IONOS vs SubHub: guide for 2024

Final verdict

IONOS and SubHub both offer unique features tailored to different user needs, but they cater to distinct audiences.

IONOS (Overall Grade: 6.9/10)

is a versatile website builder and hosting platform that excels in providing a wide range of customizable templates, robust ecommerce features, and comprehensive marketing tools. It is ideal for users looking to create professional websites with ease, offering reliable hosting services and strong security measures. When comparing IONOS vs SubHub, IONOS stands out for its flexibility and extensive feature set, making it suitable for a broad range of website needs.
SubHub (Overall Grade: 5.6/10)

is specifically designed for creating and managing membership sites. It offers tools tailored for content creators and entrepreneurs who aim to build a community and monetize their content. With features like subscription models, member access management, and exclusive content delivery, SubHub is perfect for those looking to start or grow a membership-based business. In the IONOS vs SubHub comparison, SubHub is the better choice for users focused on membership and content monetization.

	Overall grade: 6.9	Overall grade: 5.6
Design functionalities & templates	7.2	6.8
Ease of use	7.8	7.7
Ecommerce	7.1	5.9
Website Editors	7.8	6.9
Product testing options	6.5	7.0
Price	7.8	6.8
Hosting quality	8.8	5.5
Website speed optimization	7.2	5.6
Plugins and integrations	6.5	5.7
Marketing features	7.5	5.7
Customer support	7.3	6.3
Security	7.5	4.0
AI capabilities	7.2	0
User Management	3.1	5.2

Best for ecommerce

7.1

5.9

Verdict

: IONOS is a more robust and flexible ecommerce solution, while SubHub is better suited for membership-based businesses.

IONOS

: With a score of 7.1, IONOS offers a comprehensive set of ecommerce features, including store management, marketing tools, and various payment and shipping options. It is ideal for businesses looking to set up and scale their online stores efficiently. The platform provides extensive customization options and supports a wide range of third-party payment processors, making it a versatile choice for ecommerce.
SubHub

: Scoring 5.9, SubHub is designed specifically for membership-based businesses. It offers features like PayPal and Stripe integration, physical and digital product listings, and pay-per-view products. While it lacks the extensive ecommerce capabilities of IONOS, it excels in managing member access and providing exclusive content, making it a suitable choice for content creators and entrepreneurs looking to monetize their content.

Best for informational & business websites

7.4

7.2

Verdict

: IONOS slightly edges out SubHub for informational and business websites due to its broader range of customizable templates, ease of use, and comprehensive hosting and security features.

IONOS

: IONOS is a versatile website builder and hosting platform that excels in creating professional and visually appealing websites. It offers a wide range of customizable templates and drag-and-drop functionality, making it easy for users to design their websites according to their preferences. With additional features like ecommerce capabilities, contact forms, and social media integration, IONOS ensures that websites are optimized for search engines, providing maximum visibility online. Scoring 7.4, IONOS is a solid choice for those looking to build an informational or business website with robust hosting and security features.
SubHub

: SubHub is tailored specifically for creating and managing membership sites, making it an ideal choice for content creators and entrepreneurs looking to build a community and monetize their content. It simplifies the process of setting up subscription models, managing member access, and providing exclusive content. While it offers a user-friendly interface and tools for membership-based websites, its limited range of templates and lower scores in hosting quality and security make it less suitable for general informational and business websites. Scoring 7.2, SubHub is best for those focused on membership and subscription-based models.

Detailed comparison

7.2

6.8

🏆

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.

IONOS Themes

Compared to IONOS, SubHub website builder offers a variety of customizable membership website templates designed to cater to different needs and themes. However, there are only 14 specifically themed templates available, each designed to help users jump-start the design of their membership website homepages.

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7.8

7.7

🏆 Winner: IONOS

. With a score of 7.8, IONOS slightly edges out SubHub, which scored 7.7. IONOS is known for its straightforward and intuitive interface, making it suitable for users ranging from beginners to small and medium-sized businesses. SubHub, on the other hand, is designed specifically for building membership websites and online courses, with a focus on ease of use and customer support.

Learning Resources

🏆 Winner: Tie

. Both IONOS and SubHub offer a range of learning resources to support their users. IONOS provides guidance on setting up websites, utilizing custom layouts, starting blogs, and incorporating web apps. SubHub offers video guides and tutorials that detail how to effectively use the platform’s features, such as content addition, editing, banner creation, and event scheduling.

Learn IONOS

Learn SubHub

7.1

5.9

IONOS and SubHub both offer ecommerce capabilities, but they cater to different needs. IONOS is a more comprehensive solution, offering a wide range of ecommerce features, including store management, marketing tools, and payment and shipping options. SubHub, on the other hand, is more focused on membership-based businesses, offering features like PayPal and Stripe integration, physical and digital product listings, and pay-per-view products.


Ecommerce themes and templates	6.5	3.0
Product page customization	6.8	6.5
Payment processing and commissions	7.0	7.0
POS capabilities	5.5	0.0
Payment gateways	7.2	6.0
Product numbers	6.0	5.0
Additional ecommerce features	6.3	4.5

IONOS ecommerce features:

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

Ionos add a product

SubHub ecommerce features:

Paypal and Stripe integration
Physical and Digital product listings
Pay-per view products

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. SubHub, however, does not have ecommerce specific templates.

Product page customization

Both IONOS and SubHub offer product page customization options. 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. SubHub offers a range of product page customization options, allowing for the addition of physical items, digital downloads, and pay-per-view content. Features include the ability to manage product variants, upload images, and set visibility preferences.

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. SubHub supports two main payment gateways: Stripe and PayPal, and does not charge commissions on transactions. This makes both platforms flexible and secure for online transactions.

Considering the features, availability, cost, and flexibility, IONOS appears to be a more robust and flexible ecommerce solution compared to SubHub. However, if you are looking to start or grow a membership-based business, SubHub might be a better choice.

7.8

6.9

🏆

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.

Ionos editor

SubHub’s editor, scoring 6.9, offers a user-friendly website builder tailored for creating and managing membership sites, catering to content creators and entrepreneurs aiming to monetize their offerings. Its features encompass customizable templates, diverse content publishing options, and flexible subscription plans with seamless integration for recurring revenue through payment processors. Additionally, SubHub supports online course creation, provides marketing tools like landing page builders, and offers detailed analytics for monitoring website metrics.

Mobile editor/app

4.5

4.0

🏆

Winner: IONOS

. Both IONOS and SubHub do not offer a dedicated mobile editor app. However, they provide limited editing abilities on mobile browsers. IONOS scores slightly higher than SubHub in terms of mobile editor capabilities.

IONOS does not have a dedicated mobile editor app, but users have access to limited editing abilities on the mobile browser. This allows for some level of convenience and flexibility, as users can make minor changes to their websites on the go.

SubHub, on the other hand, also does not have a dedicated mobile editor app. Users can manage some content on their website using the mobile browser version, but it’s not possible to change the layout and design of the website on mobile. This could limit the flexibility and convenience for users who prefer to make changes to their websites on their mobile devices.

In summary, while both platforms could improve their mobile editing capabilities, IONOS comes out slightly ahead due to its higher Mobile Editor score.

6.5

7.0

Overall Result

:

SubHub Wins

. SubHub scores 7.0, slightly higher than IONOS’s 6.5. While neither platform offers a free version, SubHub provides a 14-day free trial, allowing users to 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	7 days

7.8

6.8

IONOS offers a wider range of pricing options and a higher price score, making it a more flexible and cost-effective choice compared to SubHub.

	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.
$30-$50	Pro ($30/month): Advanced for scaling, unlimited space/pages, 50GB email, SEO tools, comprehensive marketing tools. Value for price: 9.0	Starter ($47/month): Up to 500 members, 5 GB storage, secure payment processing, course builder, 5 landing pages, e-commerce. Value for price: 6.5
$90-$100	No offering at this amount.	Pro ($97/month): Up to 2000 members, 50 GB storage, removes SubHub branding, 15 landing pages, along with Starter features. Value for price: 7.5
$100+	No offering at this amount.	Premium ($147/month): Unlimited members, 200 GB storage, email white labelling, 30 landing pages, plus all Pro features. Value for Price: 8.5

In some cases companies have different prices based on various components like a
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.

8.8

5.5

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 boasts a 99.99% uptime guarantee and has 7 data centers in the EU and USA. On the other hand, SubHub offers managed cloud hosting with storage limitations and does not provide uptime statistics or guarantees. It also does not disclose the locations of its data centers.


Do they offer hosting?	Yes, IONOS offers a diverse range of hosting services including shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting.	Yes, from 5GB to 200GB storage limitation depending on the plan and daily backups.
Data Centers:	Total of 7 data centers in EU(Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, Logroño) and USA(Las Vegas, NV; Newark, NJ; Lenexa, KS)	Subhub does not disclose the locations of its data centers
Type of hosting:	Shared, Dedicated, VPS, WordPress Hosting	Managed Cloud Hosting
Uptime:	99.99%	Subhub does not provide uptime statistics or guarantees
Uptime Guarantee:	Yes, 99.99%	No

7.2

5.6

🏆 Winner: IONOS

Both IONOS and SubHub prioritize website performance and page speed, but IONOS takes the lead with a more comprehensive approach to speed optimization.


Focus	HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Optimization	Image Optimization, Caching
Performance Tools	WordPress Optimization, CDN	Mobile Optimized design
Key Strategies	HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Optimization, Image and Multimedia Optimization, Caching, WordPress Optimization, CDN	Image Optimization, Caching, Mobile Optimized design
Load Times	Varies widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location	Varies depending on optimization and website complexity
Page Speed Scores Range	Varies widely, depending on the 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 focuses on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript optimization, image and multimedia optimization, caching, WordPress optimization, and CDN for speed optimization. It places emphasis on improving Core Web Vitals, specifically LCP, FID, and CLS. However, both load times and PageSpeed scores can vary widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location.

On the other hand, SubHub’s strategies for speed optimization include image optimization, caching, and mobile-optimized design. However, it does not provide any information on their Core Web Vitals improvements. The load times and PageSpeed scores can vary depending on the optimization and website complexity.

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6.5

5.7

🏆 Winner: IONOS.

With a score of 6.5, IONOS offers a wider range of plugins and extensions compared to SubHub, which scores 5.7. IONOS provides over 100 plugins, including contact forms, social media integration, and ecommerce capabilities. On the other hand, SubHub focuses on simplicity and integrated functionalities for building membership-based websites, with limited third-party integrations.

While IONOS allows users to extend various features using plugins, SubHub’s plugins and integrations expand the capabilities of the website builder beyond its core features, allowing for enhanced user experiences, broader payment options, and improved content management. However, IONOS’s extensive range of plugins and seamless integrations give it the upper hand.

7.5

5.7

🏆

Overall Winner: IONOS

. IONOS stands out for its comprehensive marketing tools, including SEO, email marketing, blogging, social media integration, analytics and reporting, and ads and promotions. SubHub, while strong in SEO and email marketing, lacks in social media integration.


SEO Tools
Email Marketing
Blogging
Social Media Integration	Direct sales on Facebook and Instagram	No social media integration
Analytics and Reporting	Detailed insights through built-in metrics and SiteAnalytics	Google Analytics integration
Ads and Promotions	Google Ads, and promotional tools like coupons and special offers	Promotional codes and coupon codes

7.3

6.3

🏆 Winner: IONOS

. In the IONOS vs SubHub comparison, IONOS takes the lead with a customer support score of 7.3. IONOS offers 24/7 customer 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. Additionally, IONOS provides support for all MyWebsite Creator products, making it a reliable choice for continuous assistance.

SubHub, with a customer support score of 6.3, provides support primarily through email and a support portal. While SubHub’s support system is accessible and includes an FAQ section for immediate answers, it lacks the 24/7 availability that IONOS offers. This can be a limitation for users who require immediate assistance or have urgent issues outside of standard support hours. Nonetheless, SubHub’s focus on responsive email support and a detailed support portal ensures that users can still find the help they need efficiently.

7.5

4.0

🏆

Winner: IONOS

. IONOS takes the lead in security with a score of 7.5, compared to SubHub’s 4.0. IONOS provides robust data storage and protection measures across its various 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. IONOS also integrates various security measures to safeguard websites created on its platform, focusing on preventing malware spread, spamming, and data breaches.

On the other hand, SubHub’s privacy policy outlines their approach to collecting, using, and protecting user personal data, emphasizing compliance with GDPR and CCPA regulations. However, SubHub does not disclose any information about the website security measures the platform provides, which is a significant drawback compared to IONOS’s comprehensive security measures.

7.2


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, content generation, and SEO optimization. It also offers additional AI features like the AI Section Generator and AI Color Palette Generator, which aid in creating a visually cohesive website.

SubHub, on the other hand, does not have any AI capabilities. This lack of AI features may limit the functionality and efficiency of the website building process in SubHub.

3.1

5.2

🏆 Winner: SubHub

. Both IONOS and SubHub allow multiple users to edit a website. However, SubHub provides more detailed information about user roles and access levels, making it a more flexible option for teams.

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.
SubHub allows multiple user accounts, but the platform does not specify how many accounts are supported. It does, however, provide detailed information about user roles and access levels.

SubHub User Roles and Access Levels:

Role	Description	Access Highlights
Administrator	Full access to the platform except for Homepage and Course Editor.	Can manage all aspects of the platform, including content, store, and member management.
Content Management	Focuses on managing and organizing content within the platform.	Can access and manage content-related features but does not have access to Homepage or Course Editor.
Store (access only)	Specializes in handling the platform’s store features.	Limited to store management functions; no access to Homepage, Course Editor, or member management.
Member Manager (access only)	Oversees member accounts, roles, and subscriptions.	Can manage members and their subscriptions but cannot access Homepage, Course Editor, or store management.
Origin Admin Email	The initial administrator with the highest level of access, including Homepage and Course Editor.	Exclusive access to Homepage and Course Editor, on top of what the Administrator role provides.

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

SubHub

11 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.

User feedback on SubHub presents a mix of positive and negative experiences, emphasizing the platform’s feature-rich environment and customizable templates. Users appreciate the flexibility and the quality of customer service, highlighting the platform’s continual updates and support as key benefits. However, some users express dissatisfaction with aspects such as the platform’s interface, lack of community features, and service fees for ticket resale. Concerns were also raised about the custom design service and mobile-friendly solutions taking longer than expected.

The making of this blog

We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.

Our Ranking Criteria

FAQ

What are the main differences between IONOS and SubHub?

IONOS offers a broad range of website building and hosting services, suitable for various types of websites including ecommerce and informational sites. It provides a wide selection of templates, robust ecommerce tools, and comprehensive marketing features. SubHub, on the other hand, specializes in membership websites, offering specific tools for subscription management and content monetization.

Which platform is better for ecommerce, IONOS or SubHub?

For traditional ecommerce websites, IONOS is the better choice due to its comprehensive set of ecommerce tools and features. SubHub is tailored for membership-based models and offers essential ecommerce features suitable for selling subscriptions or exclusive content.

Can I build a membership site with IONOS?

While IONOS is primarily designed for a broader range of website types, including ecommerce and informational sites, it does offer the flexibility to incorporate membership functionalities through various plugins and integrations. However, SubHub is specifically designed for creating and managing membership sites, providing a more focused set of tools for subscription-based businesses.

How do IONOS and SubHub compare in terms of ease of use?

Both platforms are designed to be user-friendly, but IONOS has a slight edge in ease of use, offering a more intuitive website builder with drag-and-drop functionality. SubHub also emphasizes ease of use, especially for users focused on building and managing membership sites.

Which platform offers better customer support, IONOS or SubHub?

IONOS provides 24/7 customer support and a wide range of online resources, making it highly accessible for users needing assistance. SubHub offers dedicated support through email and a support portal, but does not provide 24/7 live support like IONOS.

Are there any specific features that set IONOS apart from SubHub?

IONOS stands out with its extensive range of templates, advanced ecommerce capabilities, and comprehensive marketing tools. It also offers a higher level of customization and a robust hosting service. SubHub specializes in membership features, including subscription management and exclusive content delivery, which are not as extensive in IONOS.

What are the pricing options like for IONOS and SubHub?

IONOS offers a variety of pricing plans that cater to different needs, from basic websites to advanced ecommerce platforms. SubHub’s pricing is focused on membership sites, with plans based on the number of members and features required. IONOS generally provides more flexible and cost-effective options for a broader range of website projects.