After conducting a series of tests, IONOS stands out as the clear winner in this IONOS vs Bluehost comparison. IONOS is a more cost-effective choice for beginners, with its lower starting prices and personal consultant service offering dedicated support. Additionally, its scalable performance options, strong presence in Europe, and diverse hosting solutions make IONOS a better option.
Only WordPress websites within the first 30 days after signup
Starting Price
$1/month
$2.95/month
Money Back Guarantee
30-day
30-days
Storage
From 10 GB to unlimited on Shared hosting and up to 640 GB on VPS hosting
Up to 100 GB on Shared hosting and up to 240 GB on VPS hosting
Bandwidth
Unlimited
Unmetered
Free Domain Name
Yes
Yes
Free SSL Certificate
Yes
Yes
Free One-Click WordPress Installation
Yes
Yes
Uptime Guarantee
99.9%
99.99%
Average Page Load Speed
1.9s
1.9s
Customer Support
24/7 support, Phone support, Live chat
24/7 support, Phone support, Knowledgebase
Server location
USA, Germany, UK, Spain
Orem, Utah, Provo, USA
DDoS Protection
Yes
Yes
Daily Backups
Yes
Yes, except basic plan
IONOS
IONOS rates 4/5 stars with 381 reviews on Hostadvice, and 4.5/5 starts with 19,509 reviews on Trustpilot. The high scores of Hostinger underline the quality and reliability of their services. By contrast, Bluehost rates 2.8/5 stars with 376 reviews on Hostadvice, and 4.0/5 starts with 10,608 reviews on Trustpilot. The high scores of IONOS reflect the quality and reliability of their services.
IONOS is a web-hosting company founded in Germany in 1988. This company has grown from a small group to 4,000 employees in over 40 countries.
IONOS has around 90,000 servers stationed around Germany, the USA, and the UK. Currently, this company provides 8,000,000 customers with shared, VPS, dedicated, WordPress, cloud, and agency hosting. There are over 22,000,000 domains registered on IONOS.
Bluehost was founded in 2003 and despite controversies, it remains one of the leading web hosting companies today. They employ over 750 employees and have registered more than 2 million domains.
Currently, they have servers in the USA, India, UK, and China. Bluehost offers Shared VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting.
You get SSL certificate and daily backups for free once you sign up for any plan. The shared hosting plan can accommodate a lot of traffic thanks to unlimited bandwidth.
If your blog audience is not more than 20,000 monthly visitors, IONOS WordPress hosting plans are perfect for you.
You also get free WordPress updates and installations. If you are just building your site, you will have to pay a little extra. The website builder of IONOS starts at $1/month and you can pay up to $10 for more extensive editing features.
Bluehost Features
Bluehost is a more streamlined web hosting platform focused on shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting.
The shared hosting plan and the WordPress hosting plan are similar. You get unlimited bandwidth and up to 100GB of SSD storage space. You also get a free SSL on every plan. However, daily backups are only available for higher plans.
The dedicated hosting plan starts at 1TB of HDD storage, and it offers you up to 2 TB for higher plans. The VPS hosting offers 120 GB ob the standard plan, and goes up to 240 GB of SSD storage. The bandwidth is unmetered on all plans.
And the winner is IONOS
This round was pretty tight because Bluehost and IONOS both have good, valuable features. However, IONOS offers more storage space and bandwidth on its plans.
VPS hosting – Best for medium/large traffic websites
VPS Linux XS: $2/month
VPS Linux S: $3/month
VPS Linux M: $6/month
VPS Linux L: $10/month
VPS Linux XL: $15/month
VPS Linux XXL: $30/month
Agency hosting pricing plans are similar to shared hosting plans.
Bluehost Pricing Plans
E-commerce store owners will find a lot of web hosting plans suited to their needs on Bluehost. However, the platform is more expensive than IONOS. If you are on a budget, it might not be the best hosting platform for you
VPS hosting – Best for medium/large scale eCommerce stores
Standard: $29.99/month
Enhanced: $39.99/month
Ultimate: $69.99/month
Dedicated hosting – Best for schools and other corporate institutions
Standard: $89.98/month
Enhanced: $119.88/month
Premium: $139.99/month
And the winner is IONOS
IONOS is the clear winner of this round. This platform offers more robust hosting plans at cheaper rates than Bluehost. There is also a specialized hosting plan for agencies and freelancers
Speed refers to how quickly you get results when you load a page on the website. These two are completely reliant on the strength of your web host’s servers. Higher uptime and speed mean less bounce rate, better SEO rankings, and more positive KPIs.
On GTMetrix, IONOS had 0.798s TTFB speed and an overall 73% performance score.
PageSpeed Insights showed 1.9s TTFB speed. However, they had an overall performance of 27% which is quite low.
Bluehost Uptime and Speed
I ran the exact tests on Bluehost to compare the metrics on both hosting platforms.
On GtMetrix, Bluehost had a 0.513s TTFB speed and a 68% overall performance score. These metrics are fair by all standard
PageSpeed Insights gave the same TTFB results for both IONOS and Bluehost. However, the performance was much lower at 17%.
NoteNote: The values above are not static and they can vary depending on the distance between the location of the test tool and the host servers. I gave the above figures to help you draw your conclusions. You can run these tests from your location to get more insights.
And the winner is Bluehost
Bluehost has a faster TTFB speed according to GTMetrix. PageSpeed Insights ranked them on the same level at 1.9s. However, there is a 10% performance gap in favor of IONOS.
IONOS has dedicated support staff ready to meet your needs. They are available 24/7 on live chat, phone, and email.
When I tried to start a live chat, I was told to hold on till customer support finished with other customers. After about 15 minutes, I had to move on.
To be fair, I reached out to them early in the morning and this might just be the reason.
You can also call them directly instead of in a live chat. IONOS has dedicated customer support numbers for the countries they serve.
Their help center and knowledge base also has a vast array of info that will help you navigate the IONOS platform easily. It is useful for both current and potential customers.
IONOS has enough customer support channels to suit your needs.
Bluehost Customer Service
The Bluehost customer support team is always available to their customers 24/7. You can contact them through a call or via live chat.
If you are not ready to discuss this at length, you can request a call back at a scheduled time comfortable for you.
When I tried to start a live chat, I got an immediate response. However, I think it was a bot replying to me cause the answers sounded pretty automated.
Let’s see where this goes…
So, it was a bot after all. I did provide my name for a later session. However, Bluehost has yet to reach out to me.
You have to give it to Bluehost for a well-structured knowledgebase. All the answers to your questions have already been compiled and all you need to do is ask.
And the winner is IONOS
IONOS has a better live chat system than Bluehost. IONOS also offers a unique Personal Consultant feature, providing direct and personalized assistance to users, a service not matched by Bluehost
IONOS has a very interactive UI which makes it easy to navigate. The major features of the platform are easily accessible on the first page and you could have an account in a few minutes if you are ready.
If you are already a customer, you can log in and access your dashboard without hassle.
After accessing your cPanel, you can easily manage your domains and email addresses. You can also design websites, edit partner profiles and so much more.
IONOS uses a custom cPanel in place of the popular traditional panel.
The WordPress dashboard is a bit different and more complex. You should be able to navigate with a few pointers though.
Overall, IONOS is pretty easy to use.
Bluehost Ease of Use
Bluehost will not be one of the leading web hosting companies available today if it had a bad UI. Everything you need is easily accessible on the home page and you can sign up or log in within seconds.
After you sign up for any hosting plan under Bluehost, you can log into your account using your generated domain name or User ID.
The Bluehost dashboard is pretty easy to navigate. You can work on your blog, update plug-ins and write all from a single place.
You can also log into the WordPress admin control panel from your dashboard for easier blog management.
The custom cPanel also gives you greater control over your web hosting backend and its features.
And the winner is Bluehost
The margin between these two web hosting giants is very slim in this round. Both of them have interactive UIs. However, Bluehost is easier to navigate and manage. Especially for WordPress users.
When you sign up for any IONOS hosting plan, you get a free SSL certificate. Along with that, you also get basic DDoS protection for your site. Other security features include free daily automated backups for basic hosting plans and automatic malware scans.
The IONOS platform is CloudFlare compatible and you can easily enable it when you become a customer. If you want the Sitelock security feature, you will have to pay for it. IONOS does not come with a web application firewall but you can install a ModSecurity for free.
Bluehost Privacy and Security
Bluehost offers you free SSL and free CDN on all hosting plans. Your site is protected through CloudFlare-enabled security and you get to enjoy basic DDoS protection and malware scans.
All your data is automatically backed up each day so you don’t lose work progress. Sitelock security is not available on Bluehost. However, you can purchase and integrate this feature on your website easily.
And the winner is IONOS
IONOS offers more robust security measures on all its hosting plans. Some security features on Bluehost are limited by the hosting plan type and level.
The location of your web host’s servers directly affects your ability to reach a wider audience. A web host with servers around the world is the best option if you plan to handle global traffic.
IONOS Server Location
IONOS has a wide server footprint across the US and Europe. These servers are located in Las Vegas, Newark, Frankfurt, London, Berlin, and Logrono. If you live in Europe, you will enjoy the best IONOS has to offer.
Bluehost Server Location
Bluehost is headquartered in Orem, Utah USA and its servers are located in this city. It also has servers in Provo, Utah USA. Outside the USA, Bluehost maintains servers in Mumbai India, London UK, Hong Kong China, and Shanghai China.
And the winner is Bluehost
Bluehost has servers in Asia, the USA, and Europe while IONOS only operates in the US and Europe. This gives Bluehost a wider footprint and the ability to cater to a larger global audience.
Bluehost is the perfect web host for marketers and business owners. Even though this platform is a bit pricey, the value it provides to its users is well worth the money.
You can go for Bluehost if,
You own multiple eCommerce businesses
Do you want to manage a WordPress website
Your target audience is based in Asia
You want access to marketing tools
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After going through all these features in detail, I’ll say IONOS is a better web host than Bluehost.
IONOS is the perfect web host for small/medium-sized businesses. The agency hosting and shared hosting plans offered on the platform effectively cater to freelancers, agency owners, and small business owners alike.
You can easily upgrade to WordPress, VPS, or dedicated hosting when your web traffic increases. IONOS pricing plans are also far more favorable than Bluehost rates. Both Bluehost and IONOS have effective security, good hosting plans, useful freebies, speed, and performance. However, IONOS has more user value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IONOS a good email provider?
IONOS is considered a reliable email provider, offering a range of features that cater to both individual and business needs. These include ample storage, spam and virus protection, and support for custom domain names. IONOS’s email services are integrated with its hosting packages, providing a seamless experience for website owners. However, for users requiring more advanced email functionalities, specialized email service providers might offer more comprehensive features.
Is Bluehost best for WordPress?
Bluehost is highly recommended for WordPress websites, partly because it is officially endorsed by WordPress.org. It provides optimized hosting solutions for WordPress, including easy one-click installations, automatic updates, and specialized WordPress support. Bluehost’s servers are tailored to enhance WordPress performance, making it a top choice for users seeking a reliable and effective WordPress hosting experience.
Why is IONOS VPS so cheap?
IONOS offers affordable VPS hosting due to its efficient use of server resources and scalable infrastructure. The company’s cost-effective management of data centers and competitive pricing strategies allow it to offer lower prices. However, it’s important to note that while IONOS VPS plans are budget-friendly, users should evaluate the features and resources offered at each price point to ensure they meet their specific requirements.
Is Bluehost overpriced?
Whether Bluehost is overpriced depends on individual requirements and comparisons with other hosting providers. Bluehost offers a range of hosting plans with varying features, and its pricing is generally in line with industry standards. While some users may find Bluehost’s pricing higher, especially after the initial promotional period, others may find the range of services, reliability, and support offered to be worth the cost.
HostAdvice.com provides professional web hosting reviews fully independent of any other entity. Our reviews are unbiased, honest, and apply the same evaluation standards to all those reviewed.While monetary compensation is received from a few of the companies listed on this site, compensation of services and products have no influence on the direction or conclusions of our reviews. Nor does the compensation influence our rankings for certain host companies.This compensation covers account purchasing costs, testing costs and royalties paid to reviewers.
