Both hosts offer a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Hostinger uses SSD and offers NVMe on higher plans, which provides faster performance compared to IONOS’s HDD on lower plans. IONOS reserves SSD for WordPress and VPS hosting. Both providers offer CDN services, though IONOS provides Cloudflare integration only for higher plans. The use of NVMe by Hostinger makes it the faster option, while IONOS’s reliance on HDD on basic plans limits its performance.
Data Center Coverage
| Geographical Coverage | Hostinger | IONOS |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Data Centers | 10 | 31 |
| HQ Location | Vilnius, Lithuania | Montabaur, Germany |
| Data Center Locations | USA, UK, Brazil, India, Singapore, Lithuania, Indonesia, Netherlands, France | Locations undisclosed (mostly in USA and Europe) |
Hostinger operates 10 data centers across multiple continents, including Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. IONOS has more extensive coverage with 31 data centers, though it keeps many locations undisclosed. IONOS focuses primarily on the USA and Europe. IONOS’s broader network offers more redundancy, especially in Europe. However, Hostinger’s transparency on data center locations is advantageous for users targeting global audiences.
Software Supported
| Software Feature | Hostinger | IONOS |
|---|---|---|
| Control panel | hPanel (proprietary) and cPanel for VPS | Custom control panel, Plesk |
| 1-Click WordPress | Yes | Yes |
| OS supported | Linux | Linux, Windows (Shared ASP.NET, VPS) |
Hostinger uses its own hPanel control panel but also supports cPanel for VPS hosting. IONOS offers Plesk and a custom control panel. Both hosts provide 1-click WordPress installation. Hostinger supports Linux hosting only, whereas IONOS supports both Linux and Windows.
Hostinger’s proprietary hPanel is user-friendly for beginners, but IONOS is recommended for those seeking more control panel options and Windows hosting.
Developer Tools
| Developer Tool | Hostinger | IONOS |
|---|---|---|
| Staging Tools | Higher plans | Higher plans |
| Root Access | Yes for VPS hosting | Yes for virtual, dedicated, or cloud |
| GIT access | Yes | Yes |
| WP-CLI | Yes | Yes |
| Cron jobs | Yes | Yes |
| Multiple PHP versions | Yes | Yes |
| SSH | Yes | Yes |
| Node.js Support | Yes | Yes |
| Python Support | Yes | Yes |
| Java Support | Yes | Yes |
| Django Support | Yes | Yes |
| Perl Support | Yes | Yes |
| Ruby on Rails Support | Yes | Yes |
| ASP.NET | Yes | Yes |
Both Hostinger and IONOS support essential developer tools, including Node.js and Python. They also offer GIT access, WP-CLI, and support for multiple programming languages. Hostinger provides root access for VPS hosting, while IONOS extends this to virtual, dedicated, and cloud hosting. Both hosts cater well to developers, though IONOS supports a broader range of hosting environments with root access available on more plans.
Customer Support
| Customer Support Feature | Hostinger | IONOS |
|---|---|---|
| Support Methods | Live chat (via hPanel) | Phone, email, or chat |
| Support Hours | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Website Migration | Yes | Yes |
| Money-Back Guarantee | 30 days | 30 days |
Hostinger offers live chat support via its hPanel, while IONOS provides support through phone, email, and chat. Both hosts offer 24/7 support and free website migration. They also provide a 30-day money-back guarantee. IONOS’s broader range of support methods makes it more accessible, but Hostinger’s live chat is reliable and easy to access.
Security Features
| Security Feature | Hostinger | IONOS |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL | Yes | Yes |
| Backups | Weekly (Premium), daily and on-demand (higher plans) | Daily backups |
| DDoS Protection | Yes, Cloudflare | Yes, in-house |
| Firewalls | Yes | Yes |
| Proactive Monitoring | No | No |
| Unique Security Features | Free WHOIS privacy protection | DDoS Protect Basic and Advanced |
Both Hostinger and IONOS offer essential security features like free SSL, DDoS protection, and firewalls. Hostinger provides WHOIS privacy protection, while IONOS enhances security with advanced DDoS protection. IONOS includes daily backups for all plans, whereas Hostinger only offers daily backups on higher-tier plans.
Hostinger vs IONOS: Which Is Better For You?
Hostinger is the better host. Use Hostinger if you’re hosting a small or medium business website. It’s especially ideal for fast-growing eCommerce sites since you start with shared hosting and upgrade to VPS or cloud hosting as your business scales. Also use Hostinger if you’re a beginner looking to host a personal blog or portfolio site. It conveniently includes an AI website builder and free domain on select plans to help you get started. Lastly, use Hostinger if you’re targeting global audiences. Their data centers are spread across 4 continents, while IONOS’ network is more concentrated in Europe and the US.
Use IONOS if you need dedicated hosting, as Hostinger does not offer this option. IONOS is also a good fit if you require Windows hosting. Lastly, use IONOS if you’re running a content-heavy website like an educational site or a multimedia-heavy portfolio. It offers daily backups across all plans, which provides an extra layer of data protection for your site’s content.
See more web hosting comparisons right here.
Who is Hostinger?
Hostinger is a web host that was founded in 2004 and headquartered in Vilnius, Lithuania. It offers affordable hosting with fast performance and global data centers. Its plans lack phone support and daily backups for some tiers. Take a look at our Hostinger review for additional info.
Who is IONOS?
IONOS is a web host that was founded in 1988 and headquartered in Montabaur, Germany. It provides extensive hosting options with high security and Windows hosting. Entry-level plans have limited storage and email accounts. See our IONOS review for more insights.