Web hosting services: SiteGround GrowBig vs. IONOS by 1&1

Quick Verdict

SiteGround GrowBig is a strong choice for users needing to host multiple websites with generous email account allowances and value transparent pricing, despite the higher renewal costs. IONOS by 1&1 may be more appealing for users seeking very low introductory pricing and scalable performance, but they should be cautious of potential hidden costs and slower customer support.

Both SiteGround GrowBig and IONOS by 1&1 offer competitive hosting solutions with managed WordPress options, free SSL certificates, and CDN integration.
SiteGround GrowBig provides unlimited websites and email accounts with a clear pricing structure, but renewal costs are significantly higher.
IONOS by 1&1 offers scalable performance and low introductory prices, but customer support may be slower, and hidden costs may exist.
Users should consider their specific needs regarding website quantity, storage, and email accounts, as well as the importance of reliable customer support and transparent pricing, when choosing between these two providers.

Key features – Side-by-Side

Attribute	SiteGround GrowBig	IONOS by 1&1
Uptime Guarantee	Reliable uptime	99.9% (some sources mention 99.99%)
Customer Support Response Time	24/7/365 support via chat, email, and phone	Potentially slow response times; 24/7 phone support available; personal consultant via live chat, email, or phone
Number of Websites Allowed	Unlimited	Varies by plan; some plans allow one website, others support unlimited websites
Storage Space	20 GB web space	Varies by plan; ranges from 10 GB to unlimited; some plans offer SSD storage
Bandwidth Allocation	Unmetered bandwidth (subject to fair use policies)	Unlimited on many plans
Free SSL Certificate	Included	Included; offers GeoTrust Dedicated SSL certificates
Daily Backup Frequency	Daily backups (up to 30 copies retained)	Daily site backups
Staging Environment Availability	Available for WordPress sites	Instructions provided for creating a WordPress staging environment; pre-live staging available
Content Delivery Network (CDN) Integration	Free CDN included	Some plans include CDN integration; also offers its own CDN
Email Accounts Included	Unlimited (up to 10GB storage per account)	Varies by plan; some plans include 100 email accounts; certain server hosting plans provide 2 email addresses with 2 GB of storage each
Managed WordPress	Automatic updates	Offers managed WordPress hosting with automatic updates and security features
Price and Renewal Costs	Initial cost around $4.99/month, renewal around $29.99/month	Low introductory prices (e.g., $1.00/month); renewal costs are higher; hidden costs may exist

Overall Comparison

SiteGround GrowBig: Initial price $4.99/month, unlimited websites, 20GB storage. IONOS by 1&1: Initial price $1.00/month, varying website limits, storage from 10GB to unlimited.

Pros and Cons

SiteGround GrowBig

Pros:

Unlimited websites
Free SSL certificate
Daily backups
Staging environment
Free CDN
Unlimited email accounts
Managed WordPress
24/7 customer support

Cons:

Renewal costs significantly higher
Potential decline in customer support quality
Possible extra costs for domain privacy protection

IONOS by 1&1

Pros:

Scalable performance
Free SSL certificate with easy setup
Daily backups
CDN integration (on some plans)
Managed WordPress options
24/7 phone support
Personal consultant available

Cons:

Potentially slow customer support response times
Uptime may be lower than guaranteed
Higher renewal costs
Potential hidden costs

User Experiences and Feedback

SiteGround GrowBig

What Users Love

No highlights reported.

Common Complaints

Some users have reported a decline in support quality.

Value Perception

No value feedback reported.

IONOS by 1&1

What Users Love

Scalable performance allows users to build and upgrade their websites effectively.
Easy SSL certificate setup.

Common Complaints

Some users have reported unhelpful customer support and slow response times.
Some tests have shown lower uptime than guaranteed.

Value Perception

No value feedback reported.