IONOS website builder review 2024

The IONOS website builder is made for anyone who wants a website that wows, minus the techie twists and turns. Known for its budget-friendly pricing, IONOS caters to small businesses, freelancers, and anyone eager to make a memorable online splash. So, if you want one of the best website builders on the market that offers a swift setup, professional look, and user-friendly design, IONOS should be on your radar.

In a minute, we’ll walk you through everything IONOS has to offer - from its core features and pricing plans to the overall ease of use and performance. We’ve taken IONOS for a full test drive, from setup to customization, to bring you an honest, hands-on review.

With our years of experience, we know exactly what makes a site builder worth your time (and money). By the end, you’ll know if IONOS is the right fit to bring your site dreams to life.

Core features of the IONOS website builder

Better known for its affordable web hosting, IONOS extends its expertise into site building, offering a user-friendly platform that can support everything from simple personal pages to ecommerce stores.

Though IONOS doesn’t compete with higher-end builders on customization, it shines in simplicity and efficiency, making it an ideal choice for users seeking functionality with minimal hassle.

Now, let’s explore IONOS's core features, starting with its design options and editor, followed by its tools for ecommerce, SEO, and beyond.

Templates and customization choices

IONOS’s website template range is surprisingly modest, with around 30 options, but it leans toward professionalism and ease of use, keeping design decisions straightforward. These templates cater to all sorts of business, portfolio, and personal projects alike, giving you a polished and professional springboard for your site.

Once you pick a template in IONOS’s editor, customizing your site is simple, though it does lean toward structure over total freedom. Rather than full drag-and-drop flexibility, you’ll add pre-designed sections - like "About," "Galleries," or "Contact" - with only a few style choices for each.

You can tweak colors, spacing, and fonts, though the font choices are quite limited. Unfortunately, changing your template later does mean starting from scratch, so choose carefully upfront. When it comes to forms, button styles, and text, there’s enough customization to ensure everything aligns with your brand, plus the handy built-in AI can assist in generating site copy.

AI-powered site generation and content tools

Creating a site with IONOS’s AI tools feels super simple. Right from the start, you choose either an AI-assisted setup or go manual with a template. IONOS skips the blank-slate approach, opting instead to guide you with prompts that build structure and style based on your business type.

With the AI-powered choice, you answer a few questions about your brand and preferences, and IONOS quickly generates up to four layout options. If you don't like any of them, the AI can take another shot and rework the choices. Once you find a layout that fits, you get to personalize it by playing with colors, fonts, and shape themes. As expected, the editing options are a bit basic, so if you’re looking for intricate typography or color schemes, they’re not quite there.

IONOS’s AI also helps with content creation, from filling in text to generating images. You can tweak the tone of the text to feel more friendly, professional, or trustworthy, just by selecting the vibe you want.

The image generator is pretty handy - describe the style you’re aiming for, and the AI generates custom images. It’s a bit hit or miss, but it’s still a handy option for unique visuals on the fly.

Ecommerce toolkit

Ready to kickstart your online store? IONOS provides a solid set of ecommerce tools that make it easy to manage your inventory, set up tax and shipping options, and customize product variations - all the essentials you need to hit the ground running.

While it might not have the ultra-advanced features of bigger ecommerce platforms, IONOS has the essentials small-to-midsize businesses need to set up shop, handle orders, and keep customers engaged. Features like discount codes, abandoned cart emails, and social media integration are also part of the package.

Free domain and SSL

With IONOS, each plan comes with a free domain for the first year, which helps keep startup costs down. Plus, they include an SSL certificate right from the get-go, ensuring your site is secure and helping boost your search engine rankins. This built-in SSL support is a big plus for ecommerce sites, as it makes online transactions safer.

Email hosting

IONOS keeps things straightforward by bundling a professional email address that matches your domain - so, no need to set up with another provider. This built-in email feature makes it easy to stay connected with customers, and if you need more storage as your business expands, IONOS offers scalable email plans to keep up with your growth.

SEO tools and rankingCoach

With IONOS, you can make your site pop in search results thanks to customizable SEO settings available for every page, giving you the tools to optimize your content and boost your visibility. For a more beginner-friendly SEO boost, you can integrate rankingCoach, a handy tool that walks users through visibility improvements step-by-step.

IONOS also includes a tool that checks for SEO improvements, making it simple to stay on top of rankings.

Multilingual and location-based customization

If your business has global ambitions, IONOS has you covered with translation support for over 60 languages, making it easy to cater to different regions. You can customize content based on location, tailoring messages or promotions to resonate with specific audiences.

This mix of multilingual options and targeted content helps you engage with a whole variety of customers.

Site analytics

After your site goes live, you can dive into visitor stats that answer key questions about your audience: Who are they, and how can you reach them? This info lays the groundwork for successful marketing strategies tailored to your potential customers.

These tools make it easy to track key metrics like visitor counts, session lengths, and page impressions. You’ll also get a good look at your bounce rate, showing where you might want to make some tweaks.

Ease of use

With the IONOS AI site builder, all it takes is a few details about your business, and you’ll have a customizable site complete with tailored images and text. This hands-off method is a lifesaver for busy entrepreneurs who want to channel their energy into more meaningful tasks instead of stressing over design elements.

While IONOS makes getting started super simple, there are a few limitations when it comes to advanced customization. If you’re after a more intricate design, you might hit a few bumps in the road.

Still, if you’re looking for a fast and efficient way to establish your online presence, IONOS is a superb option that helps you get started without the steep learning curve.

Plans and pricing

When it comes to affordability, IONOS shines with plans starting as low as $1 per month. However, while the price tag is tempting, keep in mind that IONOS doesn't always pack enough features to match the cost.

Here's a closer look at the three plans available:

Starter

$6/month (with a 1-year term): This plan sets you off on the right foot with the AI site builder, an SSL certificate for security, 24/7 multi channel support, and access to a library of stock images. It's a solid choice for anyone just getting started.

Plus

$1/month (for the first 6 months, then $18/month): In addition to everything in the “Starter” plan, you’ll get an AI text generator and improver, an AI SEO text generator, an online booking tool, and the flexibility to rearrange features in the editor. Plus, your storage gets a nice boost to 50GB, and you can manage up to 200 sites,

Pro

$17/month (for the first 6 months, then $30/month): It includes all the perks of the “Plus” plan but adds unlimited storage, unlimited websites, and advanced SiteAnalytics Plus. You also gain access to rankingCoach to help enhance your online visibility.

While IONOS doesn’t offer a free plan, they have a 30-day money-back guarantee on all products.

Performance and support

IONOS is built to handle high traffic and keep your site running smoothly, even when visitors are pouring in from across the globe. For businesses looking to keep their audience engaged without slowdowns, IONOS’s infrastructure should deliver dependable speed and stability.

As for support, you’ve got plenty of resources to lean on. Their knowledge base is packed with how-tos on everything from tech tips to marketing advice. Just keep in mind that you’ll need to open it in a separate tab since it’s not right in the dashboard. Still, it's a solid spot for quick guidance.

For those times when you need immediate help, IONOS is one of the few that offer 24/7 phone support - something beginners will appreciate. The team is known for being kind and knowledgeable, too. There’s also live chat from 8 AM to 8 PM if you prefer a quick message over a phone call.

Alternatives to IONOS website builder

If you’re thinking about IONOS but curious about what else is out there, here’s a quick rundown on how it stacks up against Weebly, Squarespace, and Wix, its top competitors.

Weebly is a perfect choice for ecommerce newbies - it’s packed with tools to make selling easy, all for $12 per month. While Weebly’s free plan gives a nice starting point, its paid plans are a better fit for anyone who wants a polished, professional look.

Read our full Weebly review to learn more.

Squarespace brings a lot of style to the table, with stunning templates that appeal to creatives. Starting at $16, it’s a bit pricier, but the 14-day free trial lets you explore everything it offers before diving in.

Read our full Squarespace review to learn more.

Wix is an awesome alternative if you’re all about creative freedom. With true drag-and-drop customization, you can place elements anywhere on the page. It offers tons of templates, but for total beginners, IONOS will still feel a little easier.

Read our full Wix review to learn more.

IONOS website builder review: Summary

If you're a newcomer to site building, IONOS is a superb option. With its budget-friendly starting prices, swift AI setup, and useful SEO tools, getting your site up and running it has never been easier.

That said, its limited customization options and absence of a free trial might leave some aspiring designers wanting more. Still, if you're after a user-friendly platform that won't break the bank, IONOS is a great pick - just be prepared to work within its constraints.