Ionos vs Knownhost: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over IONOS vs. KnownHost, both hosting providers offer a range of robust features, but KnownHost inches ahead in terms of performance and customer satisfaction.

• 
  KnownHost (Overall grade: 8.6)
  
  
  stands out for its superior uptime, excellent customer service, and performance enhancements such as LiteSpeed and LSCache. It’s particularly suited for high-traffic and multimedia websites due to its use of NVMe storage and advanced security features like Imunify360. KnownHost assures rapid website loading times and extensive DDoS protection included in their plans without extra costs. However, it lacks mentioned scalability details, and the pricing may seem steep for some users. Nonetheless, its premium features and kudos in customer support make KnownHost a preferred choice for those who prioritize performance and reliability.
  
• 
  IONOS (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  
  offers a comprehensive suite with a focus on scalability and extensive user management features. It boasts a georedundant infrastructure with a 99.9% uptime guarantee and Cloudflare CDN to improve global load times. Its strengths lie in managed WordPress hosting, ecommerce facilities, and specialized support through personal consultants. While its performance is solid, employing SSD storage and HTTP/2 protocol, it falls slightly behind KnownHost in terms of speed and uptime metrics. IONOS’s packages are feature-rich and competitively priced, making it a strong contender for small businesses and agencies needing customizable solutions.
  

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
KnownHost: It’s superior uptime and significantly faster response times make KnownHost a better choice for users who require high performance and stability from their hosting provider.

KnownHost shows a slightly superior performance in terms of reliability and speed. Both hosting services have impressive uptimes, with KnownHost slightly edging out Example hosting one with a 99.99% uptime over a 3-month period compared to Example hosting one’s 99.89%. This difference in uptime is reflected in the number and duration of outages, where KnownHost experienced 3 outages totaling 12 minutes, while Example hosting one had 5 outages totaling 2h 12 minutes.

KnownHost’s advantage is more pronounced in terms of server response time. It boasted an average response time of 389ms, which is significantly lower than the shared hosting industry standard and faster than Example hosting one’s average response time of 670ms, which can peak up to 1152ms. This suggests that KnownHost is not only more reliable in maintaining uptime but also in delivering faster website loading speeds, making it a preferable option for users prioritizing performance.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: Reliable hosting with excellent uptime and top-tier support.

Comparing general performance, KnownHost leverages the AMD EPYC platform and enterprise NVMe storage for high-speed performance, while IONOS employs SSD storage and HTTP/2 protocol for faster speed. Both offer free CDNs, with IONOS using Cloudflare which has over 60 global data centers. KnownHost and IONOS both guarantee impressive uptimes—KnownHost averages over 99.99%, while IONOS offers 99.9% uptime with georedundant infrastructure.

Website Speed

KnownHost uses LiteSpeed and LSCache, resulting in higher request processing rates and quicker web processing. IONOS benefits from dual platform technology and the latest PHP 8.2 version with a JIT compiler for efficient speed. Both providers are optimized for swift page load times, but KnownHost’s LiteSpeed setup offers an edge in processing efficiency.

Scalability

IONOS provides scalable performance management allowing you to adjust performance levels at an additional monthly cost, with email notifications to avoid overage issues. KnownHost’s elastic scaling capabilities are less clear from the provided information, and there is no explicit mention of dedicated servers. Hence, while both are flexible, IONOS offers more transparency and precise control over scaling costs.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: KnownHost offers robust security features and exceptional customer service that make it a top choice for web hosting.

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

Technical security measures:

IONOS offers a wide range of SSL certificates, including Domain Validated, Organization Validated, and Extended Validation options, with up to 256-bit encryption. KnownHost provides free SSL certificates and a variety of premium options from Comodo, RapidSSL, and GeoTrust. Both services offer DDoS protection, but KnownHost provides up to 500 Gbps of protection. IONOS includes advanced malware protection and site scanning, while KnownHost offers Imunify360 for automated security. For PHP versions, IONOS supports from PHP 4.0 to the latest 8.3, whereas KnownHost supports versions from 5.6 to 8.2.

Operational security measures:

Both IONOS and KnownHost have robust backup systems. IONOS provides daily automatic backups with up to six days of data recovery, whereas KnownHost offers fully automated backups stored off-server for easy deployment. KnownHost also offers LiteSpeed + LSCache for enhanced performance and security, CloudLinux for resource optimization, and mod_security for application protection. IONOS features georedundant data centers, firewall rules, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and SIEM software for continuous monitoring. Both providers ensure data is mirrored for uptime and protection.

Compliance and certifications:

IONOS is fully compliant with the European Union’s GDPR, ensuring strict data protection. KnownHost includes SSL certificates that help meet PCI compliance but does not specify HIPAA or full GDPR compliance. IONOS’ data centers are ISO certified, reflecting their adherence to stringent security standards. KnownHost’s focus on SSL certificates and security measures suggests a commitment to regulatory requirements, though details on compliance specifics are not provided.

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: KnownHost is lauded for its top-of-the-line performance and exceptional customer support, making it a standout choice for hosting services.

IONOS and KnownHost both offer robust hosting features designed to meet varied user needs. IONOS provides a 99.9% uptime guarantee and a georedundant infrastructure, ensuring reliable performance and data security. KnownHost goes a step further with its 99.99% uptime and NVMe storage, which promises swift performance. While IONOS includes dual platform technology and HTTP/2 protocol for quick page loads, KnownHost leverages LiteSpeed and LSCache. Both providers include automated backups, though KnownHost elevates security with Imunify360 and offers free SSL certificates. IONOS offers easy installation for apps and managed WordPress hosting, whereas KnownHost provides cPanel and Softaculous for managing over 400 apps.

The user-friendliness of KnownHost is seen in its streamlined migrations and USA-based customer support. IONOS, on the other hand, offers personalized advice through a personal consultant. While IONOS includes a free domain for the first year and a mobile admin app, KnownHost brings additional value with free domain privacy for life and DirectAdmin for WHMCS hosting. Another key difference is in their email services; IONOS includes a free professional email, which is valuable for small businesses. KnownHost’s hosting plans are varied, highlighting their flexibility from shared hosting to managed VPS, whereas IONOS offers scalable packages with different levels of CPU and MEM resources. Both providers guarantee a 30-day money-back policy.

Email services:

IONOS includes a free professional email with all hosting plans, which is suitable for small businesses needing basic email services. KnownHost offers email hosting as well, with the added advantage of free domain privacy. However, KnownHost does not resell third-party services like Google Workspace or Zoho, focusing instead on streamlined hosting packages. Both providers support email for transactional purposes, but their capacities for extensive email marketing may require additional tools or services.

🏆 Winner: KnownHost: Exceptional performance at competitive pricing, making it highly suitable for a variety of business needs.

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.

When comparing the pricing plans of IONOS and KnownHost, some key differences emerge. For WordPress hosting, IONOS starts at $4/month for one site, offering 25 GB storage, and $5/month for its enhanced plan with 50 GB storage and additional RAM. KnownHost’s WordPress hosting starts at $5.98/month offering 50 GB NVMe storage and unlimited email accounts. In shared hosting, IONOS’s most affordable plan is $3.47/month for one domain and 5 GB storage, while KnownHost starts at $3.47/month for similar features. IONOS also offers more extensive support and freebies such as free SSL certificates and daily backups.

Enterprise plans

For enterprises, KnownHost seems more suited given its extensive range of managed VPS and semi-dedicated hosting plans. The Basic VPS Server starts at $43.25/month with 4 GB RAM and 75 GB SSD storage. On the other hand, IONOS excels in shared hosting with plans like the Ultimate Plan at $16/month, featuring unlimited storage and maximum CPU and MEM resources. KnownHost offers greater flexibility and resources in higher-tier plans, making it the preferable choice for larger enterprises.

🏆 Winner KnownHost: KnownHost’s exemplary support and superior customer service make it a preferred choice.

When comparing the admin panels of IONOS and KnownHost, IONOS focuses on user-friendly setup processes with tools like the WP Assistant and Click & Build. These tools streamline the setup, making it accessible for non-technical users by allowing easy installations with a few clicks. KnownHost, on the other hand, utilizes Softaculous for one-click installations of various applications, catering to users seeking quick and straightforward deployments. KnownHost’s integration with industry-standard tools like cPanel ensures both technical and non-technical users can manage their websites efficiently. Both providers emphasize ease of use, but KnownHost’s instant setup and standard tools may offer a slight edge in intuitive usability.

In terms of migration tools, IONOS doesn’t specifically highlight free migration services but benefits from tools that simplify application deployment. KnownHost explicitly provides free migration services, often achieving zero downtime. This feature is a significant advantage for users looking to transfer their websites with minimal hassle, as KnownHost’s support staff handles the technical details, ensuring a smooth transition.

Evaluating the help center resources, IONOS offers a comprehensive Help Center and 24/7 customer support, including a personal consultant for tailored advice and technical support. The community forum also serves as a valuable resource for sharing knowledge. KnownHost features a detailed Knowledge Base with a plethora of guides and articles on various hosting aspects and encourages users to open support tickets for any unresolved issues. The customer feedback praises KnownHost’s quick and helpful responses, reflecting the effectiveness of their support system.

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. KnownHost 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: The comparison of user role management between IONOS and KnownHost reveals noticeable differences. IONOS provides an in-depth system where users can be assigned multiple roles with specific permissions. Administrators can create, clone, and delete roles, offering significant flexibility in defining what each user can access and control. Conversely, KnownHost centers their user management around guides available in their Knowledge Base, which is less dynamic compared to IONOS’s permissions and roles features. The ability to assign detailed permissions to roles in IONOS provides greater control over user access, making it a more versatile platform for managing complex user structures.

IONOS offers a more comprehensive suite of tools within its Cloud Panel for managing users and roles. The interface allows administrators to easily navigate through options to create, modify, or delete roles, and assign users to these roles effortlessly. Each role can have its description and custom permissions adjusted, providing a clear snapshot of each user’s access and capabilities. On the other hand, KnownHost focuses on domain management and offers user management guides without the same detailed UI-driven control that IONOS provides, making direct management slightly less intuitive and more dependent on reading through their Knowledge Base.

When examining the effectiveness of access control measures, IONOS proves to be more prepared to handle a growing number of users efficiently. By default, all users are assigned the Administrator role with complete permissions, and additional roles can be tailored and assigned as needed. The permissions customization in IONOS ensures that as the organization grows, new roles can be defined without compromising security and access levels. KnownHost’s setup, while functional and supported by comprehensive guides, lacks the depth of direct user and role management capabilities and may face challenges in scaling up user controls as efficiently as IONOS.

IONOS user roles table:

🏆 Winner
KnownHost: KnownHost is praised for its excellent customer service, impressive performance metrics, and a high uptime guarantee.

IONOS provides an extensive array of customer service channels, including 24/7 phone support, live chat, and email. Unique to IONOS is the availability of a personal consultant who can offer direct assistance during standard business hours. Additional resources like a help center and community forums help users find solutions independently while the 30-day money-back guarantee offers peace of mind.

On the other hand, KnownHost stands out with its fast technical support response and continuous availability. KnownHost offers various contact methods, including phone, email, and live chat, and provides comprehensive guides and forums for self-help. KnownHost’s high uptime guarantee of 99.99% and positive customer feedback make it a reliable option for many users.

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.

KnownHost receives mixed feedback from its users. Many users praise its responsive and professional customer support, high uptime, and excellent technical infrastructure, particularly for managed WordPress and VPS hosting. However, there are significant complaints about slow server speeds, unhelpful support, and confusing user interfaces. Additionally, some users believe that the service is overpriced given the performance issues they have encountered. Overall, while KnownHost has loyal customers who appreciate its offerings, potential users should be aware of the varied experiences and evaluate if it meets their specific needs.

FAQ