BlueHost vs IONOS – Which Web Host is Better in 2023?

Having a tough time choosing between BlueHost and IONOS? 

Sounds like you’re in quite a pickle.

We’re here to help. 

To determine which web host is better for you in 2023, we’re going to take you through a Bluehost vs IONOS comparison review. 

We’ll be comparing their services based on uptime and performance, pricing, customer support service, and more. This way, you can see which one is better suited for your needs and preferences. 

Let’s get started!

BlueHost vs IONOS - An Overview

IONOS is a German company founded in 1988. It offers a myriad of features, from cloud hosting, SSL certificates, domain registration, and other hosting-related services. 

IONOS has two headquarters. One is located in Chesterbrook, Pennsylvania, another is in Montabaur, Germany. They are home to approximately 2,000 employees, 90,000 servers, 8 million customers, and 10 data centers. 

BlueHost is one of the 20 web hosting big shots. Founded by Mark Heaton and Dann Ashworth in 2003, they’re currently based in Utah and are home to over 750 employees and 2 million domains. 

Similar to IONIOS, BlueHost offers domain registration and a lot of different hosting services.

BlueHost vs IONOS - A Side by Side Comparison

To compare both web hosts, we’ll look at:

• Uptime and performance

• Ease of use

• Customer support

• Products and features

Uptime and Performance

Both BlueHost and IONOS have impressive stats when it comes to uptime and performance. It’s highly unlikely you’ll encounter any trouble on this front if you choose either of the providers. 

BlueHost averages at 99.93% (August 2023), while IONOS has an uptime of 99.99% (August 2023). Again, you don’t need to worry about downtime here. And if it does happen, you can be sure it’ll last only for a short time. 

The 616 ms (August 2023) loading speed that BlueHost offers will play to your advantage in the long run. Considering it takes as little as 2 seconds for a prospect to lose interest in a slow site, you’ll need all the speed you can get if you want to lessen your bounce rates and increase traffic and/or conversion. 

Bluehost offers a wider range of server locations to choose from, offering improved speeds in regions such as Asia, compared to IONOS which has servers only in the US and the EU.

Ease of Use 

The best web hosting services are easy-to-use and offer free features that make it worth signing up. Let’s look at BlueHost’s and IONOS’s sign-up process, user interface, and freebies to see which provider is worth the cost. 

Signing Up

BlueHost has an easy step-by-step process that guides users from point a to point b. All it asks you to do is create a domain name, enter other account information, and pay. 

IONOS, on the other hand, has a couple of extra steps, which can make signing up a bit of a hassle. 

After choosing a domain name, IONOS takes you to an add-ons page where it lets you choose among their list of additional features. Once that’s done, it takes you to a checkout page to review your cart. Then it’ll take you to another page where you can input your account information and payment method. 

User Interface

BlueHost uses a traditional cPanel that is user-friendly and easy to navigate, even for beginners. It has an advantage over IONOS’s proprietary control panel, as more users are familiar with traditional cPanel. 

However, IONOS’s control panel is intuitive enough. There might be a few things that new users will have to get used to, such as the tools and resources locations. If that’s something you can deal with, then IONOS should be no problem for you. 

Site Migration

Bluehost offers FREE WordPress site migration services. Users only have to pay the renewal fee to continue using their domain name. 

IONOS, on the other hand, doesn’t offer any free migration services for WordPress or non-WordPress sites.

Note: Bluehost does not currently offer migration support for Reseller, VPS, or Dedicated Server accounts.

Free Domains

Both BlueHost and IONOS offer new users one (1) free domain name for the first year of subscription. Once that’s over, regular rates will apply — and neither of them offers the cheapest renewal fees. 

Money-Back Guarantee

Both BlueHost and IONOS offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. Test out their services all you want to see which provider is best suited for you. 

Moreover, while Bluehost doesn’t support free non-WordPress migrations, they still support free migrations for WordPress which is better than IONOS’s lack of migration services.

Check out how easy it is to get started with Bluehost in this video:

Customer Support 

A great customer support service can be the difference between an awesome web hosting experience and a terrible one. 

Luckily, with BlueHost and IONOS, users can rest assured that their issues will be resolved in the timeliest of fashions.

Both providers offer 24/7 customer support services, available via live chat, email, and phone. Not only that, but their customer support is also very knowledgeable and will help you with any issues or questions.

Products and Features

BlueHost offers WordPress, Shared, VPS, and Dedicated Hosting. Each product has several customizable plans to meet every client’s needs

Their Shared Basic plan costs around $2.95 and includes the following features: 

• 1 Website

• 50 GB SSD Storage

• Custom Themes

• 24/7 Customer Support

• Free Domain - 1 year

• Free CDN Included

• Free SSL Certificate

IONOS also has an impressive set of products. They offer WordPress, Dedicated, and VPS Hosting. 

Each service has a varied set of plans to accommodate client requirements. 

They highly recommend their business plan, which costs around $0.50 per month for the first year. This then goes up to $10/month after the first year. This package includes the following features: 

• Unlimited Websites

• Unlimited Storage

• Unlimited Databases

• Professional E-mail

• Free Domain - 1 year

• Enhanced CPU and MEM Resources

BlueHost vs IONOS - The Verdict

However, one thing to take note of is that unlike Bluehost, which uses SSD storage on all its packages, IONOS uses HDD storage on its Shared and WordPress plans that can lead to slower load times.

As you can see, both BlueHost and IONOS are exceptional web hosts and are worth considering when you’re looking for affordable and reliable web hosting.

The only difference is BlueHost’s basic plan is geared toward small-time businesses that require fewer technical features. IONOS, on the other hand, is best for high-profile companies with multiple websites and domains that need more advanced support and resources. 

If you want that with BlueHost, you’ll have to get their higher plans. 

So the bottom line is, it really all depends on your needs and preferences. That will be the better one for YOU this 2023.