IONOS vs Sellfy: Comprehensive comparison guide for 2024

Final verdict

IONOS and Sellfy both offer unique advantages, but they cater to different user needs.

• 
  IONOS (Overall Grade: 6.9/10)
  
  is a versatile website builder and hosting platform that excels in providing a wide range of customizable templates and design functionalities. It is ideal for users looking to create professional websites with ease, offering robust ecommerce features, comprehensive marketing tools, and strong security measures. IONOS is particularly suitable for small to medium-sized businesses that need a reliable and flexible website builder with extensive hosting options.
• 
  Sellfy (Overall Grade: 6.0/10)
  
  is an all-in-one ecommerce platform tailored for creators selling digital, physical, subscription-based, and print-on-demand products. It stands out for its simplicity and user-friendly interface, making it easy for creators to set up and manage their online stores. Sellfy offers essential ecommerce features and integrations, focusing on streamlining the selling process for creators. It is best suited for individuals and small businesses looking for a straightforward and efficient way to sell products online.

	Overall grade: 6.9	Overall grade: 6.0
Design functionalities & templates	7.2	5.2
Ease of use	7.8	7.8
Ecommerce	7.1	6.8
Website Editors	7.8	6.8
Product testing options	6.5	7.3
Price	7.8	7.9
Hosting quality	8.8	7.3
Website speed optimization	7.2	5.4
Plugins and integrations	6.5	6.7
Marketing features	7.5	7.1
Customer support	7.3	5.8
Security	7.5	7.2
AI capabilities	7.2	0
User Management	3.1	2.0

Best for ecommerce

7.1

6.8

Verdict

: IONOS and Sellfy both offer solid ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different needs. IONOS is more suitable for businesses looking for a comprehensive website builder with ecommerce features, while Sellfy is ideal for creators selling a variety of products, including digital and print-on-demand items.

• 
  IONOS
  
  : With a score of 7.1, IONOS is a robust choice for businesses that want to manage an online store directly from their website. It offers a wide range of customizable templates, extensive product page customization, and supports various third-party payment processors. However, it may not be as specialized for creators as Sellfy.
• 
  Sellfy
  
  : Scoring 6.8, Sellfy is tailored for creators looking to sell digital, physical, subscription-based, and print-on-demand products. It offers a simple, user-friendly interface and focuses on simplifying the ecommerce process. While it may lack some advanced features compared to IONOS, it excels in providing tools for product protection and piracy prevention.

Best for informational & business websites

7.4

5.7

• 
  IONOS
  
  : IONOS excels in providing a wide range of customizable templates and an intuitive drag-and-drop interface, making it easy for users to create professional-looking websites without any coding knowledge. Its robust hosting services and focus on SEO optimization ensure that websites are not only visually appealing but also perform well in search engine rankings. With a score of 7.4, IONOS is well-suited for businesses looking to establish a strong online presence.
• 
  Sellfy
  
  : While Sellfy is primarily an eCommerce platform tailored for creators, it can also be used for informational websites. However, its design customization options are limited compared to IONOS, and it lacks some advanced features that are beneficial for informational sites. With a score of 5.7, Sellfy is more suitable for users who prioritize selling products over creating content-rich informational websites. When comparing IONOS vs Sellfy, IONOS stands out as the better option for informational business websites.

Detailed comparison

7.2

5.2

🏆

Winner: IONOS.

If you’re looking for a platform that offers a wide range of customizable templates and design, IONOS is the preferred choice.

IONOS offers a wide variety of templates and designs for their website builder. With over 200 templates to choose from, users can find a design that suits their needs and preferences. The templates are categorized into different industries and styles, making it easy for users to find the perfect design for their website. Additionally, IONOS regularly updates their template library, ensuring that users have access to the latest design trends. Whether you’re creating a personal blog or an ecommerce website, IONOS has a template for every type of website.

IONOS Themes

Compared to IONOS, Sellfy provides a collection of design templates through its theme store, located in the Store Customizer. Users have the option to preview these themes before applying them to their websites. As of the latest information, Sellfy offers five main theme options: Lumi\u00e9re, Noir, Savant, Id\u00e9e, and Mode. These themes cater to various aesthetic preferences and can be published to go live on a user’s website after selection and customization.

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7.8

7.8

🏆 Winner: Tie

. Both IONOS and Sellfy score a 7.8 in ease of use. IONOS is known for its straightforward and intuitive interface, suitable for users ranging from beginners to small and medium-sized businesses. Sellfy, on the other hand, offers an intuitive user interface and a straightforward website builder, making it accessible for creators and small business owners without advanced technical skills.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: IONOS

. While both platforms offer learning resources, IONOS caters to users of all levels, offering guidance on setting up websites, utilizing custom layouts, starting blogs, and incorporating web apps. Sellfy’s resources are more focused on selling a variety of products.

7.1

6.8

IONOS and Sellfy both offer ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different needs. IONOS is a comprehensive website builder that includes ecommerce features, making it suitable for businesses that want to manage an online store directly from their website. On the other hand, Sellfy is an all-in-one ecommerce platform designed for creators selling a wide array of products, including digital, physical, subscription-based, and print-on-demand items.

Ecommerce themes and templates	6.5	7.0
Product page customization	6.8	6.5
Payment processing and commissions	7.0	8.0
POS capabilities	5.5	4.0
Payment gateways	7.2	6.0
Product numbers	6.0	7.5
Additional ecommerce features	6.3	6.5

IONOS ecommerce features:

• Store Management
• Marketing Tools
• Payment and Shipping options
• Products and Inventory management

Sellfy ecommerce features:

• Product Listings
• Payment Gateways integration
• Product categories

Ecommerce themes & templates

IONOS offers a variety of ecommerce themes and templates designed to help businesses set up their online stores efficiently and effectively. Their online store builder is tailored to support a range of ecommerce needs, from selling on social media platforms to managing a scalable ecommerce website without any coding or design skills required. In contrast, all the templates of Sellfy are designed for online stores, making it a suitable choice for creators and merchants looking to sell online.

Product page customization

IONOS provides users with the ability to extensively customize product pages, including the flexibility to adjust the design and layout, ensuring that product images, descriptions, and specifications are displayed according to individual preferences. Additionally, IONOS allows for the setup and management of product options and variations, such as size and color, enabling customers to select their preferred version of a product. Sellfy, on the other hand, supports a diverse range of products including digital goods like music, videos, ebooks, and software, as well as physical products and print-on-demand merchandise such as t-shirts and mugs. The platform enables the sale of subscriptions, offering a means for recurring revenue. Sellfy provides tools for product protection and piracy prevention, ensuring secure file hosting and delivery.

Payment processing

When it comes to payment processing, IONOS supports a wide variety of third-party payment processors for its website builder, including PayPal, Stripe, and Square, without charging direct fees for payment processing. Users can choose from an extensive list of payment options to suit their business needs and customer preferences, enhancing the flexibility and security of online transactions. Sellfy supports two primary payment gateways, Stripe and PayPal, allowing for various payment options including credit/debit cards and localized payment methods in Europe. The platform does not charge transaction fees beyond its subscription cost, though payment processors’ standard fees apply. While Sellfy is robust in facilitating online sales with features for product management and marketing, it does not explicitly mention support for Point of Sale (POS) capabilities, indicating a focus on eCommerce rather than physical retail transactions.

7.8

6.8

🏆

Winner: IONOS

. IONOS, with a score of 7.8, provides an intuitive website builder equipped with AI assistance, designed for users to quickly create professional-looking websites without needing coding skills. This platform offers customizable templates, AI-generated content, and is optimized for mobile use, ensuring a responsive design across all devices. With features that cater to both basic and advanced website needs, including eCommerce capabilities, IONOS aims to simplify the web creation process.

Sellfy’s website builder, scoring 6.8, offers a straightforward and user-friendly platform for creating online stores, focusing on simplicity over advanced customization. It supports the sale of digital, physical, subscription-based, and print-on-demand products, alongside integrated marketing tools for promotion and sales optimization. Payment processing is secure and direct, utilizing popular gateways like Stripe and PayPal with no transaction fees. Despite some limitations in design customization and app integrations, Sellfy aims to provide a comprehensive e-commerce solution for entrepreneurs and creators.

Mobile editor/app

4.5

7.5

🏆

Winner: Sellfy

. Both IONOS and Sellfy offer mobile capabilities, but they cater to different needs and skill levels. IONOS does not have a dedicated mobile editor app, but users have access to limited editing abilities on a mobile browser. This might be a bit restrictive for users who prefer to manage their websites on the go.

Sellfy, on the other hand, offers a mobile app that enables store owners to manage their online stores on the go. It provides functionalities such as viewing store performance metrics, managing and tracking orders, and receiving customized notifications. Users can also access summary reports of their store’s performance on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. However, it’s not possible to change the layout or the design of the website itself.

In summary, Sellfy receives a higher rating due to its comprehensive mobile management capabilities, while IONOS is limited in its mobile editing abilities.

6.5

7.3

Overall Result

:

Sellfy Wins

. Sellfy scores 7.3, slightly higher than IONOS’s 6.5, in product testing options. Both platforms do not offer a free version, but Sellfy provides a 14-day free trial where users can test premium features. IONOS, on the other hand, does not offer a trial version but allows users to test premium features during a 30-day refundable period.

Free Plan	No	No
Trial Duration	No (30-day money back guarantee)	14 days
Testing Premium Features	During the 30-day refundable period	During the free trial
Money Back Guarantee	30 days	30 days

7.8

7.9

IONOS and Sellfy have similar price scores, indicating that they offer comparable value for money. Neither IONOS nor Sellfy offer enterprise plans.

	Offerings	Offerings
$10-$15	Starter ($12/month): Basic for newcomers with 10GB space, 10 pages, 2GB email, free domain first year. Value for price: 5.0	No offering at this amount.
$15-$20	Plus ($18/month): Enhanced with 50GB space, 200 pages, custom HTML, SiteAnalytics, online booking, AI Text Generator & AI Text Improver, AI SEO Text Generator Value for price: 7.5	No offering at this amount.
$20-$40	Pro ($30/month): Advanced for scaling, unlimited space/pages, 50GB email, SEO tools, comprehensive marketing tools. Value for price: 9.0	Starter ($29/month): Ideal for growing businesses with sales up to $10k/year. Offers unlimited products, digital and subscription products, domain connection, and 2,000 email credits. Annual savings available. Value for price: 7.5
$70-$80	No offering at this amount.	Business ($79/month): Targets businesses with up to $50k in yearly sales, offering everything in the Starter plan plus 10,000 email credits, product and store design migration, product upselling, cart abandonment tools, and Sellfy branding removal. Value for price: 8.0
$100+	No offering at this amount.	Premium ($159/month): For businesses with up to $200k/year in sales. Includes everything in the Business plan plus 50,000 email credits, product migration, and priority support. Annual savings are also offered. Value for Price: 8.5

8.8

7.3

🏆

Winner: IONOS

IONOS offers a diverse range of hosting services including shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting, with features like daily backups, and unlimited traffic. It also has a 99.99% uptime guarantee and 7 data centers in the EU and USA. On the other hand, Sellfy does not disclose the type of hosting it provides or the locations of its data centers, and it does not offer an uptime guarantee, which makes IONOS the clear winner in this category.

Do they offer hosting?	Yes, IONOS offers a diverse range of hosting services including shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting.	Yes, Sellfy offers hosting but does not disclose the type.
Data Centers:	Total of 7 data centers in EU(Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, Logroño) and USA(Las Vegas, NV; Newark, NJ; Lenexa, KS)	Sellfy does not disclose the locations of its data centers
Type of hosting:	Shared, Dedicated, VPS, WordPress Hosting	Sellfy does not disclose the hosting type
Uptime:	99.99%	99.99%
Uptime Guarantee:	Yes, 99.99%	No

7.2

5.4

🏆 Winner: IONOS

Both IONOS and Sellfy have strategies in place for website speed optimization, but IONOS takes the lead with a more comprehensive approach and a focus on Core Web Vital improvements.

Focus	HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Optimization	Code Minification
Performance Tools	Image and Multimedia Optimization	Caching, Image Optimization
Key Strategies	Caching, WordPress Optimization, CDN	Code Minification, Caching, Image Optimization
Load Times	Varies widely, depending on optimization and user’s location	Varies depending on optimization and website complexity
Page Speed Scores Range	Varies widely, depending on optimization and user’s location	Varies depending on optimization and website complexity
Core Web Vitals Improvement	Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements	No information provided

IONOS uses a comprehensive approach to website speed optimization, focusing on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript optimization, image and multimedia optimization, caching, WordPress optimization, and CDN. This approach ensures that websites built with IONOS are optimized for speed, regardless of the user’s location. IONOS also places a strong emphasis on improving Core Web Vitals, specifically LCP, FID, and CLS.

On the other hand, Sellfy’s approach to website speed optimization is more limited, focusing on code minification, caching, and image optimization. However, Sellfy does not provide any information on their Core Web Vital improvements, which could be a potential area of improvement for the platform. The load times and PageSpeed scores for Sellfy websites vary depending on the level of optimization and the complexity of the website.

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6.5

6.7

🏆 Winner: Sellfy.

With a score of 6.7, Sellfy edges out IONOS (6.5) in the plugins and integrations category. Sellfy offers a range of integrations that enhance ecommerce functionality and automate workflows, including Google Analytics, Facebook Live Chat, and Zapier. IONOS also offers a variety of plugins, but Sellfy’s focus on ecommerce and automation gives it the advantage in this category.

7.5

7.1

🏆

Overall Winner: IONOS

. IONOS stands out for its comprehensive suite of marketing tools, including SEO optimization, social media integration, email marketing solutions, ecommerce capabilities, local listings, and Google Ads management. Sellfy, while strong in SEO and email marketing, lacks blogging capabilities.

SEO Tools
Email Marketing
Blogging
Social Media Integration	Direct sales on Facebook and Instagram	Basic social media profile integrations
Analytics and Reporting	Detailed insights through built-in metrics and SiteAnalytics	Basic analytics for sales, traffic, and product performance
Ads and Promotions	Google Ads, and promotional tools like coupons and special offers	Discount codes, upselling and cross-selling options

7.3

5.8

🏆 Winner: IONOS

. In the comparison of IONOS vs Sellfy, IONOS takes the lead with a customer support score of 7.3. IONOS offers 24/7 support through multiple contact numbers, ensuring users can get assistance at any time. This round-the-clock availability is a significant advantage for users who may need help outside of regular business hours.

Sellfy, on the other hand, provides 24/7 support but lacks phone and live chat options, which limits the immediacy of the assistance users can receive. With a customer support score of 5.8, Sellfy’s support is primarily through email and possibly a knowledge base, which may not be as responsive as IONOS’s multi-channel support system.

7.5

7.2

🏆

Winner: IONOS

. IONOS and Sellfy both prioritize security, but IONOS edges out with a slightly higher security score. IONOS provides robust data storage and protection measures across its services, including HiDrive Cloud Storage and secure email solutions. It supports two-factor authentication for added security and offers end-to-end encryption as an option, ensuring that data is encrypted during transfer and stored securely.

Sellfy, on the other hand, employs several security measures to safeguard sellers and their digital products from unauthorized access, fraud, and piracy. These measures include the use of secure payment processors like Stripe and PayPal, unique download links for each purchase, limited download attempts, and additional tools like PDF stamping to deter content sharing. However, it recognizes the inherent challenges of completely eliminating piracy in the digital space and takes a pragmatic approach by providing tools that both protect creators’ content and assist in handling disputes effectively.

7.2

0

Personalized Design	IONOS AI offers tailored design suggestions based on user inputs
SEO Optimization	AI-driven recommendations for better search engine visibility
Content Generation	AI assistance in creating and optimizing site content
Additional AI Features	AI Section Generator and AI Color Palette Generator

🏆 Winner: IONOS

. IONOS, with a score of 7.2, utilizes AI to enhance the website creation process. Its AI features focus on personalized design recommendations, automatic content generation, and SEO optimization. Additionally, it offers unique features like the AI Section Generator and AI Color Palette Generator, which aid in creating a visually cohesive website.

Sellfy, on the other hand, does not have any AI capabilities. This lack of AI features may limit the level of customization and optimization that users can achieve with Sellfy.

3.1

2.0

🏆 Winner: IONOS

. Both IONOS and Sellfy have limited user management capabilities, but IONOS comes out ahead.

• IONOS permits multiple users for website editing. However, there is no mention of user roles and permissions, nor is there information about limitations on the number of users allowed to edit a website.
• Sellfy does not support adding multiple users or staff to a single account.

Neither platform provides information about user roles and access levels.

Additional Features

SSL Certificate
Custom Domain
Free Custom Domain Included
International Domains
Mobile Responsive
Page Speed
Website Builder Mobile App
Convert a Website To An App
Website Analytics
Multilingual Sites
Multiple Users

User Feedback

IONOS

20 reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars

Sellfy

52 reviews

3.9 out of 5 stars

As IONOS is primarily a hosting provider with a website builder as an additional product, most reviews focus on its hosting services. Users have mixed experiences with IONOS 1&1 Websites & Shops. While praised for its comprehensive packages, personalized support, and streamlined interface for IT professionals, some users encounter issues with backend functionality and find customer service representatives too pushy. Despite occasional short outages, the overall reliability and responsiveness of the service are appreciated by users.

The user feedback on Sellfy highlights its strengths in providing an efficient, compact online store setup that caters to specific needs with affordable pricing, including a 14-day trial period to familiarize users with the product. Many appreciate its user-friendly interface, internal marketing tools, and customization options, which enable sellers to tailor their storefronts to their brand, along with integrations for payment processing like PayPal and Stripe. However, criticisms include issues with mobile site speed, a desire for clearer insights, limitations on customization, and some customer service inefficiencies.

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