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 more than eight million customers around the world, including in Australia. Based on our criteria, the company scored highly because of its low price, unlimited storage and solid reviews.
At $US4 per month ($6 AUD) for the first 36 months, Ionos has one of the most affordable long-term offers of any web hosting provider on the market.
Related: Best Cheap Hosting For Australians
Pros
- Affordable
- Unlimited storage for basic plan
- Fast website load speed
Cons
- No e-commerce hosting
- No cloud hosting
Table of Contents
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 at a Glance
Ionos is a great web hosting service if you’re on a budget, with a rate of $US4 per month, or or $6.06 AUD, for the first 36 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 three years, and then a fixed monthly price moving forward. In the past, Ionos offered introductory pricing at $US1 ($1.52 AUD) for the first six months, but has since changed the offer timeline to a 36-month window at a slightly higher price.
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 AUD) for the first 36 months, then $US6 per month ($9 AUD). Ideal for one website or project.
- Starter plan: $US5 per month ($7.50 AUD) for the first 36 months, then $US8 per month ($12 AUD). Ideal for ten websites or projects.
- Plus plan: $US6 ($9 AUD) for the first 36 months, then $US12 a month ($18 AUD). Ideal for larger web projects.
- Ultimate plan: $US9 per month ($13.50 AUD) for the first six months, then $US16 per month ($24 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 $US45 ($67.50 AUD) per month with a $US199 ($298 AUD) set-up fee. This offer comes with three customised pages and one website edit per quarter. For $US65 ($97.50 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 $US85 per month ($127.59 AUD) and receive seven custom pages, in addition to unlimited website edits. Ionos offers a free consultation to see if this service is a fit for you. Usually the M and L plans attract a setup fee for up to $US399 ($598 AUD), but as of June 2024, Ionos is waiving this fee on the top-two plans.
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
Ionos previously offered a deeply discounted rate of $US1 ($1.50 AUD) for six months on hosting, but the discount no longer applies and the new introductory rates, while slightly higher in some cases, are for three years and not six months. The $US1 ($1.50 AUD) pricing still applies for the website builder plans.
Unfortunately, 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 36 months on the Essential Plan at $US4 a month ($6.06 AUD), Ionos charges $US6 a month ($9.09 AUD).
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, with an Australian phone number, 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.
How do I contact Ionos in Australia?
You can speak to Ionos directly on their listed Australian number: (02) 6189 0084.
Is Ionos good for beginners?
Yes, Ionos is good for beginners as it has an easy drag-and-drop website builder and it uses its own custom dashboard rather than a cPanel that is intuitive and beginner-friendly.
We do not offer financial advice, advisory or brokerage services, nor do we recommend or advise individuals to buy or sell particular stocks or securities. Performance information may have changed since the time of publication. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Forbes Advisor provides an information service. It is not a product issuer or provider. In giving you information about financial or credit products, Forbes Advisor is not making any suggestion or recommendation to you about a particular product. It is important to check any product information directly with the provider. Consider the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS), Target Market Determination (TMD) and other applicable product documentation before making a decision to purchase, acquire, invest in or apply for a financial or credit product. Contact the product issuer directly for a copy of the PDS, TMD and other documentation. 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. For more information, read our Advice Disclaimer here.
