What we like
- Renewals only about double the intro price
- Unlimited sites and big storage
- Daily backups; 1-year term for the intro price
Watch out for
- Custom panel, not cPanel
- Few email accounts per plan
The real price of IONOS
IONOS’s cheapest plan, Essential, is advertised at $4 a month, but that price requires paying for 12 months upfront: about $48 at checkout. When the intro term ends it renews at $8 a month, 100% more. Over three years you’d pay about $240 in total.
Money-back: 30 days. Free domain: 1 for the first year. Backups: Daily (files and databases). Email: 1-5 accounts by plan.
IONOS plans and prices
| Plan | Type | Intro | Term | Renews at | 3-yr cost | Sites | Storage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential1 email account | Shared hosting | $4/mo | 1-year term | $8/mo | $240 | Unlimited | 100 GB |
| Starter2 email accounts | Shared hosting | $6/mo | 1-year term | $10/mo | $312 | Unlimited | 200 GB |
| Ultimate5 email accounts | Shared hosting | $10/mo | 1-year term | $18/mo | $552 | Unlimited | 500 GB |
IONOS price history
No price changes logged since our baseline check on Oct 8, 2026.
Last checked Oct 8, 2026. We re-check every host monthly. See all hosting price changes.
Key facts
| Company | Montabaur, Germany · founded 1988 · owned by United Internet |
|---|---|
| Hosting types | Shared hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS, Cloud hosting, Dedicated |
| Control panel | IONOS panel (custom) |
| Data centers | US and Europe |
| Money-back | 30 days |
| Free domain | 1 for the first year |
| Free SSL | Yes |
| Free migration | Not advertised |
| 1-5 accounts by plan | |
| Backups | Daily (files and databases) |
Verdict
IONOS has one of the smallest renewal jumps we track: Essential is $4 a month for the first year and renews at $8, with unlimited sites, 100 GB storage and daily backups. Best for: budget buyers who want the smallest renewal jump.
Check today’s price at IONOSIONOS alternatives
Premium plan
Beginners and small sites that want the lowest upfront cost and an easy panel.
- 30-day money-back
- Free domain
- Backups: Weekly on Premium; daily on Busin…
Starter plan
Small sites outside the US that want a nearby data center.
- 45-day money-back
- Free domain
- Backups: Daily (10-30 days retention)
StartUp plan
WordPress sites that value support, speed tools and daily backups, and can live with high renewals.
- 30-day money-back
- Free domain
- Backups: Daily, 30 days of history
Launch plan
Small businesses that want room to grow and a long trial window.
- 90-day money-back
- Free domain
- Backups: Backup Manager add-on (automated …
Sources · checked Oct 8, 2026
Ratings are editorial estimates based on published specs, policies and expert and customer consensus, not our own lab tests.