Ionos vs Liquid Web: guide for 2024

Final verdict

Looking over IONOS vs. Liquid Web, it’s clear why both hosts are so popular. They have both hosted millions of
websites that run on WordPress for decades, building up a loyal customer base.

• 
  Liquid Web (Overall grade: 8.4)
  
  
  specializes in providing high-performance hosting solutions tailored for larger businesses and enterprises. With a 100% uptime guarantee backed by SLAs, proactive monitoring, and dedicated hardware resources, Liquid Web ensures reliability and speed. Its focus on compliance with HIPAA and PCI, advanced security measures like firewalls, VPNs, and data encryption, make it a solid choice for users with rigorous security and performance requirements. Additionally, Liquid Web offers excellent customer support with guaranteed response times, making it ideal for complex hosting environments that cannot afford downtime.
  
• 
  IONOS (Overall grade: 8.2)
  
  
  offers a broad range of hosting services with notable ease of use and affordability, catering well to small businesses, personal websites, and beginners. Strengths include a user-friendly custom admin panel, free first-year domains, daily backups, and a mobile app for service management. IONOS is particularly appealing for ecommerce with its preinstalled WooCommerce and cost-effective scaling options. While its service may lack the extensive compliance features and advanced support of Liquid Web, it stands out with value-added services like professional email hosting and a personal consultant, making it a strong contender for budget-conscious users needing reliable and flexible hosting 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

Section 1: Winner Liquid Web: Offers 100% uptime guarantee and rapid customer response times.

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

Example hosting two shows a slightly superior performance in terms of reliability and speed. Both hosting services have impressive uptimes, with Example hosting two 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 Example hosting two experienced 3 outages totaling 12 minutes, while Example hosting one had 5 outages totaling 2h 12 minutes.

Example hosting two’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 Example hosting two 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.

Section 2:
IONOS maintains a strong 99.9% uptime guarantee with georedundant infrastructure and DDoS protection. The Cloudflare CDN boosts load times by distributing content globally. Daily backups, PHP extended support, and scalable performance levels ensure flexibility. Customers can manage their services via a mobile app, providing convenience.

Section 3:
Liquid Web stands out with its 100% network and power uptime SLA, offering significant credits for downtime. The Proactive Sonar™ Monitoring and 30-minute hardware SLA ensure hardware issues are quickly resolved. The service includes standard DDoS protection and the use of CloudFlare CDN. Liquid Web’s responsive customer service further enhances its offering.

🏆 Winner IONOS: Leading with versatile performance and superior cost-efficiency.

The general performance of both IONOS and Liquid Web is impressive, featuring SSD storage for faster data access and quick page load times. IONOS utilizes dual platform technology and HTTP/2 protocol along with a CDN provided by Cloudflare, ensuring fast, secure connections globally. Liquid Web offers a fast 10 Gbps network and NVMe storage, which excels in speed and efficiency. Both have scalable solutions to meet high demands. IONOS boasts a 99.9% uptime guarantee with georedundant infrastructure, while Liquid Web guarantees 100% network and power uptime, compensating for any failures with service credits.

Website Speed

IONOS ensures rapid website load times utilizing the HTTP/2 protocol, dual platform technology, and SSD storage. The inclusion of a CDN by Cloudflare further optimizes global performance, distributing website content through over 60 data centers. Liquid Web is equally commendable, providing NVMe storage and AMD EPYC or Intel Xeon processors for fast data processing. While Liquid Web does not detail CDN integration like IONOS, its network speeds backed by a 10 Gbps infrastructure ensure minimal delay in data transfer.

Scalability

IONOS offers scalable performance management where users can adjust their resources manually with each additional performance level costing $2 per month. This approach is cost-effective but requires some input from the user. Liquid Web, on the other hand, provides autoscaling which adjusts server resources automatically based on demand at no extra cost. While Liquid Web supports scalability effectively, specific pricing details for scaling dedicated servers are not provided. Both services feature dedicated servers, with Liquid Web notably using high-performance processors and NVMe storage for large-scale operations.

🏆 Winner
Liquid Web: Exceptional for managed hosting solutions with robust security measures.

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

Technical security measures:

IONOS and Liquid Web provide robust SSL certificates to protect websites. IONOS offers domain-validated, organization-validated, and extended-validated SSL certificates. Liquid Web focuses on standard SSL certificates without specifying the types. Both support diverse PHP versions, enhancing compatibility and security for web applications. IONOS supports PHP versions from 4.0 to the latest, including advanced features like JIT and OPcache. Liquid Web supports various PHP versions but does not specify which ones. Both providers offer DDoS protection; however, Liquid Web specifies real-time monitoring, which can be advantageous.

Operational security measures:

IONOS focuses significantly on malware protection, providing site scans, automatic malware removal, and daily backups. Liquid Web emphasizes broader server protection with hardened configurations and web application firewalls for added stability. Liquid Web offers additional features like VPN and F5 AIP intrusion detection systems for continuous real-time monitoring. While IONOS boasts customizable firewall rules and SIEM software, Liquid Web provides hardware firewalls and comprehensive data encryption. These measures highlight Liquid Web’s holistic approach to operational security.

Compliance and certifications:

IONOS is fully GDPR-compliant and suggests a commitment to secure transactions with SSL and data protection features. Liquid Web is not only GDPR-compliant but also offers PCI and HIPAA-compliant hosting solutions. Liquid Web provides additional compliance assistance like quarterly PCI scans and Business Associate Agreements for HIPAA clients. Furthermore, Liquid Web holds several security certifications, adding to its credibility.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Best suited for complex, high-performance hosting needs with strong support and compliance.

When comparing IONOS and Liquid Web, both providers offer robust and reliable hosting solutions, but they cater to different user needs. IONOS is user-friendly with a focus on affordability and ease of use, making it a great fit for personal websites, bloggers, and small businesses. Its Click & Build feature allows for easy installation of apps like TYPO3, Joomla, Drupal, PrestaShop, and WordPress, appealing to beginners. Additionally, IONOS offers free domains for the first year, daily backups, and a dedicated mobile admin app, which enhances its overall value proposition. Liquid Web, on the other hand, specializes in high-performance, complex hosting environments. Its fully managed hosting solutions, proactive management, and 100% uptime guarantees make it ideal for large businesses, enterprises, and those with compliance needs like HIPAA or PCI. Liquid Web’s focus on server and OS updates, along with its high availability hosting, ensures optimal performance and security.

IONOS stands out with its numerous value-added services such as free professional emails and Wildcard SSL certificates included with every plan. The personal consultant feature is another significant plus for those who might need more personalized technical support. Conversely, Liquid Web offers high-end, customizable solutions including VMware Private Cloud, managed WooCommerce hosting, and managed VPS hosting with sophisticated features like a 10 Gbps network and unlimited sites with InterWorx. Liquid Web’s 59-second initial response guarantee for phone and chat support demonstrates their commitment to customer service, which is critical for businesses that cannot afford downtime. While IONOS provides a broad range of services suitable for various needs, Liquid Web’s specialization in high-performance, reliable, and secure hosting environments makes it a preferred choice for more complex requirements.

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 Liquid Web 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:

Email services at IONOS are provided through a partnership with Microsoft 365, offering a professional email and access to Outlook on a trial basis before transitioning to a paid service. Conversely, Liquid Web provides unlimited free professional email accounts, which is particularly beneficial for users requiring multiple email accounts without incurring additional costs.

Winner IONOS: A highly competitive provider offering cost-effective and value-rich hosting plans.

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 IONOS and Liquid Web reveals that IONOS offers more budget-friendly options with robust features across its plans. Their Web Hosting plans start at $4/month, providing essential features like free domains and SSL certificates, whereas Liquid Web starts at $20/month for their VPS Hosting. Additionally, IONOS extends more comprehensive support options and freebies, making it a more cost-effective choice for a wide array of users. Notably, Liquid Web, while offering higher storage and bandwidth, comes at a steeper price point, making it better suited for users who require high performance and scalability.

Enterprise plans

IONOS and Liquid Web both cater to enterprise needs but target different segments. IONOS offers a simpler and more economical range of plans with essential features for a lower cost, making it great for small to medium-sized businesses needing reliable services without breaking the bank. Liquid Web, conversely, provides high-performance and extensive support, making it suitable for large enterprises with significant demands and budgets for robust, scalable solutions.

🏆 Winner Liquid Web: Liquid Web presents a seamless hosting experience, backed by strong customer support and thorough resources.

IONOS uses a custom-built admin panel designed for both technical and non-technical users. Its user-friendly interface, particularly the WP Assistant, aids users in setting up WordPress sites with ease. The inclusion of Click & Build enables quick installation of various applications like Joomla, Drupal, and PrestaShop. On the other hand, Liquid Web also emphasizes user accessibility, offering a custom control panel that simplifies complex hosting environments. While both panels are intuitively designed, Liquid Web’s proactive management and extensive support make its admin interface more comprehensive for users requiring advanced functionalities.

In terms of migration tools, IONOS allows for straightforward setups and migrations, especially with support for multiple CMS platforms through Click & Build. Liquid Web goes a step further by providing dedicated help with site, store, or application migrations. This support often includes hands-on assistance, catering to users migrating from any platform, ensuring that no significant downtime affects their operations. Both providers offer these services with varying degrees of management, but Liquid Web’s proactive approach makes migration smoother and more worry-free for users.

Evaluating the quality of help center resources, IONOS offers a thorough Help Center with extensive articles and 24/7 customer support, including access to personal consultants. Liquid Web, however, has an industry-leading knowledge base that is frequently updated with new content on hosting basics, security, and technical support. This includes a vast number of step-by-step guides and featured articles which can be accessed online at any time. Their support guarantees with rapid initial response times add significant value for users needing prompt assistance.

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. Liquid Web 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 Liquid Web: Liquid Web offers comprehensive user management options via Plesk, including varied user roles and easy role customization.

When comparing the user management capabilities of IONOS and Liquid Web, both platforms provide flexible role creation and detailed permission settings, but approach them differently. IONOS allows the creation, cloning, and deletion of roles within its Cloud Panel, assigning users to multiple roles and managing these through the Permissions Page. This system’s flexibility is notable, as users can be added and permissions adjusted easily. Liquid Web, utilizing the Plesk control panel, offers four predefined roles but also allows the creation of custom roles tailored to specific needs. This provides a solid structure while enabling personalized role configurations for various user requirements.

The user interfaces for managing users are distinct in each platform. IONOS employs a Cloud Panel accessible via an Overview Page and a Permissions Page, presenting a systematic and tabular display of roles and permissions. Liquid Web’s Plesk interface segments access through a Service Provider or Power User view, offering intuitive navigation to user accounts and role settings. Both platforms provide practical tools for user management, although Plesk’s separation into service-related views may facilitate easier role-specific access.

Evaluating access control effectiveness and scalability, IONOS allows detailed customization of permissions through its Cloud Panel, ensuring users have appropriate levels of access. This can be beneficial for growing organizations that require granular control. Liquid Web offers predefined roles simplifying initial user setup, while the ability to create additional custom roles and administrator accounts supports efficient management as user numbers increase. Both platforms are equipped to handle an expanding user base, with IONOS offering more specific permission settings and Liquid Web ensuring straightforward role configurations.

IONOS user roles table:

Liquid Web user roles table:

🏆 Winner
Liquid Web: Offers exceptional 24/7/365 customer support with impressively quick response times and dedicated teams for varied hosting needs.

IONOS and Liquid Web both provide round-the-clock customer support via phone, chat, and email. IONOS stands out with a dedicated personal consultant available during standard business hours, making it tailored to those who prefer direct, personalized assistance. They also offer a comprehensive help center and community support, ensuring customers have multiple channels to get the help they need.

In contrast, Liquid Web guarantees remarkably fast response times with a 59-second initial response for phone and chat, and 59 minutes for helpdesk tickets. They offer specialized support for Windows and Linux users through a well-certified team of over 250 technicians. In addition to these features, Liquid Web highlights proactive monitoring and customized solutions to fit specific needs, making them an excellent choice for enterprises requiring comprehensive service and rapid response.

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.

Customer feedback for this hosting provider is mixed, with significant polarization in user experiences. While some have praised the company for its reliable uptime, exceptional support, and proactive monitoring, others have experienced severe dissatisfaction due to frequent downtimes, unresponsive customer service, and unethical billing practices. Long-term customers, in particular, have noted a sharp decline in service quality and support efficiency, attributing it to recent management changes. Despite positive reviews highlighting excellent technical support and overall reliability, a growing number of users advise against using this provider due to these negative aspects.

FAQ