IONOS
✓ Verified by EU AltsEuropean web hosting, cloud and domain services — a German alternative to GoDaddy and AWS.
Overview
IONOS is a Montabaur, Germany-based European company building cloud infrastructure and hosting software since 1988. EU Alts has verified that IONOS owned by United Internet AG (~64% owner) (Germany), and hosts customer data with Own IONOS-operated data centers in Germany (plus other EU/global self-owned locations) and operates under GDPR, outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act — a privacy-friendly alternative to AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure for European teams.
Why European teams pick IONOS
Teams in Europe pick IONOS when they want a cloud infrastructure provider that bills in EUR, supports their local data-protection officer requirements, and keeps customer data under Germany law, operating since 1988. Compared with AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure, IONOS avoids cross-border data transfers under Schrems II and the US CLOUD Act — a fact EU Alts has verified, not just assumed from its EU headquarters.
See more EU cloud infrastructure tools or browse other startups from Germany.
About
IONOS is a subsidiary of United Internet AG, one of Germany's largest internet companies, and is one of Europe's broadest web hosting and cloud providers. It offers cloud servers with per-minute billing, dedicated servers, managed Kubernetes, Virtual Private Cloud, Object Storage, managed databases, and an extensive managed hosting portfolio including WordPress hosting and domains. IONOS operates data centres in Germany, UK, Spain, and the US — with EU data residency available for all EU customers. It is a popular choice for SMEs transitioning from shared hosting to cloud infrastructure and for agencies managing a large number of client sites. ISO 27001 certified with a standard GDPR DPA.
Details
- Founded
- 1988
- Headquarters
- Montabaur, Germany
- Ownership
- Owned by United Internet AG (~64% owner) (Germany)
- Hosting
- Own IONOS-operated data centers, Germany (plus other EU/global self-owned locations)
- CLOUD Act
- Not exposed
- Company size
- 200+ employees
Categories
Other EU startups like IONOS
- Domaintechnik Austria — Austrian domain registrar and web host with its own data centre in Vienna.
- Ploq The Netherlands — Ploq is EU-built webhook infrastructure: retries, event filtering, and health monitoring, GDPR-compliant end to end. SDKs for Node.js and Java, a WordPress plugin, and a forkable Mac/Windows app for sending and receiving events.
- DNScale — European managed authoritative DNS platform with anycast, DNSSEC, API automation, Terraform support, and DDoS-protected DNS infrastructure.
- Railway ✓ Verified by EU AltsUnited Kingdom — Instant deployment infrastructure for developers — popular across European teams.
- Portainer ✓ Verified by EU AltsNew Zealand — Container management UI for Docker and Kubernetes — a New Zealand/European alternative to Rancher.
- Coolify Hungary — Open-source, self-hostable PaaS platform — a Heroku/Render alternative you deploy on your own EU server.
Frequently asked questions
What is IONOS?
IONOS is a subsidiary of United Internet AG, one of Germany's largest internet companies, and is one of Europe's broadest web hosting and cloud providers. It offers cloud servers with per-minute billing, dedicated servers, managed Kubernetes, Virtual Private Cloud, Object Storage, managed databases, and an extensive managed hosting portfolio including WordPress hosting and domains. IONOS operates data centres in Germany, UK, Spain, and the US — with EU data residency available for all EU customers. It is a popular choice for SMEs transitioning from shared hosting to cloud infrastructure and for agencies managing a large number of client sites. ISO 27001 certified with a standard GDPR DPA.
What does IONOS do?
IONOS is european web hosting, cloud and domain services — a german alternative to godaddy and aws. It is listed under cloud infrastructure and hosting on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European cloud infrastructure tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure.
Is IONOS a good European cloud infrastructure alternative?
IONOS is a fit for European businesses evaluating cloud infrastructure options where data residency and GDPR alignment matter — typical buyers include EU-based SaaS teams, public-sector projects, regulated industries (healthcare, finance, legal), and any organisation that needs to demonstrate that customer data does not leave the EU. It also overlaps with hosting use cases.
Is IONOS GDPR compliant?
IONOS is headquartered in Montabaur, Germany and falls under EU jurisdiction, so it processes user data under the GDPR by default. Customer data processing is supervised by Germany's data protection authority, the Bundesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz und die Informationsfreiheit (BfDI). EU Alts has verified that IONOS owned by United Internet AG (~64% owner) (Germany), and hosts customer data with Own IONOS-operated data centers in Germany (plus other EU/global self-owned locations), so it is not subject to the US CLOUD Act — meaning US authorities cannot compel IONOS to disclose customer data the way they can with AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure. For European buyers, that often simplifies DPIA paperwork and standard contractual clauses.
How do teams switch from AWS to IONOS?
Most teams move to IONOS from AWS, Google Cloud, and Azure because they want EU data residency without giving up the core cloud infrastructure workflow. IONOS's Germany base means a single jurisdiction for both the company and (typically) its hosting infrastructure, so you can drop Schrems II transfer impact assessments for this part of your stack. Plan the migration in stages: export your data from the US incumbent, pilot IONOS with a small team, then move the rest once the integration coverage you need is confirmed.
Where is IONOS based?
IONOS is headquartered in Montabaur, Germany. The company was founded in 1988. Its main website is https://www.ionos.com.