1&1 IONOS review, short version: 1&1 is now simply IONOS, a large German hosting company (part of United Internet) that sells cheap shared hosting, VPS, domains, email and website builders. Web hosting starts at $4/mo on a 1-year term (Essential, renews at $8/mo), the Plus plan is $1/mo for the first year (renews at $14/mo), and VPS starts at $2/mo for three months. IONOS is best for budget-minded small businesses that want low prices, generous storage and 24/7 phone support, as long as they watch renewal rates and add-ons.
Updated October 2026.
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1&1 IONOS at a glance: key facts
| Item | IONOS (October 2026) |
|---|---|
| Former name | 1&1 Internet, then 1&1 IONOS (2018), now simply IONOS |
| Starting price | Web Hosting Essential: $4/mo with a 1-year term |
| Renewal price | Essential $8/mo; Starter $10/mo; Plus $14/mo; Ultimate $18/mo |
| Best for | Budget small business sites, multi-site owners and cheap VPS |
| Free domain? | Yes, one domain for the first year on web hosting plans |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days (advertised on hosting and VPS pages) |
| Support | 24/7 phone (US: 484-424-7392) |
| Rating | 3.8/5 (our assessment) |
Pros:
- Low first-year prices, including Plus at $1/mo
- Unlimited websites and 100 to 500 GB NVMe storage on hosting plans
- Free domain for the first year and a free wildcard SSL certificate
- Daily backups listed on every hosting plan
- Very cheap VPS from $2/mo with data centers in the US, UK, Germany and Spain
- 24/7 phone support and a 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Prices rise after the first year (Plus: $1 to $14/mo)
- Small email allowance on entry plans (1 to 5 accounts)
- VPS intro price lasts only 3 months
- Live chat was listed as temporarily unavailable when we checked
- Many upsells and add-ons in the checkout and dashboard
What happened to 1&1? Is 1&1 IONOS the same as IONOS?
Yes. 1&1 was founded in Germany in 1988. In 2018, 1&1 combined its products with cloud provider ProfitBricks and became 1&1 IONOS, and since January 2020 the company has been known simply as IONOS. If you had a 1&1 account, it is now an IONOS account.
IONOS is part of the United Internet group, and IONOS Group SE listed on the Frankfurt stock exchange on February 8, 2023. IONOS says it has more than 6.2 million customer contracts and operates 31 data centers in 40 facilities worldwide. Its US company, IONOS Inc., is based in Philadelphia.
How much does 1&1 IONOS cost in 2026?
These are IONOS’ published US prices for web hosting as of October 2026. Intro prices apply with a 1-year term, and sales taxes may be added.
| Plan | Intro price (1-year term) | Then | Storage | Email accounts | SSL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essential | $4/mo | $8/mo | 100 GB NVMe | 1 | 1 wildcard |
| Starter | $6/mo | $10/mo | 200 GB NVMe | 2 | 1 wildcard |
| Plus | $1/mo | $14/mo | 350 GB NVMe | 4 | 1 wildcard |
| Ultimate | $10/mo | $18/mo | 500 GB NVMe | 5 | Unlimited wildcard |
The Plus plan is the standout deal for the first year at $1/mo, with more storage and email accounts than Essential. In year two it costs $14/mo, so compare the full two-year cost rather than the headline price. IONOS also offers monthly billing with a one-month cancellation period on some packages.
Doing the math on published prices: Plus costs $12 in year one and $168 in year two ($180 total), while Essential costs $48 and then $96 ($144 total). So Plus is the better deal if you need its 350 GB and four mailboxes or plan to switch hosts after a year, and Essential is cheaper over two years if one mailbox and 100 GB are enough.
IONOS VPS pricing
| Plan | Specs | Intro price | Regular price |
|---|---|---|---|
| VPS S+ | 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM, 60 GB NVMe | $2/mo | $6/mo |
| VPS M+ | 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 120 GB NVMe | $5/mo | $14/mo |
| VPS L+ | 4 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 240 GB NVMe | $8/mo | $25/mo |
| VPS XL+ | 8 vCPU, 16 GB RAM, 480 GB NVMe | $14/mo | $47/mo |
| VPS XXL+ | 12 vCPU, 24 GB RAM, 720 GB NVMe | $20/mo | $68/mo |
VPS intro prices apply for the first 3 months of a 1-year term. All VPS plans include unlimited traffic at up to 1 Gbps, one IPv4 address, no setup fee and a 99.99% availability target.
IONOS domain pricing
IONOS advertises .com domains from $1 for the first year, with automatic annual renewal at the standard rate. If you mainly need a registrar, compare renewal prices in our best domain name registrars guide.
What features does IONOS web hosting include?
- Unlimited websites on all hosting plans
- NVMe SSD storage from 100 GB (Essential) to 500 GB (Ultimate)
- Free domain for the first year
- Wildcard SSL certificate (unlimited on Ultimate)
- Daily backups of storage and databases
- Email accounts with 2 GB each (1 to 5 depending on plan)
- Geo-redundant hosting infrastructure
IONOS also sells an AI website builder, Microsoft 365 email, and a range of AI add-ons (such as an AI email assistant and AI receptionist). These are separate products, so check what is actually in your hosting plan before paying for extras.
Who is IONOS best for?
- Small businesses on a tight budget that want low first-year pricing and plenty of storage.
- People running several small sites, since every hosting plan allows unlimited websites.
- Developers and tinkerers who want a very cheap VPS in the US or Europe.
- Customers who prefer phone support, given IONOS’ 24/7 phone lines in many countries.
IONOS is less ideal if you want a polished, upsell-free experience or managed WordPress with staging and server caching. For those, see our managed WordPress hosting picks or our best web hosting roundup.
How reliable is IONOS?
IONOS describes its web hosting as geo-redundant, operates 31 data centers worldwide, and lists 99.99% availability for its VPS plans. It also runs a public status page at ionos-status.com.
We have not run our own uptime or speed tests. IONOS’ scale and redundancy are reassuring for small business sites, but shared hosting performance depends heavily on your site’s own setup, so use caching and optimized images whichever host you choose.
Is IONOS secure?
Every IONOS web hosting plan includes a wildcard SSL certificate and daily backups, and IONOS domains include domain lock as part of its domain security features. VPS customers can add IONOS Cloud Backup from $0.065 per GB per month.
As with any shared host, keep WordPress, themes and plugins updated and use strong, unique passwords with two-factor authentication on your account.
What is IONOS customer support like?
IONOS offers 24/7 phone support, with a US number (484-424-7392) and local numbers in more than ten other countries. Its contact page also lists live chat, though it was shown as temporarily unavailable when we checked in October 2026. A help center, support form and the IONOS Digital Guide cover common questions.
Phone-first support is a genuine advantage at this price point, since many budget hosts rely mostly on chat and tickets.
Does IONOS have a money-back guarantee?
IONOS advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on its web hosting and VPS pages. The detailed conditions are in IONOS’ General Terms and Conditions; as with most hosts, expect domain registrations to be treated separately from the hosting refund. Contracts renew automatically each year unless you cancel.
IONOS vs alternatives
| Host | Entry price (Oct 2026) | Renews at | Notable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| IONOS Essential | $4/mo (1-year term) | $8/mo | Unlimited sites, 100 GB, phone support |
| Bluehost Starter | $3.99/mo (36 months) | $9.99/mo | WordPress focus, 10 sites |
| SiteGround StartUp | $2.99/mo (12 months) | $17.99/mo | Google Cloud, strong tools |
| Hostinger | See Hostinger review | See Hostinger review | Low prices, own hPanel |
IONOS has some of the lowest renewal prices among mainstream shared hosts, which makes it a good long-term budget option. If you want a WordPress-first experience, Bluehost or Hostinger are the main alternatives.
How we evaluated IONOS
This 1&1 IONOS review is based on IONOS’ published US pricing for web hosting, VPS and domains, its company history page, its contact and help pages, all checked in October 2026. We did not run our own uptime or speed tests or open a test account.
The 3.8/5 rating credits IONOS for low and relatively modest renewal prices, unlimited websites, generous storage and 24/7 phone support, and deducts for small email allowances, short VPS promos and heavy upselling.
FAQs
Is 1&1 the same as IONOS?
Yes. 1&1 was founded in Germany in 1988, merged its products with ProfitBricks to become 1&1 IONOS in 2018, and has been called simply IONOS since January 2020. Old 1&1 accounts, domains and hosting packages are now managed through IONOS, which is part of the United Internet group.
How much does IONOS hosting cost?
As of October 2026, IONOS web hosting costs $4/mo for Essential, $6/mo for Starter, $1/mo for Plus and $10/mo for Ultimate with a 1-year term. After the first year they cost $8, $10, $14 and $18 per month. Sales taxes may apply, and monthly billing is available on some packages.
Is IONOS good for WordPress?
IONOS works well for basic WordPress sites: every hosting plan includes unlimited websites, NVMe storage, a free domain for the first year, wildcard SSL and daily backups. Busy WordPress stores may prefer a managed WordPress host with staging and server-level caching built into every plan.
Does IONOS give a free domain?
Yes. IONOS web hosting plans include one free domain for the first year. Domains renew automatically each year at IONOS’ standard price unless you cancel. IONOS also sells .com domains on their own from $1 for the first year, so check renewal pricing before registering several names.
Does IONOS have 24/7 support?
Yes. IONOS lists 24/7 phone support, including the US number 484-424-7392, plus local numbers for countries such as the UK, Canada, Germany, Spain and Australia. Live chat is also listed but was temporarily unavailable when we checked in October 2026. A help center and support form are available online.
How cheap is an IONOS VPS?
IONOS VPS S+ costs $2/mo for the first 3 months of a 1-year term, then $6/mo, for 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM and 60 GB NVMe storage. Larger plans run up to VPS XXL+ at $20/mo intro and $68/mo regular. All include unlimited traffic and no setup fee, with US, UK, German and Spanish data centers.
Does IONOS offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes. IONOS advertises a 30-day money-back guarantee on its web hosting and VPS plans. Full conditions are in the IONOS General Terms and Conditions. As with most hosts, domain registration fees are typically handled separately, and contracts renew automatically each year unless you cancel them in your account.
Final verdict: should you choose IONOS?
1&1 IONOS is one of the better-value budget hosts in 2026, with unlimited websites, generous NVMe storage, a free first-year domain, daily backups and renewals that stay comparatively moderate. Expect upsells and keep an eye on email limits, but for small business sites and cheap VPS it is a strong option.
Before buying hosting, check that your name is available as a domain and on social media with the Namechk domain and username checker, or use the domain name generator for ideas. Then see current IONOS plans and pricing.
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