Move the parts you need
More shared resources, not a VPS
Self-managed root access
Dedicated CPU resources
Before choosing an alternative
A provider switch is usually four separate decisions
The word “hosting” can hide several different services. Separating them first makes a move easier to plan and stops one change from interrupting another.
| Part of your setup | What it controls | What to decide first |
|---|---|---|
| Domain registration | Ownership, renewal and the place where DNS is managed. | Keep it where it is for now, or transfer it later. A domain move is optional when you change web hosting. |
| Website hosting | Your website files, database and the environment that serves the site. | Choose a website, ecommerce, cloud or server route based on what the site actually does. |
| Business email | Mailboxes, delivery and records such as MX, SPF, DKIM and DMARC. | Plan mailbox access and email DNS separately so messages do not go missing during the move. |
| Server services | The operating system, applications, APIs, databases and custom software you manage. | Only use VPS or VDS when you need root access and can take responsibility for a self-managed server. |
A fair comparison
Where IONOS can be the better fit
IONOS has a wider catalogue than ordinary web hosting. That matters because an IONOS alternative should be judged against the service you actually use, not against the provider name alone.
IONOS offers website and online-shop builders, WordPress and WooCommerce hosting, professional email, hosted Exchange, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Linux and Windows VPS, dedicated servers and a broader cloud platform. That range can be valuable when you want an all-in-one builder, Windows-specific software, a productivity suite, dedicated hardware, GPU capacity or cloud infrastructure. Website Hosts UK does not present itself as a like-for-like replacement for those specialist requirements.
| What matters to you | IONOS may be the stronger fit when | Website Hosts UK is the stronger fit when | Decision to make |
|---|---|---|---|
| Website builder | You want to create and maintain a site inside IONOS’s own website-builder or online-shop platform. | You want a hosting route for a WordPress, standard PHP or independently built website. | Do not assume a provider-built site can be copied as a complete website. Check export options or plan a rebuild. |
| WordPress or WooCommerce | You prefer the IONOS WordPress/WooCommerce setup, tools and support model. | You want a UK-focused hosting route, a WordPress move or a straightforward WooCommerce hosting option. | Compare the exact workload, support expectations, current renewal terms and migration route rather than the product label alone. |
| Business email and office tools | You rely on Hosted Exchange, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace or other IONOS productivity services. | You need professional domain email hosting without changing a separate office suite. | Website, email and productivity tools can be moved independently. Preserve mail DNS until the replacement is ready. |
| Server operating system | You need Windows VPS, ASP.NET, Microsoft SQL Server, Remote Desktop or other Windows-only software. | You need a self-managed Linux VPS or VDS with configurable resources and a clear dedicated-CPU option. | The operating system is a hard requirement. Do not migrate a Windows workload to a Linux service without a tested replacement plan. |
| Cloud or dedicated infrastructure | You require dedicated hardware, GPUs, Kubernetes, managed cloud databases or wider public-cloud services. | You have a self-managed Linux workload that fits a VPS or VDS rather than a broader infrastructure platform. | Choose the platform for the technical requirement, not simply because a provider change feels overdue. |
IONOS product examples in this comparison were checked against the IONOS UK product catalogue on 3 July 2026. Product availability, technical specifications and terms can change, so review the relevant current provider page before deciding.
Choose by outcome
Four practical Website Hosts UK routes
These routes are deliberately distinct. Start with the one that solves today’s requirement rather than the product that sounds most technical.
Domain & business email
For a domain name, DNS control and a professional email setup using your own domain.
Explore Domains →Website & business hosting
For portfolios, company websites, local services and websites that need a straightforward hosting route.
Explore Business Hosting →Ecommerce hosting
For WooCommerce stores and online shops that need a clear shared-hosting route before considering a server.
Explore Ecommerce Hosting →Root-access servers
For custom Linux software, APIs, databases, staging and services that must be self-managed.
Compare VPS & VDS →For online shops
An ecommerce move needs more than a working homepage
For a store, the pages are only one part of the service. Before changing DNS, make sure that orders, checkout, customer emails and connected services are ready on the new setup.
WooCommerce Hosting
A sensible starting point for WordPress stores that use WooCommerce and need a straightforward hosting path for the website, database and store administration.
Explore WooCommerce Hosting →Shared Cloud Hosting
A shared-hosting route for websites that need more resources while keeping the service in a website-hosting environment rather than moving to root access.
Explore Shared Cloud Hosting →Before moving an online shop, check these first
- Website files, database and product images.
- Customer login, basket and checkout journeys.
- Payment gateway callbacks and order confirmation messages.
- Transactional email and the DNS records that support it.
- SSL, redirects, cache settings and scheduled tasks.
- Any inventory, booking, shipping or accounting integrations.
When root access is the real requirement
Choose VPS for flexibility. Choose VDS for dedicated CPU.
Both routes are self-managed Linux servers. The difference is the server resource model, not whether you need to administer the system.
Flexible self-managed server
VPS Hosting UK from £14.99/month
Configure CPU, RAM and NVMe storage for a self-managed Linux server with root access, 5TB traffic, one public IPv4 address and client-area controls.
- Use for custom websites, APIs, development, staging and databases.
- Choose from Rocky Linux, Ubuntu, Debian and AlmaLinux.
- Select it when flexible server resources are appropriate.
Dedicated CPU server
VDS Hosting UK from £29.99/month
Configure dedicated CPU resources, RAM and NVMe storage when the project needs a more predictable server resource profile than a flexible VPS.
- Dedicated CPU options from 1 to 32 vCPU.
- Root access with the same Linux image choices.
- Use for production services where dedicated CPU is the deciding factor.
VPS and VDS are self-managed. You are responsible for system administration, software, updates, security, firewall configuration and backups.
Move safely
A practical migration checklist for an IONOS alternative
The safest move is planned in layers: capture what you have, prepare the new service, test it, then change only the DNS records that need to change.
- Record the current setup.List the domain registrar, DNS records, website files, databases, mailboxes, SSL settings and any external services linked to the site.
- Take backups you can restore.Keep a verified copy of website files and databases. For business email, confirm where existing mail is stored and how it will remain accessible after the move.
- Build the new service before changing DNS.Set up the Website Hosts UK service, restore the website and make sure key pages, forms, logins and integrations are ready to test.
- Map website and email DNS separately.Website records may include A, AAAA or CNAME entries. Email may rely on MX, SPF, DKIM, DMARC and verification records. Do not overwrite records without knowing what they support.
- Test the parts that matter commercially.Check contact forms, booking flows, customer emails, payment journeys, password resets and any connected services before treating the move as complete.
- Cancel only after the new setup is confirmed.Keep the previous service available until the website, email and DNS changes have been checked from the user’s point of view.
Website Hosts UK vs IONOS
Side-by-side: choose the closest match, not the broadest promise
Both providers cover common website needs, but the service models are not identical. This table shows the practical comparison points that matter before changing a live setup.
| Area | IONOS | Website Hosts UK | What this means for a move |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domains and DNS | Domain registration, transfer options and DNS management sit alongside its wider product range. | Domains and DNS management can sit with your Website Hosts UK services, but a transfer is optional. | Keep a domain at IONOS while moving hosting if that lowers risk. Transfer later only if you want management together. |
| Website hosting | Web hosting, WordPress hosting, website builder and website-design options are available. | Web Hosting and Business Hosting provide routes for ordinary websites; Website Hosts UK also offers a focused website migration route. | A WordPress or standard hosted site can be moved and tested. A website-builder site may need an export plan or rebuild. |
| Online stores | IONOS offers an online-shop builder plus hosting for WooCommerce and PrestaShop. | Ecommerce Hosting and WooCommerce Hosting focus on the Website Hosts UK routes for an online store. | Match the destination to the platform. A WooCommerce store is a different move from an IONOS builder store or a PrestaShop installation. |
| Email and productivity | Professional email, Hosted Exchange, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace and related office services are available. | Business Email Hosting is relevant for domain-based business mailboxes. | Keep email and office tools separate from the website migration. Do not move mail records just because the website is moving. |
| Servers | IONOS provides Linux and Windows VPS plus dedicated servers and wider cloud infrastructure. | Linux VPS and Linux VDS are self-managed, with VDS designed for dedicated CPU requirements. | Website Hosts UK is a fit for self-managed Linux workloads. It is not a replacement for Windows, dedicated-server, GPU or public-cloud requirements. |
Use the linked service pages to confirm current specifications, included features and pricing before ordering.
FAQs
Website Hosts UK vs IONOS FAQs
Clear answers about moving a domain, website, business email, online shop or self-managed server.
Choose the part of your setup you need to improve
Start with a website, ecommerce or shared cloud route when that is enough. Move to self-managed VPS or VDS only when root access and server control are the genuine requirement.
