Ionos vs Kinsta: guide for 2024

Ionos vs Kinsta: Final verdict

Looking over IONOS vs. Kinsta, both hosting providers offer robust features but cater to somewhat different audiences and needs.

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  Kinsta (Overall grade: 8.5)
  
  
  is a premium managed WordPress hosting solution that excels in performance, security, and support. Built on the Google Cloud Platform, Kinsta boasts superior uptime, rapid load times, and seamlessly scalable plans, making it ideal for high-traffic websites and enterprises. Developers appreciate the advanced tools like WP-CLI, SSH access, and Git integration, alongside instant staging environments for efficient workflows. While Kinsta’s pricing is on the higher side, the comprehensive features and dedicated WordPress focus justify the cost, particularly for users needing high reliability and advanced capabilities.
  
• 
  IONOS (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  
  provides a wide range of hosting types, from shared hosting to VPS and dedicated servers, making it versatile and suitable for various user needs, particularly small to medium-sized businesses and beginners. With strong features such as georedundant infrastructure, DDoS protection, daily backups, and extensive email hosting, IONOS is cost-effective and resource-rich. It stands out with a custom control panel, Click & Build support for different CMS applications, and personalized customer assistance. However, it doesn’t quite match Kinsta’s performance and specialized WordPress features, which may be critical for certain users.
  

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

🏆 Winner Kinsta: Proven consistent performance and excellent uptime scores make Kinsta the top choice.

IONOS offers a 99.9% uptime guaranteed by georedundant infrastructure and DDoS protection. With Cloudflare CDN, IONOS ensures faster load times and continuous connectivity through redundant network infrastructure. The service includes daily backups, scalable performance levels, and a mobile admin app for easy management, making it a strong contender with reliable uptime and availability.

Kinsta stands out with its impressive uptime results, consistently demonstrating 100% uptime in various tests over the past three years. Built on the Google Cloud Platform and integrated with Cloudflare, Kinsta offers rapid response times and efficient load handling. The continuous monitoring and quick intervention by their engineers underscore Kinsta’s commitment to maintaining high availability for its users.

🏆 Winner
Kinsta: Superior performance and versatility. When comparing the general performance of IONOS and Kinsta, Kinsta stands out. Kinsta’s infrastructure is built on the Google Cloud Platform’s premium network and utilizes Google Cloud’s fastest C2 and C3D virtual machines. This robust setup, coupled with edge caching, ensures rapid load times and improved site performance. IONOS, while impressive with its SSD storage and PHP 8.2, isn’t quite as dynamic. Both hostings offer a CDN distributed across numerous global data centers—Kinsta with 35 locations and IONOS with over 60. The solid dual-platform technology in IONOS compares well to Kinsta’s continuous MySQL optimizations and code minification.

Website Speed

Website speed is a critical factor for both providers. Kinsta excels with edge caching that reduces Time to First Byte (TTFB) by up to 50% and enhanced image optimization. IONOS uses SSD storage and HTTP/2 protocol to ensure fast load times and efficient multiplexing for SSL traffic. Both leverage Cloudflare CDN to hasten global delivery, but Kinsta’s additional measures like code minification and early hints provide an edge in overall speed optimization, albeit at a higher base cost.

Scalability

Kinsta’s scalability options are flexible and straightforward. Users can scale resources as needed without changing plans, thanks to the cloud-based infrastructure. They charge based on resource consumption, ensuring you only pay for what you use. IONOS offers scalable performance management with automated email alerts when nearing plan limits, costing an additional $2 per performance level increment. Both offer dedicated servers, but Kinsta’s approach to scaling appears more seamless and user-friendly.

🏆 Winner Kinsta: Kinsta offers robust security features, including comprehensive malware removal and advanced monitoring for WordPress sites.

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

Technical security measures:

IONOS provides diverse SSL certificates ranging from Domain Validated to Extended Validation, with up to 256-bit encryption, whereas Kinsta offers free SSL certificates with automatic renewals and support for custom and wildcard certificates. Both providers support multiple PHP versions, but IONOS offers extended support for older versions along with JIT Compiler and OPcache. Kinsta’s backup options are more varied, including automatic hourly backups for frequently changing sites. Additionally, Kinsta has a proactive monitoring system that checks site uptime every 3 minutes, which provides an added layer of security.

Operational security measures:

IONOS features advanced DDoS protection, daily malware scans, automatic malware removal, and customizable firewall rules through their Cloud Panel. They also offer daily backups with six days of data recovery and use georedundant data centers to ensure uptime. Kinsta also excels in operational security, with a fully managed WAF, Cloudflare enterprise DDoS protection, and Google Cloud firewall. Kinsta provides free malware removal services and security vulnerability alerts. Both hosts provide secure remote access through SSH and SFTP, but Kinsta also offers an IP deny tool and force HTTPS with a single click.

Compliance and certifications:

Both IONOS and Kinsta ensure compliance with GDPR. While IONOS does not explicitly mention PCI compliance, their focus on SSL and data protection suggests some level of conformity. Kinsta, on the other hand, is SOC 2 compliant, providing enterprise-grade security, and they also ensure PCI compliance through robust infrastructure.

🏆 Winner: Kinsta
Kinsta: A premium managed WordPress hosting with advanced developer tools and excellent customer support.

Both IONOS and Kinsta provide feature-rich hosting services geared toward different user needs. IONOS stands out with its georedundant infrastructure, DDoS protection, and daily backups, offering high levels of security and reliability. Furthermore, every plan includes a free domain for the first year, a professional email account, and a free Wildcard SSL certificate, making it a cost-effective choice for many users. It not only offers daily backups but also integrates a content delivery network (CDN) through Cloudflare for enhanced speed and performance. On the flip side, Kinsta specializes in managed WordPress hosting with cutting-edge developer tools like WP-CLI, SSH access, and Git integration. It allows for complex customization through a user-friendly interface and robust feature set tailored for scalability and high performance. The availability of instant staging environments further sets Kinsta apart, catering to developers needing a seamless workflow.

One significant difference is the presence of a website builder. While IONOS has a more general hosting approach supporting various applications like Joomla, Drupal, and PrestaShop, Kinsta focuses exclusively on WordPress, which might be advantageous for users committed to the WordPress ecosystem. Kinsta also offers a staging environment for testing changes before live deployment, a feature not mentioned for IONOS. When considering add-ons, the free Fiverr credit with IONOS’s Managed WordPress plans offers added value. Both providers come with a money-back guarantee, which ensures some level of risk mitigation. However, IONOS’s affordability with extensive basic resources makes it appealing for beginners, whereas Kinsta’s premium price reflects its advanced capabilities and dedicated WordPress focus.

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 Kinsta 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 professional email hosting as a standard across all plans, which can be useful for users needing in-domain email capabilities for their websites. It also offers anti-spam and anti-phishing filters to enhance security. On the other hand, Kinsta does not include email hosting. Instead, users are encouraged to use third-party email services like Google Workspace or Microsoft Office 365 for such needs. This separation can offer more specialized email features but might add to the overall cost.

🏆 Winner
Kinsta: Kinsta scores slightly higher overall, mainly due to the robust features included in their plans and the transparency of what’s included.

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 Kinsta reveals distinct differences in their offerings and pricing structures. IONOS provides a range of affordable plans, like its Essential Plan starting at $4/month for web hosting or the Start Plan at $4/month for managed WordPress hosting, each including features like free domains, SSL certificates, and daily backups. Kinsta’s offerings, though pricier with the Starter Plan at $35/month, cater to higher traffic volumes and enhanced support services, such as premium migrations and extensive CDN allowances. Both providers emphasize different aspects, with IONOS focusing on affordability and basic resource offerings suitable for smaller sites, while Kinsta targets performance and feature-rich plans ideal for growing or high-traffic websites.

Enterprise plans

IONOS doesn’t have enterprise plans, but their VPS and dedicated hosting plans may be suitable the needs of larger businesses or enterprises. Kinsta does not have dedicated or VPS hosting options, however the platform offers Reseller Hosting and plans for specifically for agencies, which can be suitable for enterprises.

🏆 Winner Kinsta: Streamlined site management with a custom-built, award-winning dashboard.

IONOS utilizes a user-friendly interface through its Click & Build and WP Assistant for various CMS applications like WordPress, Joomla, and PrestaShop. It doesn’t rely on the standard cPanel; instead, it incorporates a custom solution aimed at quick and easy setup for both novice and experienced users. The managed hosting solutions further simplify updates and offer an array of plugins and themes, adding to the accessibility of the admin panel. IONOS provides scalable options and continuous updates to ensure consistent performance.

Kinsta’s MyKinsta dashboard is a custom-built solution that has garnered several awards for its intuitive design. It includes features like one-click backup creation, easy cache management, and simple PHP version selection, making it exceptionally user-friendly. The admin panel is tailored for both technical and non-technical users, eliminating the complexities often associated with managing a website. Moreover, staging environments simplify the testing process, allowing changes to be made without affecting the live site, which is a significant advantage for developers.

Kinsta offers a straightforward migration process that can be initiated directly through the MyKinsta dashboard. Both basic and premium migrations are available, and you can request help from their expert support team. These migration services can vary in cost depending on the complexity. IONOS also provides migration capabilities, particularly for WordPress users through the WP Assistant, however, it’s less comprehensive compared to Kinsta’s offerings. IONOS’s migration processes often rely on user intervention, though they are simplified by their Click & Build feature.

The platforms provide extensive knowledge bases filled with guides, how-to articles, and instructional content. IONOS offers a wide range of resources alongside 24/7 chat and phone support. Kinsta also boasts a detailed help center with an intuitive search function and around-the-clock support via live chat, phone, and ticketing, ensuring comprehensive user support.

🏆 Winner IONOS: A versatile and detailed user management system with flexible role assignments and permissions.

IONOS offers a highly customizable user management experience, allowing administrators to create, clone, and delete roles with ease. Users can be assigned multiple roles, providing granular control over access permissions. By default, users gain the Administrator role with full permissions, and other roles can be configured to allow or restrict access to specific sections of the Cloud Panel. Kinsta, however, assigns predefined roles such as Company Owners, Administrators, and Developers, limiting the flexibility to customize user roles and permissions. While IONOS emphasizes role-based access control, Kinsta relies more on the responsibilities assigned to the users themselves.

IONOS provides a detailed user interface through its Cloud Panel, allowing administrators to manage roles and permissions effectively. The roles and permissions pages offer comprehensive overviews and editing capabilities. The interface includes clear tables listing roles, their statuses, and assigned users. In comparison, Kinsta’s MyKinsta dashboard focuses on user settings, security options like Two-Factor Authentication (2FA), and basic user management for adding and removing users. While both platforms aim for simplicity, IONOS provides more detailed tools for managing user roles and permissions.

For access control measures, IONOS excels by offering quick selection of permission groups that can be tailored to user needs. This allows for both broad and specific access configurations, supporting the management of a growing number of users efficiently. Kinsta focuses on ensuring that customers handle their own user access and maintain secure credentials, but it lacks the advanced role management flexibility found in IONOS. Kinsta’s approach may require more administrative oversight to ensure all users have the correct access levels and permissions.

IONOS user roles table:

🏆 Winner IONOS: Offers 24/7 award-winning support with personalized consultants and multiple contact channels.

IONOS and Kinsta each provide extensive customer support, but there are notable differences. IONOS has 24/7 support through phone, chat, and email, along with a personal consultant available during standard business hours, which might cater well to those seeking direct and immediate assistance. Their award-winning customer service and money-back guarantee add to the peace of mind for users.

Kinsta also offers 24/7 live chat support for customers with a paid plan, and email support for all inquiries. Although Kinsta provides multilingual support and fast response times, their phone support is limited to sales inquiries, which might not suit everyone. Kinsta’s proactive site monitoring and multiple support languages are strong features, but the lack of dedicated agents for enterprise support might be a downside compared to IONOS.

Ionos vs Kinsta: 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.

Kinsta is highly recommended by users for its reliable and easy-to-use hosting services, particularly for WordPress sites. Customers appreciate the fast and responsive customer support, impressive speed, and robust security features provided by the platform. The user-friendly dashboard and extensive documentation also stand out as significant advantages, making it easy for both novices and tech-savvy individuals to manage their sites. However, some users find the pricing to be on the higher side, and a few have suggested improvements like expanding data center locations and providing direct access to all integrated services. Overall, Kinsta is praised for delivering a high-quality, dependable hosting experience.

Ionos vs Kinsta: FAQ