IONOS MyWebsite in Test - Experiences with the website builder

In the IONOS MyWebsite Test, we took a closer look at the homepage builder of the well-known German internet conglomerate. In the following review, we introduce the popular website builder in detail. We delve into both the range of functions and the usability of the software, and clarify the individual advantages and disadvantages the system offers when creating your own web presence.

IONOS SE is primarily known in Germany as a traditional internet provider. At the same time, the company based in Montabaur, Rhineland-Palatinate, also offers a wide range of web hosting services. Among them is the popular IONOS MyWebsite Builder, which not only allows for the creation of simple websites but also professional online shops with minimal effort. IONOS' offerings are now available in more than 10 different languages, and the homepage builder also enables the creation of websites with AI support in a variety of languages. The system, designed with a practical WYSIWYG editor and intuitive drag-and-drop controls, allows even less experienced users to quickly navigate through the process of creating their own website without extensive technical knowledge. Additionally, IONOS provides all customers with telephone support that can be used for any questions or issues.

If you are interested in a traditional web hosting package, also check out our IONOS Web Hosting Test.

The Pricing Structure of IONOS MyWebsite

The IONOS MyWebsite offering is divided into three areas. Firstly, there is a builder for creating simple websites such as personal blogs, web business cards, or online presences for shops and companies. Secondly, a builder is offered for professional online shops, enabling the sale of products over the internet. Additionally, with MyWebsite Services, there is a worry-free package where IONOS experts take care of the creation and maintenance of your website entirely. This ensures that the right product is offered for every target group. IONOS MyWebsite primarily targets individuals and freelancers who either want to launch a personal web project online or promote their business or services on the internet. However, the offerings are also interesting for small businesses, as they can easily create a professional web presence for their company or even open their own online shop without much effort.

When it comes to the pricing model, IONOS relies on the classic subscription concept, as known from other web hosting providers. Prospective customers have the option to choose from several tariff levels, each offering a different range of services. Therefore, monthly costs are incurred for using the services. In contrast to well-known website builder providers like Wix (more information in the Wix Test), Weebly (more information in the Weebly Test), or Jimdo (more information in the Jimdo Test), IONOS MyWebsite does not employ a freemium model. There is no free tier where the service can be used with advertising support. Unfortunately, there is also no free trial version to get an impression of the builder beforehand. While IONOS does offer a 30-day money-back guarantee, users still need to register with IONOS using their complete customer and payment details, and can then cancel within the guarantee period.

The Pricing Model of IONOS MyWebsite

The pricing model of IONOS MyWebsite is relatively straightforward. There are a total of seven different tariff levels, each differing in the range of services offered. This includes three tariffs for the classic website builder and four additional tariffs for the online shop builder:

IONOS MyWebsite Starter Tariff for £12.00 per month

The most affordable tariff, IONOS MyWebsite Starter, provides full access to the website builder with all functions and comes with an inclusive domain and an email mailbox. It offers 10GB of storage space and allows for up to 10 subpages to be created. Additionally, the social media functions are available, enabling the connection of the website to social networks such as Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube. A small selection of design templates is available, mainly suitable for personal websites.

Thanks to the intuitive editor, this tariff is particularly suitable for beginners without prior knowledge who want to quickly and easily get their website online.

IONOS MyWebsite Plus Tariff for £18.00 per month

The IONOS MyWebsite Plus package offers full access to the website builder with all functions and comes with an inclusive domain and email inbox. There is 50GB of storage space available and it allows for up to 200 subpages to be created. In addition, customers not only have access to social media features but also to special business apps such as customer reviews, online appointment scheduler, or reservations that can be integrated into their own website. There is also a wider selection of design templates available, including dynamic website content like video backgrounds, animations, and parallax effects.

Thanks to the extensive design options, this package is particularly suitable for advanced users looking to customise their online presence more.

IONOS MyWebsite Pro Package for £30.00 per month

The IONOS MyWebsite Pro package offers full access to the website builder with all functions and comes with an inclusive domain and email inbox. There is unlimited storage space available and it allows for unlimited subpages to be created. In addition, customers not only have access to social media features, business apps, and an extensive selection of design templates, but they can also create special landing pages using intelligent visitor tracking, which can be tailored to specific website visitors based on location, device, or time.

Due to the fewer restrictions and functional control of website content, this package is particularly suitable for professional website owners looking to target their audience precisely.

1&1 IONOS Shop Starter Package for £22.00 per month

With the 1&1 IONOS Shop Starter package, customers not only have access to the website builder but can also create an online shop with up to 500 products. There is 10GB of storage space available and it allows for up to 10 subpages to be created. In addition to the free inclusive domain, there is a wildcard SSL certificate and an email inbox included. Predefined layouts and design templates are available for selection, and the essential payment and shipping options can be integrated.

With the intuitive editor, this package is particularly suitable for beginners with no prior knowledge who want to quickly and easily create their own online shop.

IONOS Shop Plus Package for £30.00 per month

In the IONOS Shop Plus package, advanced features for your online shop with up to 5000 products are available. You get 50GB of storage space and can create up to 200 subpages. In addition to the free domain included, you also receive a wildcard SSL certificate and an email mailbox. Advanced payment and shipping options are available, as well as the ability to utilise important Google tools such as Ads, Analytics, and Shopping for sales promotion.

With its enhanced features, this package is particularly suitable for online shop owners who value a professional online product presentation.

IONOS Shop Pro Package for £62.00 per month

The IONOS Shop Pro package is not only suitable for selling up to 10,000 physical products, but also allows for the sale of digital products. You have unlimited storage space and can create as many subpages as you need. Additionally, shop owners can access inventory management for product variations and use discount functions for selling larger quantities. In addition to the free domain included, you also receive a wildcard SSL certificate and an email mailbox.

With its advanced product features, this package is ideal for professional online shop owners looking to sell a wide range of digital or physical products.

IONOS Shop Expert Package for £92.00 per month

At the highest tier, IONOS Shop Expert allows you to manage an unlimited number of digital or physical products in your online shop. You have unlimited storage space and can create as many subpages as you need. In addition, various B2B functions are available, and your shop can be connected to marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, or Google Shopping. Besides the free domain included, you also receive a wildcard SSL certificate and 50 email mailboxes.

With marketplace integration and unlimited product capabilities, this package is even suitable for high-revenue e-commerce providers operating on multiple platforms.

Typically, there is a one-time setup fee when signing a contract. However, IONOS usually offers a significant discount on costs for the first 6 or 12 months. The most up-to-date conditions can be found on the IONOS website.

IONOS MyWebsite Review: Step-by-Step Guide to Your Own Website

In the IONOS MyWebsite review, you will learn about the exact process of creating a website and the functions that can be used for it.

When you visit the domain https://www.ionos.de/websites/homepage-baukasten, you will be directed to the IONOS MyWebsite offer page. Here you can get a first impression of the key features of the website builder and explore the different offers. By clicking on the "Login" button, existing customers can log into the editor and start creating their own website.

If you are not an IONOS customer yet, you will need to choose one of the paid plans first before you can use the website builder.

Next, you can set your desired domain in the following step. Customers can choose from a variety of generic and country-specific domain extensions. Some of the domain extensions are completely free.

After that, you will need to enter your complete customer and payment details. Only once the ordering process is complete, you can start building your own website.

Before entering the actual editor and starting to customise your online presence, you must select a design template. This will serve as the foundation for further actions. There are numerous templates available from various themes. Finally, in the last step, you will enter the editor and can customise your own website.

Design Templates

• Wide selection of templates
• Various theme categories
• Responsive templates

The IONOS MyWebsite website builder offers a wide range of templates covering various themes. These templates serve as the foundation for your own website and can be customised using the editor. In addition to templates for local businesses such as hairdressers or bakeries, there are also templates available for consultants, doctors, or general business websites. All designs are fully responsive, ensuring that your website is optimally displayed on all devices, from smartphones to desktop PCs.

Features

• All essential basic functions
• MyWebsite Apps extensions
• Special options for online shops

With the IONOS MyWebsite website builder, users have access to all the essential basic functions to edit the content of their own website. Users can customise text, images, and videos as they wish. Moreover, in the higher tariff levels, there are plenty of additional extensions available in the form of MyWebsite Apps. These are practical extensions such as customer reviews, appointment scheduling, or directions, which can enhance the functionality of your website. In the special shop tariffs, users also have access to special options for online shops. This includes settings for products, payment methods, and shipping options.

Usability

• Intuitive operation
• Structured user interface
• No prior knowledge required

The focus of the IONOS MyWebsite website builder is on particularly simple and easily accessible operation. Combined with the clear and structured user interface, the editor is designed to make creating your own website as easy as possible. This way, even beginners with little experience or specific technical knowledge can quickly get to grips with the system. All website elements can be selected, moved, and edited individually using drag-and-drop controls.

Support

• Customer support in German language
• Communication via phone, email, and chat
• Personal advisor

The topic of customer support is given high priority in the offerings of IONOS. Customers can contact the German-speaking customer support team through various channels such as telephone, email, and live chat. Additionally, there is the option to be assigned a personal advisor. This advisor is available not only for technical issues but also assists with general questions about website building, providing expert recommendations and easily understandable explanations.

The three main strengths of the IONOS MyWebsite website builder

The following three points stand out positively with IONOS MyWebsite:

• Perfect for Beginners
  The IONOS MyWebsite website builder is particularly suitable for beginners without technical knowledge due to its user-friendly interface. After selecting a suitable template for their website, users can quickly and easily customise it in the editor.
• Comprehensive Support Offering
  IONOS provides its customers with a comprehensive support offering. For any questions or issues, the German-speaking customer service can be contacted through various channels, including email, live chat, or telephone. Particularly positive is the option to have a personal customer advisor assigned.
• Practical Templates
  With the IONOS MyWebsite website builder, users have access to a variety of templates for their website. These templates already include industry-specific content such as text and images, which only need to be customised individually.

The three main weaknesses of the IONOS MyWebsite website builder

The following three points are perceived more negatively with IONOS MyWebsite:

• No Free Trial Available
  Unfortunately, there is no freely available trial version of the IONOS MyWebsite homepage builder. Those interested in exploring the builder further must register with IONOS using their complete customer and payment details.
• No Open App Marketplace
  The IONOS MyWebsite homepage builder does not offer an open app marketplace for extensions. Only a few plugins from the developer are available, which can be used to enhance the functionality of your own website.
• No Open System
  As is customary with all homepage builders, the IONOS MyWebsite homepage builder is also a closed system. Once a template is chosen, switching it involves significant effort. Moving all content to another provider is not possible.

Conclusion on the IONOS MyWebsite Homepage Builder

The IONOS MyWebsite homepage builder offers an interesting option for many use cases to publish a web presence on the internet. Especially beginners without extensive technical knowledge can quickly get to grips with the system due to its easy operation. Whether it's a personal blog or a professional company website, the numerous templates provide a suitable solution for every project.

Who is Behind the IONOS MyWebsite Homepage Builder?

The IONOS SE, based in Montabaur, Rhineland-Palatinate, has been active as an internet service provider in the German market since 1988. The company is particularly known for its web hosting and DSL products. IONOS is now also operating internationally and runs ten data centres in five different countries with a total of over 90,000 servers.

Alternatives to IONOS MyWebsite

IONOS MyWebsite is not alone in the market for homepage builders. Numerous competitors offer similar services to their customers:

Well-known freemium providers like Wix, Jimdo, and Weebly are strong competitors in the field of homepage builders. Jimdo is particularly active in Germany, while Wix and Weebly operate in the international market.

Blogging platforms such as wordpress.com and Tumblr also compete with traditional homepage builders. Although these offerings are less suitable for static content like web business cards, they are mainly used for dynamic web content such as blogs.

Other web hosting providers like Webspace4All or One.com also offer homepage builders to their customers.