Whether you’re building a new website or brainstorming a new online business idea, securing a reliable web hosting provider is an essential step. There are dozens of businesses for Australians to choose from, and it can be difficult to figure out which one makes the most sense for your needs.
Ionos manages 12 million domains and has contracts with eight million customers around the world, including in Australia. Based on our criteria, the company scored highly because of its exceptional introductory price, unlimited storage and solid reviews.
At $US1 per month ($1.56 AUD) for the first six months, Ionos has one of the most affordable initial offers of any web hosting provider on the market.
Pros
- Affordable
- Unlimited storage for basic plan
- Fast website load speed
Cons
- No e-commerce hosting
- No cloud hosting
Table of Contents
Ionos at a Glance
Featured Partners
1
Wix
Starting price
From $15 per month
Drag-and-Drop Editor
Yes
Standout Features
Free plan available, 900+ designer-made templates
2
Squarespace
E-Commerce Starting Price
$34 AUD
Drag-and-Drop Interface
Yes
Standout Features
Free domain and SSL certificate, no transaction fees, award-winning templates
3
Bluehost
E-Commerce Starting Price
$15 AUD
Drag-and-Drop Interface
Yes
Standout Features
Wishlists, marketplace selling, unlimited products
Ionos is a great web hosting service if you’re on a budget. Ionos beats almost every web hosting service’s initial offer price, with a rate of $US1 per month, or or $1.56 AUD, for the first six months. While many web hosting platforms come with a pricing structure that is difficult to understand, Ionos’ is pretty straightforward: An initial price for the first six months, and then a fixed monthly price moving forward. In the past, Ionos offered introductory pricing for the first year, but has since changed the offer timeline to a six-month window, albeit at slightly lower prices on many occasions.
Ionos is offered in Australia, however, its prices are commonly listed in US dollars. Here’s how the cost breaks down for its different hosting plans, in US dollars and when converted to AUD:
- Essential plan: $US4 per month ($6.25 AUD) for the first six months, then $US6 per month ($9.38 AUD). Ideal for one website or project.
- Starter plan: $US6 per month ($9.38 AUD) for the first six months, then $US8 per month ($12.51 AUD). Ideal for ten websites or projects.
- Plus plan: $US1 ($1.56 AUD) for the first six months, then $US12 a month ($18.76 AUD). Ideal for larger web projects.
- Ultimate plan: $US10 per month ($15.63 AUD) for the first six months, then $US16 per month ($25 AUD). Ideal for multiple projects.
Ionos’ Plus and Ultimate plans both come with unlimited storage, while all plans include one free domain for one year, as well as one email account and 2 GB of email storage.
Other Benefits
If you’re too busy to set up and design your new website, or don’t have the patience to get into all the details, Ionos offers a web design service that can do this for you. This includes planning, creating and maintaining your website as well as search engine optimisation (SEO) to help increase your site’s ranking:
The basic plan, Design Service S, costs $US40 ($62.53 AUD) per month with a $US199 ($311.10 AUD) set-up fee. This offer comes with three customised pages and one website edit per quarter. For $US55 ($85.98 AUD) per month, you’ll get five custom pages, and one website edit per month on the Website Design Service M.
Finally, if you know in advance you want to make ongoing updates to your website, you can pay for the Service L Plan at $US70 per month ($109.43) with a $US399 ($623.76 AUD) setup fee for seven custom pages, in addition to unlimited website edits. Ionos offers a free consultation to see if this service is a fit for you.
All three plans include a free domain for a year, and five email accounts.
You can read more here about Ionos’ website builder options.
Fine Print
While Ionos comes at a great value, the fact that pricing goes up after six months is a bit unfortunate. It’s far from a deal-breaker, but we prefer to see more straightforward pricing schemes when it comes to any software platforms.
Additionally, as Ionos does not have a dedicated Australian branch, its pricing is reliant on the AUD-USD conversion, as payments would be made in US dollars. This means the price you pay for the service could fluctuate during your membership, rather than being a flat fee.
Australian customers can call a dedicated local line, however, which is listed as: (02) 6189 0084.
Is Ionos Right for You or Your Business?
Ionos is a great option if you’re looking for a simple, affordable web hosting provider that’s easy to navigate and offers hands-on technical support. It’s also a good choice to consider if you’re interested in paying for a customised website.
Featured Partners
1
Wix
Starting price
From $15 per month
Drag-and-Drop Editor
Yes
Standout Features
Free plan available, 900+ designer-made templates
2
Squarespace
E-Commerce Starting Price
$34 AUD
Drag-and-Drop Interface
Yes
Standout Features
Free domain and SSL certificate, no transaction fees, award-winning templates
3
Bluehost
E-Commerce Starting Price
$15 AUD
Drag-and-Drop Interface
Yes
Standout Features
Wishlists, marketplace selling, unlimited products
FAQs
How do I cancel my Ionos contract?
You can cancel your Ionos contract through your account by following the instructions provided here. After the first six months on the Plus plan, Ionos charges $US12 a month ($18.76 AUD). The good news is that customers are not locked into a multi-year plan; it is common for web hosting providers to only offer multi-year plans.
Where is Ionos based?
Ionos’ headquarters are located in Germany, while its US based headquarters is based in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania.
Is 1&1 now Ionos?
In January 2020, 1&1 Ionos changed its name to Ionos by 1&1. The company was originally established in 1988 as 1&1, initially in Europe, and then expanded to the United States in the early 2000s. In 2018, 1&1 partnered with ProfitBricks’ cloud infrastructure solutions and renamed themselves 1&1 Ionos.
Is Ionos easy to use?
Ionos has a smooth, modern interface that’s easy to understand. Additionally, it offers a detailed help centre with articles explaining every aspect of the service, from setting up an e-commerce storefront to configuring your security options. The company also has live human support over phone or email to help you if you run into any problems. Ionos gives you everything you need to get up and running with the service regardless of your technical skill level.
Can I transfer my domain to Ionos?
Yes. The process of migrating your domain name to Ionos can be done through Ionos’ technical support. The company is available by phone 24/7.
What should I look for in a web hosting service?
The exact features that will ultimately be a good fit for your needs will depend on the nature of your business. For instance, an e-commerce website will require different needs than one for brand-building services. When comparing plans, keep in mind the amount of storage you need, how much traffic you anticipate going to your website, and whether the company has reliable uptimes.
Forbes Advisor adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.
