Ionos vs Contabo: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over IONOS vs. Contabo, IONOS provides a more user-friendly experience with a broader range of features, while Contabo excels in raw performance and value.

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  Contabo (Overall grade: 7.6)
  
  
  boasts high-performance hosting with impressive uptime, advanced AMD EPYC processors, and flexible upgrade options. Their VPS and dedicated servers offer ample resources, making it ideal for users who prioritize server power and efficiency. Despite its high performance, Contabo’s customer support lacks the comprehensiveness seen with IONOS, and there are occasional concerns about downtime. The control panel is more suited for users with technical backgrounds, which might be challenging for beginners.
  
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  IONOS (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  
  shines with its intuitive user interface, comprehensive support resources, and robust security measures. Offering a variety of hosting types like shared, WordPress, and eCommerce, it caters to a wide range of users including agencies and businesses aiming for growth. Free domains, daily backups, easy scalability, and a personal consultant add to its user-friendly approach. While it doesn’t match Contabo’s raw processing power, its balanced mix of features and excellent customer support make it an attractive option for those seeking a dependable and comprehensive hosting solution.
  

Hosting types offered

Both platforms provide a variety of hosting types, each designed to meet the different needs of users.

Although both offer a variety of hosting plans tailored to different needs, in
certain cases, one platform may prove to be more suitable.

Detailed comparison

Section 1: Winner Contabo: An impressive uptime guarantee with high-performance infrastructure.

Section 2: IONOS provides a solid hosting solution with a 99.9% uptime guarantee. Its georedundant infrastructure ensures data is mirrored in two data centers, which enhances reliability during maintenance or outages. DDoS protection and daily backups are additional features that help maintain the safety and availability of your website. Furthermore, the inclusion of a Cloudflare CDN boosts the performance by distributing the content globally, thereby improving load times.

Section 3: Contabo outshines with a remarkable 99.996% uptime guarantee, minimizing downtime. It boasts multiple data centers around the globe and employs advanced AMD EPYC processors, ensuring fast and efficient performance. Their 24/7 CCTV-monitored facilities reinforce the security of your data alongside effective DDoS protection. With no reported downtime in performance monitoring and top ratings for speed, Contabo delivers a robust hosting experience.

🏆 Winner: Contabo: Offering exceptional value with high performance and numerous features.

When comparing general performance, both IONOS and Contabo excel in different areas. IONOS uses dual platform technology, SSD storage, and a Cloudflare CDN to speed up website load times, along with a range of server locations. In contrast, Contabo opts for AMD EPYC processors, offers storage through SSD or NVMe SSD, and guarantees a global data center presence for optimized content delivery. IONOS offers an easier, built-in CDN solution, while Contabo provides more advanced infrastructure and higher transfer speeds.

Website Speed

Website speed is outstanding on both platforms, with IONOS utilizing HTTP/2 protocol and the latest PHP 8.2 with JIT compiler, enhancing the performance even further. On the other hand, Contabo leverages 16-core AMD EPYC processors and NVMe SSD to ensure rapid website response times. While IONOS focuses on comprehensive speed features and CDN integration, Contabo’s emphasis on high-performing hardware gives it a slight edge in raw speed.

Scalability

Scalability is intuitive with IONOS, offering scalable performance management and easy adjustments for an additional $2/month per performance level. IONOS also provides email notifications when performance limits are reached. Contabo allows easy upgrades of VPS packages without sacrificing availability, though specific details on elasticity and dedicated servers are unknown. Overall, IONOS provides more direct and user-friendly scaling options.

🏆 Winner IONOS: IONOS stands out with advanced security measures and comprehensive protection features.

Both IONOS and Contabo have notable differences in their approaches to technical and operational
security, as well as in their compliance with regulations.

Technical security measures:

IONOS provides robust technical security with a range of SSL certificates including DV, OV, and EV, offering up to 256-bit encryption. Contabo also offers SSL certificates but primarily focuses on secure communications for cPanel and Plesk servers. Both providers allow the use of customizable PHP versions; however, IONOS extends support for older PHP versions too. Contabo incorporates Imunify AV for basic malware scanning on cPanel servers, whereas IONOS offers daily backups and automatic malware removal. Both offer DDoS protection, with Contabo deploying proprietary software and IONOS employing an advanced DDoS shield.

Operational security measures:

IONOS ensures site reliability with georedundant data centers and customizable firewall rules through the Cloud Panel. Contabo secures physical data centers with 24/7 CCTV surveillance and magnetic card access, also implementing role-based access controls. Two-Factor Authentication is mandatory for Contabo accounts, enhancing its operational security. IONOS integrates SSH and SFTP access for secure site management, along with anti-phishing and spam filters. Both providers offer 24/7 technical support, although IONOS assigns a personal consultant for personalized guidance.

Compliance and certifications:

Both IONOS and Contabo are fully GDPR compliant, adhering to the European Union’s data protection regulations. IONOS ISO certification underscores its commitment to stringent security standards, whereas Contabo does not specify any compliance with HIPAA or any other certifications explicitly. PCI compliance details are not provided for either provider, though both emphasize secure transactions as part of their hosting services.

🏆 Winner
Contabo: A versatile hosting provider known for its powerful infrastructure and performance.

When comparing IONOS and Contabo, both providers offer robust hosting solutions tailored to meet diverse needs. IONOS provides an intuitive experience with its dual platform technology, scalable performance management, and seamless app integration through its Click & Build feature. The inclusion of a free Wildcard SSL certificate, daily backups, and round-the-clock customer support ensures a reliable and secure hosting environment. Additionally, IONOS stands out with its free domains for the first year and a personal consultant service, which can be appealing for those looking for a guided and straightforward setup process.

Contabo, on the other hand, boasts high-performance hosting through the use of AMD EPYC processors and offers superior storage options with SSD and Gen 4 PCIe NVMe SSDs. With a higher uptime guarantee of 99.996%, Contabo ensures almost constant availability. It provides extensive control panel features, allowing for detailed management and customization. While Contabo may not explicitly mention a website builder like IONOS, its comprehensive control over servers and higher traffic allowance can cater to users who seek high-performance hosting without significant limitations. Contabo’s pricing structure also includes flexible upgrade options, allowing customers to scale their resources efficiently.

Both providers support a range of users from beginners to experts with user-friendly website builders and WordPress staging areas. However, in terms of developer tools, both IONOS and Contabo offer robust options including SSH access, support for multiple programming languages, and Git for version control, thus appealing to developers looking for advanced capabilities.

Email services:

IONOS provides a free professional email with each plan, making it easy for users to set up and manage their own email campaigns. Contabo offers basic email hosting but does not include advanced email marketing tools. Both providers support transactional email capabilities. While IONOS gives you a professional email with each plan, Contabo’s email features focus more on fundamental functionalities rather than advanced services.

🏆 Winner IONOS: Offering a blend of affordability and rich features, IONOS stands out as a top choice for hosting services.

Evaluating the pricing of plans among various hosting providers can be complex due to their differing pricing and renewal strategies. Additionally, certain plans require annual commitments, which adds to the difficulty of making comparisons. The prices listed are based on monthly commitments; plans requiring annual commitments are indicated. Additionally, although some providers offer identical plans for WordPress and shared hosting, we have created separate tables for each to enhance clarity.

Comparing the pricing plans of IONOS and Contabo reveals a variety of options catered to different needs. IONOS offers a range of shared hosting and managed WordPress hosting plans starting at $4 to $9 per month, complete with essential features like free domains for the first year and daily backups. Contabo, on the other hand, focuses more on VPS and dedicated servers, offering self-managed VPS plans starting at $3.99 per month with high CPU cores and RAM, but fewer freebies like domains or email services. Both providers offer strong support and robust security features, though IONOS includes a 30-day money-back guarantee and enhanced customer support, making it a slightly more attractive option for many users.

Enterprise plans

For enterprise-level needs, Contabo’s dedicated servers, such as the AMD EPYC 32 Cores plan at €301.97/month, offer substantial resources, including 256GB RAM and unlimited domains. IONOS does not provide similarly extensive dedicated servers but shines with its Ultimate Plan at $16/month, including unlimited websites, storage, and databases, making it highly suitable for large-scale project hosting with maximum CPU & MEM resources. Both providers offer robust support and high performance, making them reliable choices for enterprises.

🏆 Winner IONOS: Offers a user-friendly setup and extensive support resources.

IONOS utilizes a custom admin panel, specifically designed to provide a seamless experience to both technical and non-technical users. The panel is notably intuitive, with its WP Assistant aiding in WordPress setup, making it straightforward even for beginners. Additionally, the Click & Build feature allows easy installation of various apps like TYPO3, Joomla, and Drupal. This ease of access is further supported by managed WordPress hosting, which ensures that users can customize updates and access a wide array of free plugins and themes.

Contabo, on the other hand, employs a Control Panel designed to manage services like VPS efficiently. While it also accommodates both beginners and advanced users, its layout is more tailored towards those who have some technical background. Users can manage server settings, perform snapshots, and monitor various server statuses through a series of categorized menus. Though functional, it may seem less intuitive to complete novices as compared to IONOS’s admin panel.

IONOS offers automated tools for site migration, which simplifies transitioning your site from one host to another. This service is embedded within their managed WordPress offering and is usually included in the hosting package, making it both cost-effective and straightforward. Contabo requires a more manual approach for site migration, often involving multiple steps and potentially extra fees for managed services to facilitate the process.

IONOS’s help center boasts comprehensive resources, including articles, tutorials, and 24/7 customer support via phone, chat, and email. Additionally, every customer gets access to a personal consultant for individualized guidance. Contabo also offers a broad range of tutorials and FAQs to help users navigate their services, though their support availability is slightly limited to specific hours and fewer days.

🏆 Winner
IONOS: A hosting provider offering a comprehensive suite of user management features.

When comparing IONOS and Contabo in managing user roles, permissions, and accessibility, IONOS offers a more structured and detailed approach. IONOS allows creating, cloning, and deleting roles, with extensive details such as role names, descriptions, statuses, and associated users. Users on IONOS can be assigned multiple roles, with permissions finely tuned via permission groups like ‘Display.’ In contrast, Contabo’s focus is more on user details and security features. While Contabo allows the authorization of other users for server permissions, it lacks the depth of role-specific permissions management offered by IONOS.

Regarding user interfaces and tools, IONOS provides a comprehensive Cloud Panel where roles and permissions are managed in an organized manner. The interface supports creating, cloning, and detailed editing of roles with clear tabs for permissions and user assignments. Contabo’s Control Panel emphasizes ease of use but is more centered on personal information, security settings such as Two-Factor Authentication, and API credentials. While functional, Contabo’s tools for managing users and roles are less versatile compared to IONOS’s feature-rich Cloud Panel.

In terms of access control measures and their capability to manage a growing number of users efficiently, IONOS excels with its role-based permissions system. This structured approach ensures that as the number of users increases, administrators can maintain control by fine-tuning access levels through well-defined roles and permissions. Contabo, while providing crucial security measures like mandatory Two-Factor Authentication and DDoS protection, doesn’t offer the same level of detailed access control. This makes it less suited for growing teams that require precise permission settings and role assignments.

IONOS user roles table:

Contabo user roles table:

🏆 Winner
IONOS: Offering 24/7 customer service through multiple channels and personalized support.

IONOS offers comprehensive customer support available 24/7 via phone, chat, and email, as well as a personal consultant for tailored assistance. Their help center and community resources add additional layers of support. The 30-day money-back guarantee provides a safety net for new users, highlighting their commitment to quality service.

In contrast, Contabo provides various support channels, including phone and email, but lacks live chat and 24-hour coverage. Their support ticket system is responsive, although the quality can vary. Managed services and emergency support upgrades cater to advanced needs, but the absence of a money-back guarantee is a notable limitation. Contabo’s additional resources like the knowledge base and server status page offer practical assistance but do not match the round-the-clock coverage of IONOS.

User feedback

The user feedback on the hosting provider is highly mixed. Some customers appreciate the affordability and ease of use, particularly for startups, and praise the good customer support and convenient packages. However, many others criticize the company’s unreliable service, outdated user interface, and poor handling of issues, including severe downtime and inadequate customer support. There are also concerns about deceptive business practices and difficulty with account management, leading to significant dissatisfaction among long-term users.

Contabo offers affordable and powerful VPS plans, which are particularly beneficial for running demanding software and complex tasks. Several users have praised the reliability, stability, and cost-effectiveness of the service, highlighting its great value for money. However, frequent downtime, limited customer support, and a somewhat outdated control panel have been significant points of concern. Some users have experienced slow response times and unresolved service requests, suggesting areas for improvement in customer service and operational transparency.

FAQ