IONOS
European 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. As an EU-headquartered provider, IONOS operates under GDPR and is outside the reach of the US CLOUD Act, making it 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, which is often the deciding factor for European procurement and legal teams.
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
Categories
Other EU startups like IONOS
- RailwayUnited Kingdom — Instant deployment infrastructure for developers — popular across European teams.
- PortainerNew Zealand — Container management UI for Docker and Kubernetes — a New Zealand/European alternative to Rancher.
- CoolifyHungary — Open-source, self-hostable PaaS platform — a Heroku/Render alternative you deploy on your own EU server.
- GitpodGermany — Cloud development environments that spin up instantly from any Git repo — a German alternative to GitHub Codespaces.
- Infra.marketSwitzerland — Swiss VPS and dedicated hosting powered by renewable energy.
- Aruba CloudItaly — Italian cloud provider with low-cost VPS and public cloud — a European alternative to DigitalOcean.
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). Because the company is not US-incorporated, 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.