Final verdict
IONOS and Volusion are closely matched website builders, each with its own strengths, catering to different user needs.
-
IONOS (Overall Grade: 6.9/10)
excels in design functionalities, ease of use, hosting quality, and marketing features. It’s particularly strong in providing a wide range of templates, an intuitive website builder with AI assistance, and comprehensive marketing tools. IONOS is ideal for users looking for a versatile website builder that combines ease of use with powerful features for SEO and online marketing. -
Volusion (Overall Grade: 6.6/10)
stands out for its ecommerce capabilities, product testing options, plugins and integrations, and security features. It offers a solid platform for online stores, with a focus on payment processing, POS capabilities, and a secure environment for transactions. Volusion is best suited for users prioritizing ecommerce functionality and security in their website builder choice.
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Design functionalities & templates |
7.2 |
6.1 |
|
Ease of use |
7.8 |
6.9 |
|
Ecommerce |
7.1 |
7.1 |
|
Website Editors |
7.8 |
7.1 |
|
Product testing options |
6.5 |
7.6 |
|
Price |
7.8 |
7.6 |
|
Hosting quality |
8.8 |
7.0 |
|
Website speed optimization |
7.2 |
7.1 |
|
Plugins and integrations |
6.5 |
6.8 |
|
Marketing features |
7.5 |
6.9 |
|
Customer support |
7.3 |
7.0 |
|
Security |
7.5 |
8.7 |
|
AI capabilities |
7.2 |
0.0 |
|
User Management |
3.1 |
7.7 |
| Overall |
6.9 |
6.6 |
Best for ecommerce
7.1
7.1
Verdict
: With identical scores in ecommerce, the choice between IONOS and Volusion hinges on specific business needs and preferences.
-
IONOS
: Offers a broad range of customizable templates and easy-to-use design functionalities, making it suitable for businesses looking to quickly set up their online presence with minimal fuss. Its strength lies in its versatile payment processing options and comprehensive marketing tools. -
Volusion
: Stands out for its ecommerce-specific features, including advanced product management and secure payment processing. It’s particularly beneficial for businesses that prioritize detailed product customization and efficient order management.
Best for informational & business websites
7.4
7.2
Verdict
: With a narrow lead, IONOS is slightly better suited for informational and business websites, offering a broader range of templates and a more user-friendly experience.
-
IONOS
: Scoring 7.4, IONOS stands out with its wide variety of customizable templates and drag-and-drop functionality, making it an excellent choice for users looking to create professional and visually appealing websites without coding knowledge. Its focus on ease of use and reliable hosting services further enhances its suitability for informational and business websites. -
Volusion
: With a score of 7.2, Volusion is a strong contender, especially for businesses that lean towards ecommerce. While it offers customizable templates and a comprehensive product management system, its platform is more tailored to online stores, which might not be the primary need for purely informational or traditional business websites.
Detailed comparison
Design functionalities & templates
Design FunctionalitiesRepresents how well each platform allows for creative design and customization of websites.Score Components:
- Template Variety (30%): Range and quality of design templates.
- Customization (30%): Flexibility and options for design alterations.
- User Interface (20%): Ease and intuitiveness of the design process.
- Responsiveness (10%): Adaptability to different devices and screen sizes.
- Innovation (10%): Unique design features and tools.
7.2
6.1
🏆
Winner: IONOS.
If you’re looking for a platform that offers a wide variety of templates and designs, 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.
Compared to IONOS, Volusion offers a variety of design templates tailored to meet the diverse needs of online stores and businesses. The platform provides users with over 30 professionally designed, responsive templates. These templates are crafted to cater to a wide range of industries, ensuring that businesses of all types can find a design that aligns with their brand identity and goals.
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Ease of use
Ease of useReflects the platform’s overall user-friendliness.Score
Components:
- Learning curve (40%): Quickness and ease of getting started.
- Interface design (30%): Simplicity and intuitiveness of layout.
- User guidance (20%): Quality of tutorials and support.
- Flexibility (10%): Adaptability to various user skills.
7.8
6.9
🏆 Winner: IONOS
. Scoring a solid 7.8, IONOS stands out for its straightforward and intuitive interface, making it exceptionally easy for users to create and manage their websites. Volusion, with a score of 6.9, offers a robust platform but with a steeper learning curve, especially for those new to ecommerce. If ease of use is a priority, IONOS is the clear winner in this category.
Learning Resources
🏆 Winner: IONOS
. While both platforms offer solid learning resources, IONOS goes a step further with its wide array of detailed tutorials and active community forums, making it easier for users to learn and adapt.
For ecommerce
EcommerceMeasures the platform’s effectiveness in supporting online business activities.Score Components:
- Ecommerce themes and templates (20%): Variety and design of templates.
- Product management (25%): Ease of managing and organizing products.
- Payment options (25%): Variety and convenience of payment methods.
- Ecommerce features (20%): Features for managing an ecommerce store.
- Integration (10%): Compatibility with external e-commerce tools and services.
7.1
7.1
Both IONOS and Volusion offer a range of ecommerce features, but they cater to different needs and preferences.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Ecommerce themes and templates |
6.5 |
6.5 |
|
Product page customization |
6.8 |
7.0 |
|
Payment processing and commissions |
7.0 |
7.5 |
|
POS capabilities |
5.5 |
7.0 |
|
Payment gateways |
7.2 |
7.5 |
|
Product numbers |
6.0 |
6.0 |
|
Additional ecommerce features |
6.3 |
7.0 |
IONOS ecommerce features:
- Store Management
- Marketing Tools
- Payment and Shipping options
- Products and Inventory management
Volusion ecommerce features:
- Ecommerce Product listings
- Payment Gateways
- Multiple Currencies support
- Shipping options
- SEO tools
- Social Media Integration
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.
On the other hand, Volusion offers a selection of ecommerce-specific templates designed to cater to various store aesthetics and needs. They provide 14 free themes and 38 paid themes, each costing $180. These templates are mobile responsive, ensuring that your online store is accessible and user-friendly across all devices. While the selection might not be as extensive as some other platforms, Volusion’s themes are customizable, allowing merchants to adjust the look and feel of their store. Additionally, for those with technical skills, there’s the option to edit the site’s CSS to further personalize the store’s design.
Product page customization
Both IONOS and Volusion provide users with the ability to extensively customize product pages. This includes the flexibility to adjust the design and layout, ensuring that product images, descriptions, and specifications are displayed according to individual preferences. Additionally, both platforms allow 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.
Payment processing
When it comes to payment processing, IONOS supports a wide variety of third-party payment processors, 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.
Volusion, on the other hand, offers a comprehensive eCommerce platform that supports various payment gateways, including PayPal, Stripe, and its own solution, Volusion Payments, tailored for U.S.-based merchants. The platform is distinctive for its low transaction fees, which vary based on the subscription plan. Additionally, Volusion provides POS capabilities, enabling seamless sales both online and in physical locations.
Considering the features, availability, cost, and flexibility, both IONOS and Volusion offer robust and flexible ecommerce solutions. However, the choice between the two would depend on the specific needs and preferences of the user.
Website Editors
Website EditorsEvaluates the platforms’ website building and editing capabilities.Score Components:
- Customization tools (40%): Range and power of editing features.
- Editor usability (30%): User experience within the editor.
- Design flexibility (20%): Freedom in layout and design changes.
- Update and maintenance ease (10%): Simplicity of updating and maintaining the site.
7.8
7.1
🏆
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.
Volusion’s website builder editor, scoring 7.1, is designed for ease of use, catering to both beginners and experienced users. It offers a drag-and-drop interface, allowing users to easily add, remove, or modify elements on their website without needing to code. Users can customize their site’s layout, adjust colors, fonts, and images, and even integrate various functionalities like social media links, shopping carts, and payment gateways. Additionally, Volusion provides a range of templates and themes to kickstart the design process, making it straightforward to create a professional-looking online store or website.
Mobile editor/app
4.5
4.5
🏆
Draw: IONOS vs Volusion
. Both IONOS and Volusion do not have a dedicated mobile editor app. However, they offer limited editing abilities on mobile browsers. This means that users can make some changes to their websites directly from their mobile devices. However, the experience might not be optimal due to the smaller screen size, and navigating through the admin dashboard could be difficult.
Therefore, both IONOS and Volusion receive the same score for their mobile editing capabilities.
Product testing options
Product Testing OptionsAssesses the options for trying out platform features before commitment.Score Components:
- Trial quality (40%): Extent and usefulness of the trial or free version.
- Feature accessibility (30%): How many features are available to test.
- Trial duration (20%): Length of the trial period.
- Ease of transition (10%): Smoothness of moving from trial to paid plans.
6.5
7.6
Overall Result
:
Volusion wins
. Volusion scores 7.6, higher than IONOS’s 6.5, in product testing options. Volusion offers a 14-day free trial during which premium features can be tested. IONOS, on the other hand, does not offer a free trial but allows testing of 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 30-day refundable period |
During free trial period |
|
Money Back Guarantee |
30 days |
No |
Price
PriceLooks at the cost-effectiveness and value for money of each platform.Score Components:
- Plan value (40%): What each pricing tier offers.
- Transparency and clarity (30%): Clearness of pricing structures.
- Flexibility of plans (20%): Range of options to suit different budgets.
- Hidden costs (10%): Additional expenses not included in the plan.
7.8
7.6
Both IONOS and Volusion offer a range of pricing options, with Volusion providing more tailored solutions for larger businesses.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
$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-$40 |
Pro ($30/month): Advanced for scaling, unlimited space/pages, 50GB email, SEO tools, comprehensive marketing tools. Value for price: 9.0 |
Personal ($35/month): Suitable for small businesses, allowing up to 100 products, 1 staff account, and offers support via live chat and email. Supports stores with up to $50K in GMV/year. This plan allows to manage 1 website and there is no limitation of number of pages offered. Value for price: 6.5 |
|
$70-$80 |
No offering at this amount. |
Professional ($79/month): Targets growing businesses with up to 5,000 products, 5 staff accounts, and additional features like newsletters, abandoned cart reports, and phone orders. Supports up to $100K in GMV/year. This plan allows to manage 1 website and there is no limitation of number of pages offered. Value for price: 7.5 |
|
$200+ |
No offering at this amount. |
Business ($299/month): Designed for large stores, offering unlimited products, 15 staff accounts, priority support, and integrations with Amazon and eBay. Supports stores with up to $500K in GMV/year. This plan allows to manage 1 website and there is no limitation of number of pages offered. Value for Price: 8.0 |
location. As a result in rare cases the prices displayed here can differ from the ones you see on their
websites.
Hosting quality
Hosting
qualityExamines the reliability and performance of the hosting solutions.Score Components:
- Uptime (40%): Consistency and reliability of website availability.
- Speed (30%): Loading times and performance.
- Bandwidth and storage (20%): Sufficiency of resources provided.
- Data centers (10%): Quality and distribution of hosting infrastructure.
8.8
7.0
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, Volusion offers managed cloud hosting with unlimited storage and bandwidth across its plans, and a 99.9% uptime guarantee. However, it does not publicly disclose any information about their data centers, which puts it at a disadvantage compared to IONOS.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Do they offer hosting? |
Yes, IONOS offers a diverse range of hosting services including shared, VPS, dedicated, and WordPress hosting. |
Yes, Volusion offers managed cloud hosting with unlimited storage and bandwidth across its plans. |
|
Data Centers: |
Total of 7 data centers in EU(Frankfurt, Berlin, Paris, Logroño) and USA(Las Vegas, NV; Newark, NJ; Lenexa, KS) |
Volusion does not publicly disclose any information about their data centers |
|
Type of hosting: |
Shared, Dedicated, VPS, WordPress Hosting |
Managed Cloud Hosting |
|
Uptime: |
99.99% |
99.9% |
|
Uptime Guarantee: |
Yes, 99.99% |
Yes, 99.9% |
Website Speed Optimization
Website Speed OptimizationEvaluates optimization of website loading timesScore Components:
- PageSpeed Score (30%): Google’s score indicating performance optimization.
- Loading Time (30%): The average time until a website is fully interactive.
- Mobile Optimization (15%): Optimization effectiveness for mobile devices.
- Resource Optimization (15%): Optimizing images, scripts, and other heavy resources.
- CDN Usage (10%): Use of CDN to enhance speed across geolocations.
7.2
7.1
🏆 Winner: IONOS
Both IONOS and Volusion have a strong focus on website speed optimization, but IONOS slightly outperforms Volusion in this area.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
Focus |
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Optimization |
CDN, Image optimization, Code minification |
|
Performance Tools |
WordPress Optimization, Caching, CDN |
Regular Monitoring and Updates, SEO optimization |
|
Key Strategies |
HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Optimization, Image and Multimedia Optimization, Caching, WordPress Optimization, CDN |
CDN, Image optimization, Code minification, Regular Monitoring and Updates, SEO optimization |
|
Load Times |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization, website complexity |
|
Page Speed Scores Range |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location |
Varies widely, depending on the optimization, website complexity |
|
Core Web Vitals Improvement |
Emphasis on LCP, FID, CLS improvements |
Implementing various performance optimization techniques |
IONOS focuses on HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Optimization, Image and Multimedia Optimization, Caching, WordPress Optimization, and CDN for speed optimization. The load times and PageSpeed scores vary widely, depending on the optimization and user’s location. IONOS also emphasizes on LCP, FID, CLS improvements for Core Web Vital improvements.
On the other hand, Volusion focuses on CDN, Image optimization, Code minification, Regular Monitoring and Updates, and SEO optimization for speed optimization. The load times and PageSpeed scores also vary widely, depending on the optimization and website complexity. Volusion implements various performance optimization techniques for Core Web Vital improvements.
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Plugins and integrations
Plugins and integrationsMeasures the range and effectiveness of additional plugins and integrations.Score Components:
- Variety of options (40%): Range of available add-ons.
- Integration smoothness (30%): Ease of integrating plugins into the site.
- Quality of plugins (20%): Functionality and reliability of the options.
- Custom integration capabilities (10%): Support for custom or third-party integrations.
6.5
6.8
🏆 Winner: Volusion.
With a score of 6.8, Volusion edges out IONOS (6.5) in the plugins and integrations category. Volusion offers a marketplace with a variety of integrations to enhance its ecommerce platform, including tools and services across categories such as Accounting, Business Resources, Channel Management, Customer & Relationship Management, Design, Domain Registration, Email Marketing, Fulfillment, International, Live Chat, Marketing, Mobile, Order Management, Payment Processing, Security, Shipping, and Shopping Feeds. In total, there are 82 integrations available to help complete your ecommerce business needs.
On the other hand, IONOS offers over 100 plugins to enhance the functionality of your website, including features such as contact forms, social media integration, and ecommerce capabilities. However, Volusion’s integrations offer more payment options, sophisticated SEO tools, and improved inventory and shipping management, tailoring the platform to meet specific business needs.
Marketing Features
Marketing featuresAssesses tools and options available for marketing.Score Components:
- SEO tools (40%): Effectiveness of SEO features.
- Marketing automation (30%): Availability and quality of marketing tools.
- Social Media integration (20%): Ease and depth of social media connectivity.
- Email marketing (10%): Quality and usability of email marketing tools.
7.5
6.9
🏆
Overall Winner: IONOS
. IONOS stands out for its comprehensive marketing tools, especially in SEO, email marketing, and ad campaign management. Volusion, while strong in SEO and social media integration, lacks in blogging and has limited options for ads and promotions.
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
SEO Tools |
|
|
|
Email Marketing |
|
|
|
Blogging |
|
|
|
Social Media Integration |
Direct sales on Facebook and Instagram |
Direct sales on Facebook and Instagram |
|
Analytics and Reporting |
Detailed insights through built-in metrics and SiteAnalytics |
Basic analytics for website traffic and engagement |
|
Ads and Promotions |
Sophisticated ad campaign management with Google Ads |
Limited options for ads and promotions |
Customer Support
Customer supportEvaluates the quality and availability of support options.Score Components:
- Response time (40%): Speed of support responses.
- Support quality (30%): Effectiveness and helpfulness of the support.
- Availability (20%): Range of support channels (phone, chat, email).
- Resource richness (10%): Quality of self-help and educational materials.
7.3
7.0
🏆 Winner: IONOS
. IONOS edges out Volusion in this category with a slightly higher customer support score. IONOS provides 24/7 customer support, ensuring that users can reach out for help whenever needed. They offer assistance with the user interface of the website builder and have multiple contact numbers for immediate assistance.
Volusion, on the other hand, provides customer support to merchants on their Business Plan and Prime Plan. Support is available via phone during business hours and 24/7 chat support is available through the Merchant Center dashboard for all users. For enterprise-level customers, Volusion provides priority phone and live chat support during working hours, as well as 24/7 mail support.
Security
SecurityLooks at the platforms’ security measures and data protection.Score Components:
- Data protection (40%): Safeguards for user and customer data.
- SSL and encryption (30%): Implementation of secure connections.
- Compliance (20%): Adherence to industry security standards.
- Regular updates (10%): Frequency of security updates and patches.
7.5
8.7
🏆
Winner: Volusion
. Volusion takes the lead in security with a higher score of 8.7 compared to IONOS’s 7.5. Volusion’s security measures are comprehensive, including data encryption, two-factor authentication, SSL certificates, PCI DSS compliance, firewalls, regular security audits, and DDoS protection. These features ensure the safety of both the website and the sensitive data it handles, making it a reliable choice for businesses.
IONOS, while offering robust security measures such as secure file storage, end-to-end encryption, and guidance on security practices, falls slightly short in comparison to Volusion’s specialized ecommerce security features. Nonetheless, IONOS remains a secure platform for building and hosting websites.
AI Capabilities
AI capabilitiesMeasures the effectiveness of AI-driven features and tools.Score Components:
- Automation efficiency (40%): Impact of AI on streamlining processes.
- Personalization (30%): AI-driven customization for users or customers.
- AI-Assisted design (20%): Role of AI in website design and functionality.
- Data analysis (10%): Use of AI in interpreting user data and analytics.
7.2
0.0
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
|
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. Additional AI features include the AI Section Generator for adding new sections to the website and the AI Color Palette Generator for creating visually appealing color schemes.
Volusion, on the other hand, does not have any AI capabilities. This lack of AI features can limit the website creation and optimization process, making it less efficient and tailored to the user’s needs.
User Management
User ManagementAssesses the platforms’ capabilities in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility.Score Components:
- Role Customization (40%): Flexibility in creating and defining user roles and
permissions. - Ease of Management (30%): User interface and tools for managing users.
- Access Control (20%): Effectiveness of access control measures for different user
levels. - Scalability (10%): Ability to manage a growing number of users efficiently.
3.1
7.7
🏆 Winner: Volusion
. Volusion offers a more robust user management system compared to IONOS.
- 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.
- Volusion offers customizable user account management with various roles and permissions tailored for efficient online store operation. Subscription plans determine the number of staff accounts available: 1 in the Personal Plan, 5 in the Professional Plan, 15 in the Business Plan, and unlimited in the Prime Plan. This range ensures scalability and flexibility to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, enabling effective management and operation of eCommerce teams across different business scales.
Unfortunately, there are no user roles and access levels tables available for both IONOS and Volusion.
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, primarily a hosting provider with a website builder product, has received mixed reviews. Users appreciate its comprehensive packages, personalized support, and streamlined interface for IT professionals. However, some users have reported issues with backend functionality and found customer service representatives to be too pushy. Despite occasional short outages, the overall reliability and responsiveness of the service are appreciated by users.
On the other hand, Volusion is generally appreciated for its affordability compared to competitors like Shopify, and its simplified user interface is suitable for non-tech users. However, there are concerns about its limited integrations and frequent technical issues, such as crashes and slow support responses. Some users feel that Volusion lacks the advanced features and customization options offered by competitors like Shopify, making it less competitive in the market. Despite these drawbacks, Volusion remains a feasible option for small to medium-sized businesses seeking a budget-friendly solution for establishing an online store.
The making of this blog
We followed a clear, step-by-step process to write and research this article.
FAQ
Which platform is better for ecommerce, IONOS or Volusion?
Can I use IONOS and Volusion for creating a blog or informational website?
How do IONOS and Volusion compare in terms of design and customization?
Which platform offers better support and learning resources?
Are there any significant differences in pricing between IONOS and Volusion?
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