Best Cheap 1$ Web Hosting Deal | IONOS Hosting Review 2025

Forget what you think you know about “cheap hosting.” In 2025, it’s not about slow websites and bad service anymore. Hosting companies are battling it out to give you awesome features and super reliable service at rock-bottom prices. Today, smart website owners expect more than just the basics. They want their sites to always be online, get free security (SSL certificates), daily backups, and the ability to grow easily, all without costing a fortune or trapping them in long contracts.

The trick to finding a great, affordable hosting plan is to look beyond those catchy introductory prices. You need to really dig into what you’re getting: how much space and power your site has, how fast it will run, what security features are included, and how quickly you can get help if something goes wrong. These are the things that tell you if a plan is truly a “good deal” or just cheap.

Right now, IONOS’s Plus shared hosting plan is a standout. At just $1 per month for the first year, it’s an incredible entry-level option that gives you way more than you’d expect for the price.

Let’s take a closer look at what the IONOS Plus plan offers. We’ll explore its main features, how well it performs, its security, tools for developers, and its overall value. We’ll also compare it to other low-cost options, point out any catches, and help you decide if this $1-a-month deal is the perfect fit for your next website project.

What You Get for $1 a Month

For just $1 per month for a whole year, the IONOS Plus plan gives you a complete package of essential hosting tools and some pretty advanced features too. Here’s a breakdown:

• Unlimited Websites, Storage, and Databases: You can host as many websites and subdomains as you want on one account. Plus, you get unlimited SSD storage and can create as many MySQL databases as you need. This is fantastic for freelancers managing many client sites, agencies setting up demo sites, or even hobbyists trying out new online projects.
• Better Performance Resources: The Plus plan gives you a good chunk of power (Level 2 in IONOS’s system), offering up to 6 GB of RAM when you need it. Combined with modern Intel servers, special PHP speed-boosters (OPcache), and fast data transfer (HTTP/2 with gzip compression), even complex sites like WordPress, Drupal, or Magento will load smoothly, even with a fair amount of visitors.
• Free Domain for One Year & Wildcard SSL: You get to pick a popular website address (like .com, .net, .org, etc.) for free for the first year. And a Wildcard SSL certificate is included at no extra cost, which secures all your subdomains. This helps keep your visitors’ data safe, builds trust, and can even help your site rank higher on Google!
• Daily Backups and Easy Recovery: Your entire account is automatically backed up every day. This means if you accidentally delete something, have a plugin issue, or face a security problem, you can restore your files, databases, or your whole website with just one click. It’s like having a safety net for your site.
• Built-In DDoS Protection and Malware Scanning: IONOS’s huge global network includes top-notch protection against serious online attacks (DDoS) right from the start. Plus, daily scans look for and isolate any suspicious files before they can harm your site.
• 24/7 Support and Your Own Personal Consultant: Every Plus plan gives you unlimited access to IONOS’s expert support team by phone or live chat, anytime. New customers even get a dedicated personal consultant to help them get set up, optimize their site, and use all the features. This ensures you get the most out of your hosting.
• One-Click App Installer: Want to start a blog with WordPress or an online store with Magento? You can install over 70 popular web applications in seconds. You can also get optional automatic updates for these apps and their add-ons.
• SSH, SFTP, and WP-CLI Access: For developers, you get command-line tools and secure access (SSH) even on this $1 plan. This makes it easy to set up automated deployments, run custom scripts, and integrate with development tools without needing a more expensive server.
• Monthly Billing with No Long-Term Lock-In: While you get the $1 rate for committing to 12 months, you can cancel after the first month of renewal notice. This is great if you want to test out a new idea or run a short-term project without being stuck in a long contract.

Feature Comparison: Entry-Level Shared Hosting Plans

Here’s a quick look at how the IONOS Plus plan stacks up against some of their other entry-level options:

Feature / Plan	Classic	Starter	Plus	Ultimate
Promotional Price (12 mo)	$4 / month	$6 / month	$1 / month	$10 / month
Renewal Price (thereafter)	$6 / month	$8 / month	$12 / month	$16 / month
Websites	1	10	Unlimited	Unlimited
SSD Storage	10 GB	100 GB	Unlimited	Unlimited
MySQL Databases	10	50	Unlimited	Unlimited
CPU & RAM Level	Level 0, 512 MB	Level 1, 512 MB	Level 2, 6 GB	Level 5, 19 GB
Free Domain (1 yr)	✔	✔	✔	✔
Wildcard SSL	✔	✔	✔	✔
Daily Backups	✔	✔	✔	✔
DDoS Protection	✔	✔	✔	✔
SSH/SFTP & WP-CLI	✔	✔	✔	✔
One-Click App Installer	✔	✔	✔	✔
Support (Phone & Chat)	24/7	24/7	24/7	24/7
	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now	Buy Now

As you can see, the Plus plan, despite its tiny introductory price, offers features that rival and even surpass more expensive plans, especially with its unlimited resources and higher performance levels.

Performance and Reliability

IONOS promises that your shared hosting will be online 99.99% of the time. They achieve this by using a super stable network and multiple high-tech data centers across the globe. Here’s what makes their performance stand out:

• Modern Server Hardware: They use powerful Intel Xeon processors with super-fast NVMe storage. This means your databases and files load much quicker than with older tech.
• HTTP/2 and Gzip Compression: These technologies help your website load faster by handling multiple requests at once and compressing files on the fly, which is especially good for sites with lots of images or content.
• PHP OPcache and Latest PHP Versions: OPcache speeds up your PHP-based sites (like WordPress) by storing pre-compiled code. Plus, they support the newest PHP versions (8.1 to 8.3), so your code runs as securely and efficiently as possible.
• On-Demand Scaling: Expecting a big jump in visitors? You can easily log into your control panel and instantly upgrade your CPU and RAM with a single click. No need to move your website or change any settings!

---

Security and Backups

Even on a budget, protecting your website and visitor data is crucial. The Plus plan has you covered:

• Wildcard SSL Certificate: This encrypts all traffic to your main domain and any subdomains, helping you meet privacy rules and build trust with your visitors.
• Daily Automated Backups: You don’t need to install extra plugins. IONOS automatically saves daily copies of your entire account off-site, and you can restore files, databases, or your whole account with one click.
• Network-Level DDoS Mitigation: This stops large, malicious traffic attacks before they can even reach your website, preventing your service from being interrupted.
• Integrated Malware Scanner: Daily scans look for and isolate suspicious files. You can also run extra scans whenever you want from your control panel.

Who Should Choose the $1 per Month Plus Plan?

This plan is a fantastic fit for a variety of users:

• Bloggers and Content Creators: Enjoy unlimited storage and bandwidth, plus automatic updates and strong security, all at a minimal cost.
• Small Online Stores: If you’re using platforms like WooCommerce or Magento, you can start small and easily add more resources as your sales grow, without having to move to a more expensive server later.
• Web Agencies and Freelancers: It’s perfect for creating affordable demo environments and client websites, with developer-friendly tools and one-click app installs.
• Hobbyists and Testers: If you’re experimenting with different web frameworks, content management systems, or custom PHP/Python apps, you get full SSH and WP-CLI access without a hefty price tag.

Pros and Cons

Like any service, the IONOS Plus plan has its ups and downs:

Pros

• Incredibly low starting price: Only $1 per month for the first year!
• Truly unlimited websites, storage, and databases.
• Generous 6 GB of RAM when you need it, plus performance boosters like OPcache and HTTP/2.
• Free domain for one year and Wildcard SSL included.
• Daily backups and strong DDoS protection built-in.
• 24/7 expert support via live chat, phone, and even a personal consultant.
• Developer-friendly access: SSH, SFTP, and WP-CLI are all available.

Cons

• The amazing $1 rate is only for the first 12 months; it renews at $12 per month afterward.
• Their own control panel might feel a bit different if you’re used to cPanel.
• It’s Linux/PHP hosting only; no support for Windows or .NET.
• Optional automatic app updates cost extra.

---

Conclusion

“Cheap hosting” doesn’t have to mean poor quality anymore. IONOS’s $1 per month Plus plan packs a punch with unlimited resources, robust security, modern performance features, and tools for developers. It’s all backed by a 99.99% uptime guarantee and excellent customer support. This plan offers incredible value for bloggers, small online shops, agencies, and tech enthusiasts. Just remember to consider the renewal price after your first year. With a little planning, the IONOS Plus plan can be a reliable and affordable home for your online presence.

Ready to give the IONOS Plus plan a try for your next project? Buy Now