For a company website, a blog or a WordPress project you need a host that fits your plans – and whose price still works after the first year. This comparison sets eight web hosts with data centres in Germany side by side: classic web hosting, managed WordPress and a platform for agencies. For each provider, we compare the entry-level plan for a WordPress website with a .de domain, email, SSL and backups, with the costs over 24 months. It is based on provider information with source and retrieval date.
Shared hosting, managed WordPress, staging, DPA: here are the key terms explained briefly so you can read the table correctly.
WEB Website & blog
Company website, club site or blog with its own domain, email and WordPress.
WP Managed WordPress
WordPress hosting where the provider handles updates, caching, staging and security.
AG Agency & client projects
Manage several websites for clients, with permissions, project copies and flexible resources.
DEV Development & tech
SSH, Git, command line and own runtimes such as Node.js for technical projects.
ALL All in one place
Bundle website, domain, email and further services for a business with one provider.
Our selection
Order set by our editors according to these criteria, not a test.
Show pricesPrices as stated by the provider, with check date – only information that is at most 30 days old.
More filters
WordPress
SSL certificates
Staging
Two-factor authentication
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
1AI
ALL-INKL.COM
Website & blogAll in one place
Classic web hosting on the provider's own servers in Germany, with included domains, many email mailboxes and no minimum term.
Plan considered: Privat, billed monthly, with SSL add-on
Entry plan: 50 GB storage for web space, email and databases, 3 included domains (including .de), 150 subdomains, 500 email mailboxes, 5 MySQL/MariaDB databases, flat-rate traffic, up to 100 customers per server, software installer, automatic backups of databases and web space. Let's Encrypt SSL and cron jobs only at extra cost, no SSH, no DNS settings, no 24-hour hotline. No minimum contract term.
According to the provider, data is stored exclusively on its own servers in Germany, in data centres in Dresden.[1][2]
No minimum contract term: all plans can be paid monthly and cancelled at the end of the payment period.[1][10]
Weaknesses
In the Privat entry plan, Let's Encrypt SSL costs extra; it is included at no charge from PrivatPlus upwards.[1]
2
netcup Webhosting
Website & blogDevelopment & tech
Classic web hosting with a Nuremberg server location (selectable), an included domain, SSH, SSL and the WordPress Toolkit even in the entry-level plan; according to the provider, prices apply for the entire term.
Plan considered: Webhosting 1000 (Nuremberg location)
50 GB SSD storage (25 GB each for web and email), 1 .de domain included, 1 database, 100 email addresses, unlimited free SSL certificates, SSH, 1 cron job, WordPress Toolkit, PHP memory_limit 128 MB. netcup creates daily backups on a voluntary basis and keeps them for up to 7 days.
According to netcup, the prices of the web hosting plans apply for the entire term, not just for the first months.[5]
SSH access, unlimited free SSL certificates, a .de domain and the WordPress Toolkit are already part of the entry-level plan Webhosting 1000.[1]
Weaknesses
According to the help centre, netcup creates backups on a voluntary basis and keeps them for up to 7 days; according to the T&Cs, netcup does not back up customer content unless agreed, and a restore costs extra.[2][3]
3HZ
Hetzner Webhosting
Website & blogDevelopment & tech
Classic web hosting in four plans with servers in Germany, daily backups and no minimum term; the domain costs extra.
Plan considered: Webhosting S, monthly with no minimum term
10 GB storage for the website, emails and databases; unlimited mailboxes; 1 database; 1 cron job; 2 PHP processes with a 192 MB memory limit each; Varnish cache; daily backups; no domain included; no SSH.
No minimum term; according to the provider, cancellation takes effect immediately.[1][5]
An automatic backup every night, kept for 14 days in a separate data centre and restorable yourself in konsoleH.[5][9]
Weaknesses
No plan includes a domain; you book the .de domain separately.[1][5]
4MN
manitu Webhosting
Website & blogDevelopment & tech
Classic web hosting from its own data centre in St. Wendel, with an included domain, email, SSH and daily backups.
Plan considered: Webhosting M, billed 12 months in advance at first, then 6 months in advance each time
100 GB total storage (50 GB web, 50 GB email), 1 included domain (.de, .com, .net or .org), unlimited email addresses, 25 mailboxes, 5 databases of up to 1 GB each, 10 SSH accounts with Bash or ZSH, 5 own cron jobs, PHP 8.1 to 8.4 with memory_limit 512M, daily backups.
Hosting platform from Espelkamp for agencies and businesses with its own data centre, management in mStudio and a monthly term; for commercial customers exclusively.
Plan considered: Webhosting S, monthly
For one project: 1 vCPU, 1 GiB RAM and 20 GiB storage. Website, database, email and backups share the storage; it can be expanded. Unlimited email addresses and mailboxes until the storage is full. Unlimited Let's Encrypt certificates, automatic daily backups, SSH access, 1:1 copies of apps. No included domain.
A staging environment is part of every plan, including the entry-level Mini plan.[1]
Raidboxes backs up every box automatically each night; from Fully Managed upwards, backups stay available for 30 days.[7][1]
Weaknesses
No plan includes a domain or email; both cost extra.[1]
7IO
IONOS Webhosting
Website & blogAll in one place
Classic web hosting from Montabaur with an included domain, mailbox, SSL and daily backups; introductory price for new customers, then a regular price.
Plan considered: Web Hosting Standard
100 GB NVMe storage, 1 included domain (plan table: free in the first year), 1 mailbox with 2 GB, 10 MariaDB databases with 2 GB each, 1 DV wildcard SSL certificate, daily backup, SSH and SFTP access, WP-CLI, PHP 8.2 to 8.4, CPU priority Basic.
According to the provider, domain, SSL certificate and mailbox are included in all web hosting packages, even the entry plan.[1]
IONOS backs up web space and databases automatically and keeps the backups for up to 14 days; you restore files yourself in the customer account.[9][10]
Weaknesses
In the entry plan the introductory price applies for six months, then a higher regular price applies; there is also a one-time setup fee.[1]
8
STRATO Webhosting
Website & blogAll in one place
Classic web hosting from Berlin with included domain, SSL, email and daily backups in German data centres.
Plan considered: Hosting Starter, 12-month term
50 GB web space, 1 included domain, 1 SSL certificate, 1 mailbox with 3 GB, 2 SSD databases with 2 GB each, 3 SFTP accounts, SSH, backup function with daily backups, SiteLock Scan, unlimited traffic.
Data location
Germany (choice not confirmed)
not confirmed for the plan considered
WordPress
One-click installation
Storage
50 GB
Included domains
1
Pricing model
Subscription (monthly or every 6 months) · Trial, then paid
Subscription (monthly or every 6 months) · Trial, then paid
Data location Actual storage location, separate from headquarters
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Note on location
Several company-owned data centres in DresdenSeveral company-owned data centres in Dresden; according to the provider, power comes entirely from hydroelectric plants
Location selectable when ordering: Nuremberg, Vienna or Manassas (USA)Location selectable when ordering: Nuremberg, Vienna or Manassas (USA); this comparison uses Nuremberg (NUE). According to netcup, own ISO 27001 certified data centres.
According to the provider, web hosting runs exclusively in…According to the provider, web hosting runs exclusively in its own data centres in the Nuremberg data centre park. Backups are kept in a separate Hetzner data centre.
Own data centre since 2002 in the company building in St. Wendel
Own data centre in Espelkamp (NRW), plus further space in…Own data centre in Espelkamp (NRW), plus further space in Frankfurt and Hannover according to the provider; mittwald does not say which location applies to a plan.
According to the provider, websites are hosted in the…According to the provider, websites are hosted in the Equinix data centre in Düsseldorf; automatic backups are kept on a separate, specially secured server.
According to the provider, web servers and web space are in GermanyAccording to the provider, web servers and web space are in Germany; IONOS does not name individual data centre sites for web hosting.
Own data centres in Berlin and Karlsruhe, certified annually…Own data centres in Berlin and Karlsruhe, certified annually to ISO 27001 according to the provider.
Company headquarters
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Germany
Company and group Operating company and, if any, parent company – separate from the server location.
ALL-INKL.COM – Neue Medien Münnich, FriedersdorfALL-INKL.COM – Neue Medien Münnich, Friedersdorf; owner René Münnich. The legal notice names no parent company.
netcup GmbH, Karlsruhenetcup GmbH, Karlsruhe; according to the company, part of the Austrian Anexia Group since 2016.
Hetzner Online GmbH, based in Gunzenhausen (Bavaria)Hetzner Online GmbH, based in Gunzenhausen (Bavaria); the legal notice does not name a parent company.
manitu GmbH, St. Wendel (Saarbrücken local court, HRB 19076)manitu GmbH, St. Wendel (Saarbrücken local court, HRB 19076); the imprint names no parent company
Mittwald CM Service GmbH & Co. KG, EspelkampMittwald CM Service GmbH & Co. KG, Espelkamp; general partner is Robert Meyer Verwaltungs GmbH
Raidboxes GmbH, Münster, Germany; parent company is team.blue.
IONOS SE, MontabaurIONOS SE, Montabaur; part of the listed IONOS Group SE, whose majority shareholder is United Internet AG.
STRATO GmbH, BerlinSTRATO GmbH, Berlin; a company of the listed IONOS Group SE and, according to the legal notice, part of the United Internet AG group.
WordPress How the plan supports WordPress: managed means the provider takes care of updates, caching and security; otherwise installer, management tools or manual installation.
One-click installation
Installer with management tools
One-click installation
One-click installation
Installer with management tools
Managed WordPress
One-click installation
One-click installation
Storage Storage of the plan in GB according to the provider; depending on the provider, website, databases, email and backups share this space.
50 GB
50 GB
10 GB
100 GB
21.47 GB
5 GB
100 GB
50 GB
Included domains Domains included in the plan at no extra cost; 0 means the domain costs extra or you bring your own.
3
1
0
1
0
0
1
1
Email mailboxes Number and size of mailboxes in the plan; “not included” if email has to be booked separately.
500 mailboxes with IMAP and POP3, freely configurable500 mailboxes with IMAP and POP3, freely configurable; they share the plan storage with web space and databases
100 email addresses and 100 forwards with 25 GB of mail storage in total100 email addresses and 100 forwards with 25 GB of mail storage in total; IMAP, POP3, webmail, spam and virus filters.
Unlimited mailboxes and forwardersUnlimited mailboxes and forwarders; they share the plan’s 10 GB with the website and databases.
Unlimited email addresses, 25 mailboxes of up to 50 GB each…Unlimited email addresses, 25 mailboxes of up to 50 GB each, 50 GB of email storage in total
Unlimited addresses and mailboxes, unlimited mailbox size as…Unlimited addresses and mailboxes, unlimited mailbox size as long as the booked storage lasts
Not included; can be booked as a separate email plan…Not included; can be booked as a separate email plan (Mail Mini: 3 mailboxes, 3 GB mail storage). The domain must be hosted at Raidboxes.
1 mailbox with 2 GB storage
1 mailbox with 3 GB storage on your domain.
SSL certificates Whether SSL certificates are included at no extra cost for all domains, only in limited numbers, or cost extra.
Paid
Included for all domains
Included for all domains
Included for all domains
Included for all domains
Included for all domains
Included, limited number
Included, limited number
Backups by the provider Frequency and retention period of automatic backups.
Automatic: databases with copies from the previous day and…Automatic: databases with copies from the previous day and about 5–8 and 9–12 days old; web space about every 14 days, two copies. Voluntary per provider
Daily, on a voluntary basis, kept for up to 7 days…Daily, on a voluntary basis, kept for up to 7 days (websites, emails, databases; files up to 10 GB). Per the T&Cs, no backups by netcup unless agreed.
Automatically every nightAutomatically every night; copies are kept for 14 days in a separate Hetzner data centre.
Daily: web content, emails, databases and settingsDaily: web content, emails, databases and settings; according to the provider usually kept for 14 days (FAQ: usually at least 1 week, no guarantee)
Automatic daily backupAutomatic daily backup; kept for 30 days according to the plan page, up to one year via schedule; backups use the booked storage
Automatic every nightAutomatic every night; kept for 7 days in the Mini plan (Starter 14, Fully Managed and up 30). Plus manual backups that are never deleted automatically.
Daily according to the providerDaily according to the provider; web space backups kept for up to 14 days, database backups for 14 days.
Daily: web space backups of the last 14 days, database…Daily: web space backups of the last 14 days, database backups for up to 2 weeks (packages from 31 March 2025).
Restore How you restore files, databases or mailboxes from backups and whether it costs extra.
Access to the backups in all current plans in the KAS under "Tools"Access to the backups in all current plans in the KAS under "Tools"; the provider does not say whether a restore costs extra
Order for a fee via the netcup website, then contact supportOrder for a fee via the netcup website, then contact support; charged only if data is available. Backup Manager for your own backups from Webhosting 2000.
You restore files, directories, emails and databases yourself in konsoleHYou restore files, directories, emails and databases yourself in konsoleH; the provider does not state any costs for this.
By request to supportBy request to support; charged extra by time spent in 15-minute increments, at least 30 minutes
Yourself in mStudio: restore whole directories, single files or databasesYourself in mStudio: restore whole directories, single files or databases; the provider does not state any restore costs there
Yourself in the box's backup overview in the dashboardYourself in the box's backup overview in the dashboard; restoring overwrites the entire box content. The help article does not mention any cost.
Select and restore files yourself in the IONOS accountSelect and restore files yourself in the IONOS account; databases via a restore file in phpMyAdmin or SSH. Costs not stated.
Yourself in the customer login: full backup or individual folders and filesYourself in the customer login: full backup or individual folders and files; databases via database management. STRATO states no costs.
Staging A copy of the website where you try out changes before they go live.
Not confirmednot published by the provider (Neither the plan pages, the FAQ nor the software installer page mention a staging feature.)
Not confirmed – No information on staging foundnot published by the provider (No information on staging found. According to the product page, the WordPress Toolkit is included; netcup does not say whether it offers a staging function there.)
Not confirmednot published by the provider (Neither the plan page nor the help centre mentions a staging feature.)
Not confirmednot published by the provider (No staging feature is described on the plan, WordPress or help pages)
Yes
Yes
Not confirmednot published by the provider (Staging for classic web hosting not found on the plan page or in the help centre.)
Not confirmednot published by the provider (STRATO mentions no staging feature on the plan page or in its help pages.)
SSH access Whether the plan offers shell access via SSH (not just SFTP).
No
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
PHP and resources PHP versions and limits such as memory per PHP process or number of processes, as far as the provider states them.
Several PHP versions, selectable per domain in the KASSeveral PHP versions, selectable per domain in the KAS; up to 100 customers per server. Memory limit and processes are not published
PHP 7.2 to 8.5; memory_limit 128 MB, maximum execution time…PHP 7.2 to 8.5; memory_limit 128 MB, maximum execution time 180 seconds, uploads up to 8 MB. netcup only states guaranteed usable RAM from Webhosting 2000 upwards.
PHP 5, 7 and 8 freely selectablePHP 5, 7 and 8 freely selectable; 2 PHP processes, a memory limit of 192 MB per process and a maximum execution time of 120 seconds.
PHP 8.1 to 8.4; in plan M memory_limit 512M and max_execution_time 60 seconds
PHP 8.2 to 8.5 at no extra charge, older versions just with…PHP 8.2 to 8.5 at no extra charge, older versions just with Extended Support; up to 20 PHP-FPM processes; memory_limit 256 MB, adjustable
PHP 7.2 to 8.4; in the Mini plan PHP memory limit 128 MB, 1 vCore (shared) and 2 GB RAM.
PHP 8.4, 8.3 and 8.2 selectable manually, plus Perl and PythonPHP 8.4, 8.3 and 8.2 selectable manually, plus Perl and Python; the plan page does not state memory_limit or processes.
PHP 8.2 to 8.5 selectable in the customer loginPHP 8.2 to 8.5 selectable in the customer login; per help page for PHP 8.0 to 8.3: memory_limit 512 MB, max_execution_time 240 seconds.
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Support availability Channels and hours according to the provider; says nothing about the quality in a specific case.
Phone Mon–Fri 8:30 am–midnight, Sat/Sun 10 am–10 pmPhone Mon–Fri 8:30 am–midnight, Sat/Sun 10 am–10 pm; email around the clock. 24-hour phone hotline from PrivatPlus upwards
Tickets; email support Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–10 p.m., phone support…Tickets; email support Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–10 p.m., phone support Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; outside these hours an emergency number for technical outages and a chatbot (according to the provider).
According to the provider, by email and phoneAccording to the provider, by email and phone; general customer service Mon to Fri, 8 am to 6 pm; phone support for web hosting only from the XL plan.
Free by phone (landline number) and email during office…Free by phone (landline number) and email during office hours, technical hotline Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Phone, chat and ticket systemPhone, chat and ticket system; phone Mon–Fri 8:30 am–6 pm, emergency number at night, at weekends and on holidays; plan page says around the clock
Live chat daily from 8 am to 10 pm, according to the…Live chat daily from 8 am to 10 pm, according to the provider 365 days a year; the pricing page does not list phone support.
According to the provider, around the clock by phone, chat or emailAccording to the provider, around the clock by phone, chat or email; after ordering, a personal adviser as well.
Contact form/email and service hotline Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pm…Contact form/email and service hotline Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pm, Sat–Sun 10 am–6:30 pm; round-the-clock hotline as a paid option.
Cancellation and term
No minimum termNo minimum term; pay monthly or in advance for 3, 6 or 12 months. Cancellation at the end of the prepaid period, no refund
Minimum term of 12 monthsMinimum term of 12 months. After that, according to the T&Cs, you can cancel with one month's notice to the end of the month; notice can be given in text form, for example by email.
No minimum termNo minimum term; cancellation takes effect immediately and you do it yourself in konsoleH.
Plan M: 12-month minimum term, then monthly renewal, 2…Plan M: 12-month minimum term, then monthly renewal, 2 weeks’ notice (terms: one month); billed in advance; cancel in text form or online
Monthly term, 30 days' notice to the end of the termMonthly term, 30 days' notice to the end of the term; domains with a minimum term of one year
Term = chosen billing period (here 12 months), renews automaticallyTerm = chosen billing period (here 12 months), renews automatically; cancel without notice period by the end of the term in the dashboard.
According to the T&Cs, a 12-month minimum term unless otherwise agreedAccording to the T&Cs, a 12-month minimum term unless otherwise agreed; then one month's notice. According to the FAQ, web hosting is also available without a fixed term on request.
12-month minimum term, cancel with one month’s notice to the…12-month minimum term, cancel with one month’s notice to the end of the term; then indefinite, cancellable at any time with one month’s notice.
Trial or free plan
First month of each new web hosting plan free, once per…First month of each new web hosting plan free, once per customer within 365 days; after that cancellable monthly.
30-day satisfaction guarantee: return with a refund of the…30-day satisfaction guarantee: return with a refund of the full basic fee, for first-time orders only, not for plan upgrades.
The provider does not mention a trial periodThe provider does not mention a trial period. There is no minimum term, and cancellation takes effect immediately.
Not confirmednot published by the provider (No trial period and no money-back rule stated on the plan and help pages)
According to the provider, you can try mStudio free of…According to the provider, you can try mStudio free of charge and without obligation; mittwald does not state duration or scope. Afterwards you book a hosting package.
Free trial of up to 14 days with the full feature set and no…Free trial of up to 14 days with the full feature set and no payment details; the demo box stays password-protected until activation.
According to the provider, 30-day money-back guaranteeAccording to the provider, 30-day money-back guarantee; there is no permanently free plan.
30-day money-back guarantee according to the plan page30-day money-back guarantee according to the plan page; with a 12-month term, the first month is free in Starter, Plus and Pro.
Data location Actual storage location, separate from headquarters
Germany
Note on location
Several company-owned data centres in DresdenSeveral company-owned data centres in Dresden; according to the provider, power comes entirely from hydroelectric plants
Company headquarters
Germany
Company and group Operating company and, if any, parent company – separate from the server location.
ALL-INKL.COM – Neue Medien Münnich, FriedersdorfALL-INKL.COM – Neue Medien Münnich, Friedersdorf; owner René Münnich. The legal notice names no parent company.
WordPress How the plan supports WordPress: managed means the provider takes care of updates, caching and security; otherwise installer, management tools or manual installation.
One-click installation
Storage Storage of the plan in GB according to the provider; depending on the provider, website, databases, email and backups share this space.
50 GB
Included domains Domains included in the plan at no extra cost; 0 means the domain costs extra or you bring your own.
3
Email mailboxes Number and size of mailboxes in the plan; “not included” if email has to be booked separately.
500 mailboxes with IMAP and POP3, freely configurable500 mailboxes with IMAP and POP3, freely configurable; they share the plan storage with web space and databases
SSL certificates Whether SSL certificates are included at no extra cost for all domains, only in limited numbers, or cost extra.
Paid
Backups by the provider Frequency and retention period of automatic backups.
Automatic: databases with copies from the previous day and…Automatic: databases with copies from the previous day and about 5–8 and 9–12 days old; web space about every 14 days, two copies. Voluntary per provider
Restore How you restore files, databases or mailboxes from backups and whether it costs extra.
Access to the backups in all current plans in the KAS under "Tools"Access to the backups in all current plans in the KAS under "Tools"; the provider does not say whether a restore costs extra
Staging A copy of the website where you try out changes before they go live.
Not confirmednot published by the provider (Neither the plan pages, the FAQ nor the software installer page mention a staging feature.)
SSH access Whether the plan offers shell access via SSH (not just SFTP).
No
PHP and resources PHP versions and limits such as memory per PHP process or number of processes, as far as the provider states them.
Several PHP versions, selectable per domain in the KASSeveral PHP versions, selectable per domain in the KAS; up to 100 customers per server. Memory limit and processes are not published
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
Support availability Channels and hours according to the provider; says nothing about the quality in a specific case.
Phone Mon–Fri 8:30 am–midnight, Sat/Sun 10 am–10 pmPhone Mon–Fri 8:30 am–midnight, Sat/Sun 10 am–10 pm; email around the clock. 24-hour phone hotline from PrivatPlus upwards
Cancellation and term
No minimum termNo minimum term; pay monthly or in advance for 3, 6 or 12 months. Cancellation at the end of the prepaid period, no refund
Trial or free plan
First month of each new web hosting plan free, once per…First month of each new web hosting plan free, once per customer within 365 days; after that cancellable monthly.
Data location Actual storage location, separate from headquarters
Germany
Note on location
Location selectable when ordering: Nuremberg, Vienna or Manassas (USA)Location selectable when ordering: Nuremberg, Vienna or Manassas (USA); this comparison uses Nuremberg (NUE). According to netcup, own ISO 27001 certified data centres.
Company headquarters
Germany
Company and group Operating company and, if any, parent company – separate from the server location.
netcup GmbH, Karlsruhenetcup GmbH, Karlsruhe; according to the company, part of the Austrian Anexia Group since 2016.
WordPress How the plan supports WordPress: managed means the provider takes care of updates, caching and security; otherwise installer, management tools or manual installation.
Installer with management tools
Storage Storage of the plan in GB according to the provider; depending on the provider, website, databases, email and backups share this space.
50 GB
Included domains Domains included in the plan at no extra cost; 0 means the domain costs extra or you bring your own.
1
Email mailboxes Number and size of mailboxes in the plan; “not included” if email has to be booked separately.
100 email addresses and 100 forwards with 25 GB of mail storage in total100 email addresses and 100 forwards with 25 GB of mail storage in total; IMAP, POP3, webmail, spam and virus filters.
SSL certificates Whether SSL certificates are included at no extra cost for all domains, only in limited numbers, or cost extra.
Included for all domains
Backups by the provider Frequency and retention period of automatic backups.
Daily, on a voluntary basis, kept for up to 7 days…Daily, on a voluntary basis, kept for up to 7 days (websites, emails, databases; files up to 10 GB). Per the T&Cs, no backups by netcup unless agreed.
Restore How you restore files, databases or mailboxes from backups and whether it costs extra.
Order for a fee via the netcup website, then contact supportOrder for a fee via the netcup website, then contact support; charged only if data is available. Backup Manager for your own backups from Webhosting 2000.
Staging A copy of the website where you try out changes before they go live.
Not confirmed – No information on staging foundnot published by the provider (No information on staging found. According to the product page, the WordPress Toolkit is included; netcup does not say whether it offers a staging function there.)
SSH access Whether the plan offers shell access via SSH (not just SFTP).
Yes
PHP and resources PHP versions and limits such as memory per PHP process or number of processes, as far as the provider states them.
PHP 7.2 to 8.5; memory_limit 128 MB, maximum execution time…PHP 7.2 to 8.5; memory_limit 128 MB, maximum execution time 180 seconds, uploads up to 8 MB. netcup only states guaranteed usable RAM from Webhosting 2000 upwards.
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
Support availability Channels and hours according to the provider; says nothing about the quality in a specific case.
Tickets; email support Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–10 p.m., phone support…Tickets; email support Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–10 p.m., phone support Mon–Fri 9 a.m.–5 p.m.; outside these hours an emergency number for technical outages and a chatbot (according to the provider).
Cancellation and term
Minimum term of 12 monthsMinimum term of 12 months. After that, according to the T&Cs, you can cancel with one month's notice to the end of the month; notice can be given in text form, for example by email.
Trial or free plan
30-day satisfaction guarantee: return with a refund of the…30-day satisfaction guarantee: return with a refund of the full basic fee, for first-time orders only, not for plan upgrades.
Data location Actual storage location, separate from headquarters
Germany
Note on location
According to the provider, web hosting runs exclusively in…According to the provider, web hosting runs exclusively in its own data centres in the Nuremberg data centre park. Backups are kept in a separate Hetzner data centre.
Company headquarters
Germany
Company and group Operating company and, if any, parent company – separate from the server location.
Hetzner Online GmbH, based in Gunzenhausen (Bavaria)Hetzner Online GmbH, based in Gunzenhausen (Bavaria); the legal notice does not name a parent company.
WordPress How the plan supports WordPress: managed means the provider takes care of updates, caching and security; otherwise installer, management tools or manual installation.
One-click installation
Storage Storage of the plan in GB according to the provider; depending on the provider, website, databases, email and backups share this space.
10 GB
Included domains Domains included in the plan at no extra cost; 0 means the domain costs extra or you bring your own.
0
Email mailboxes Number and size of mailboxes in the plan; “not included” if email has to be booked separately.
Unlimited mailboxes and forwardersUnlimited mailboxes and forwarders; they share the plan’s 10 GB with the website and databases.
SSL certificates Whether SSL certificates are included at no extra cost for all domains, only in limited numbers, or cost extra.
Included for all domains
Backups by the provider Frequency and retention period of automatic backups.
Automatically every nightAutomatically every night; copies are kept for 14 days in a separate Hetzner data centre.
Restore How you restore files, databases or mailboxes from backups and whether it costs extra.
You restore files, directories, emails and databases yourself in konsoleHYou restore files, directories, emails and databases yourself in konsoleH; the provider does not state any costs for this.
Staging A copy of the website where you try out changes before they go live.
Not confirmednot published by the provider (Neither the plan page nor the help centre mentions a staging feature.)
SSH access Whether the plan offers shell access via SSH (not just SFTP).
No
PHP and resources PHP versions and limits such as memory per PHP process or number of processes, as far as the provider states them.
PHP 5, 7 and 8 freely selectablePHP 5, 7 and 8 freely selectable; 2 PHP processes, a memory limit of 192 MB per process and a maximum execution time of 120 seconds.
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
Support availability Channels and hours according to the provider; says nothing about the quality in a specific case.
According to the provider, by email and phoneAccording to the provider, by email and phone; general customer service Mon to Fri, 8 am to 6 pm; phone support for web hosting only from the XL plan.
Cancellation and term
No minimum termNo minimum term; cancellation takes effect immediately and you do it yourself in konsoleH.
Trial or free plan
The provider does not mention a trial periodThe provider does not mention a trial period. There is no minimum term, and cancellation takes effect immediately.
Webhosting M, billed 12 months in advance at first, then 6 months in advance each time
Use
Website & blog, Development & tech
Pricing model
Subscription (every 6 months)
Data location Actual storage location, separate from headquarters
Germany
Note on location
Own data centre since 2002 in the company building in St. Wendel
Company headquarters
Germany
Company and group Operating company and, if any, parent company – separate from the server location.
manitu GmbH, St. Wendel (Saarbrücken local court, HRB 19076)manitu GmbH, St. Wendel (Saarbrücken local court, HRB 19076); the imprint names no parent company
WordPress How the plan supports WordPress: managed means the provider takes care of updates, caching and security; otherwise installer, management tools or manual installation.
One-click installation
Storage Storage of the plan in GB according to the provider; depending on the provider, website, databases, email and backups share this space.
100 GB
Included domains Domains included in the plan at no extra cost; 0 means the domain costs extra or you bring your own.
1
Email mailboxes Number and size of mailboxes in the plan; “not included” if email has to be booked separately.
Unlimited email addresses, 25 mailboxes of up to 50 GB each…Unlimited email addresses, 25 mailboxes of up to 50 GB each, 50 GB of email storage in total
SSL certificates Whether SSL certificates are included at no extra cost for all domains, only in limited numbers, or cost extra.
Included for all domains
Backups by the provider Frequency and retention period of automatic backups.
Daily: web content, emails, databases and settingsDaily: web content, emails, databases and settings; according to the provider usually kept for 14 days (FAQ: usually at least 1 week, no guarantee)
Restore How you restore files, databases or mailboxes from backups and whether it costs extra.
By request to supportBy request to support; charged extra by time spent in 15-minute increments, at least 30 minutes
Staging A copy of the website where you try out changes before they go live.
Not confirmednot published by the provider (No staging feature is described on the plan, WordPress or help pages)
SSH access Whether the plan offers shell access via SSH (not just SFTP).
Yes
PHP and resources PHP versions and limits such as memory per PHP process or number of processes, as far as the provider states them.
PHP 8.1 to 8.4; in plan M memory_limit 512M and max_execution_time 60 seconds
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
Support availability Channels and hours according to the provider; says nothing about the quality in a specific case.
Free by phone (landline number) and email during office…Free by phone (landline number) and email during office hours, technical hotline Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Cancellation and term
Plan M: 12-month minimum term, then monthly renewal, 2…Plan M: 12-month minimum term, then monthly renewal, 2 weeks’ notice (terms: one month); billed in advance; cancel in text form or online
Trial or free plan
Not confirmednot published by the provider (No trial period and no money-back rule stated on the plan and help pages)
Agency & client projects, Website & blog, Development & tech
Pricing model
Subscription (monthly)
Data location Actual storage location, separate from headquarters
Germany
Note on location
Own data centre in Espelkamp (NRW), plus further space in…Own data centre in Espelkamp (NRW), plus further space in Frankfurt and Hannover according to the provider; mittwald does not say which location applies to a plan.
Company headquarters
Germany
Company and group Operating company and, if any, parent company – separate from the server location.
Mittwald CM Service GmbH & Co. KG, EspelkampMittwald CM Service GmbH & Co. KG, Espelkamp; general partner is Robert Meyer Verwaltungs GmbH
WordPress How the plan supports WordPress: managed means the provider takes care of updates, caching and security; otherwise installer, management tools or manual installation.
Installer with management tools
Storage Storage of the plan in GB according to the provider; depending on the provider, website, databases, email and backups share this space.
21.47 GB
Included domains Domains included in the plan at no extra cost; 0 means the domain costs extra or you bring your own.
0
Email mailboxes Number and size of mailboxes in the plan; “not included” if email has to be booked separately.
Unlimited addresses and mailboxes, unlimited mailbox size as…Unlimited addresses and mailboxes, unlimited mailbox size as long as the booked storage lasts
SSL certificates Whether SSL certificates are included at no extra cost for all domains, only in limited numbers, or cost extra.
Included for all domains
Backups by the provider Frequency and retention period of automatic backups.
Automatic daily backupAutomatic daily backup; kept for 30 days according to the plan page, up to one year via schedule; backups use the booked storage
Restore How you restore files, databases or mailboxes from backups and whether it costs extra.
Yourself in mStudio: restore whole directories, single files or databasesYourself in mStudio: restore whole directories, single files or databases; the provider does not state any restore costs there
Staging A copy of the website where you try out changes before they go live.
Yes
SSH access Whether the plan offers shell access via SSH (not just SFTP).
Yes
PHP and resources PHP versions and limits such as memory per PHP process or number of processes, as far as the provider states them.
PHP 8.2 to 8.5 at no extra charge, older versions just with…PHP 8.2 to 8.5 at no extra charge, older versions just with Extended Support; up to 20 PHP-FPM processes; memory_limit 256 MB, adjustable
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
Support availability Channels and hours according to the provider; says nothing about the quality in a specific case.
Phone, chat and ticket systemPhone, chat and ticket system; phone Mon–Fri 8:30 am–6 pm, emergency number at night, at weekends and on holidays; plan page says around the clock
Cancellation and term
Monthly term, 30 days' notice to the end of the termMonthly term, 30 days' notice to the end of the term; domains with a minimum term of one year
Trial or free plan
According to the provider, you can try mStudio free of…According to the provider, you can try mStudio free of charge and without obligation; mittwald does not state duration or scope. Afterwards you book a hosting package.
Data location Actual storage location, separate from headquarters
Germany
Note on location
According to the provider, websites are hosted in the…According to the provider, websites are hosted in the Equinix data centre in Düsseldorf; automatic backups are kept on a separate, specially secured server.
Company headquarters
Germany
Company and group Operating company and, if any, parent company – separate from the server location.
Raidboxes GmbH, Münster, Germany; parent company is team.blue.
WordPress How the plan supports WordPress: managed means the provider takes care of updates, caching and security; otherwise installer, management tools or manual installation.
Managed WordPress
Storage Storage of the plan in GB according to the provider; depending on the provider, website, databases, email and backups share this space.
5 GB
Included domains Domains included in the plan at no extra cost; 0 means the domain costs extra or you bring your own.
0
Email mailboxes Number and size of mailboxes in the plan; “not included” if email has to be booked separately.
Not included; can be booked as a separate email plan…Not included; can be booked as a separate email plan (Mail Mini: 3 mailboxes, 3 GB mail storage). The domain must be hosted at Raidboxes.
SSL certificates Whether SSL certificates are included at no extra cost for all domains, only in limited numbers, or cost extra.
Included for all domains
Backups by the provider Frequency and retention period of automatic backups.
Automatic every nightAutomatic every night; kept for 7 days in the Mini plan (Starter 14, Fully Managed and up 30). Plus manual backups that are never deleted automatically.
Restore How you restore files, databases or mailboxes from backups and whether it costs extra.
Yourself in the box's backup overview in the dashboardYourself in the box's backup overview in the dashboard; restoring overwrites the entire box content. The help article does not mention any cost.
Staging A copy of the website where you try out changes before they go live.
Yes
SSH access Whether the plan offers shell access via SSH (not just SFTP).
No
PHP and resources PHP versions and limits such as memory per PHP process or number of processes, as far as the provider states them.
PHP 7.2 to 8.4; in the Mini plan PHP memory limit 128 MB, 1 vCore (shared) and 2 GB RAM.
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
Support availability Channels and hours according to the provider; says nothing about the quality in a specific case.
Live chat daily from 8 am to 10 pm, according to the…Live chat daily from 8 am to 10 pm, according to the provider 365 days a year; the pricing page does not list phone support.
Cancellation and term
Term = chosen billing period (here 12 months), renews automaticallyTerm = chosen billing period (here 12 months), renews automatically; cancel without notice period by the end of the term in the dashboard.
Trial or free plan
Free trial of up to 14 days with the full feature set and no…Free trial of up to 14 days with the full feature set and no payment details; the demo box stays password-protected until activation.
Data location Actual storage location, separate from headquarters
Germany
Note on location
According to the provider, web servers and web space are in GermanyAccording to the provider, web servers and web space are in Germany; IONOS does not name individual data centre sites for web hosting.
Company headquarters
Germany
Company and group Operating company and, if any, parent company – separate from the server location.
IONOS SE, MontabaurIONOS SE, Montabaur; part of the listed IONOS Group SE, whose majority shareholder is United Internet AG.
WordPress How the plan supports WordPress: managed means the provider takes care of updates, caching and security; otherwise installer, management tools or manual installation.
One-click installation
Storage Storage of the plan in GB according to the provider; depending on the provider, website, databases, email and backups share this space.
100 GB
Included domains Domains included in the plan at no extra cost; 0 means the domain costs extra or you bring your own.
1
Email mailboxes Number and size of mailboxes in the plan; “not included” if email has to be booked separately.
1 mailbox with 2 GB storage
SSL certificates Whether SSL certificates are included at no extra cost for all domains, only in limited numbers, or cost extra.
Included, limited number
Backups by the provider Frequency and retention period of automatic backups.
Daily according to the providerDaily according to the provider; web space backups kept for up to 14 days, database backups for 14 days.
Restore How you restore files, databases or mailboxes from backups and whether it costs extra.
Select and restore files yourself in the IONOS accountSelect and restore files yourself in the IONOS account; databases via a restore file in phpMyAdmin or SSH. Costs not stated.
Staging A copy of the website where you try out changes before they go live.
Not confirmednot published by the provider (Staging for classic web hosting not found on the plan page or in the help centre.)
SSH access Whether the plan offers shell access via SSH (not just SFTP).
Yes
PHP and resources PHP versions and limits such as memory per PHP process or number of processes, as far as the provider states them.
PHP 8.4, 8.3 and 8.2 selectable manually, plus Perl and PythonPHP 8.4, 8.3 and 8.2 selectable manually, plus Perl and Python; the plan page does not state memory_limit or processes.
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
Support availability Channels and hours according to the provider; says nothing about the quality in a specific case.
According to the provider, around the clock by phone, chat or emailAccording to the provider, around the clock by phone, chat or email; after ordering, a personal adviser as well.
Cancellation and term
According to the T&Cs, a 12-month minimum term unless otherwise agreedAccording to the T&Cs, a 12-month minimum term unless otherwise agreed; then one month's notice. According to the FAQ, web hosting is also available without a fixed term on request.
Trial or free plan
According to the provider, 30-day money-back guaranteeAccording to the provider, 30-day money-back guarantee; there is no permanently free plan.
Subscription (monthly or every 6 months) · Trial, then paid
Data location Actual storage location, separate from headquarters
Germany
Note on location
Own data centres in Berlin and Karlsruhe, certified annually…Own data centres in Berlin and Karlsruhe, certified annually to ISO 27001 according to the provider.
Company headquarters
Germany
Company and group Operating company and, if any, parent company – separate from the server location.
STRATO GmbH, BerlinSTRATO GmbH, Berlin; a company of the listed IONOS Group SE and, according to the legal notice, part of the United Internet AG group.
WordPress How the plan supports WordPress: managed means the provider takes care of updates, caching and security; otherwise installer, management tools or manual installation.
One-click installation
Storage Storage of the plan in GB according to the provider; depending on the provider, website, databases, email and backups share this space.
50 GB
Included domains Domains included in the plan at no extra cost; 0 means the domain costs extra or you bring your own.
1
Email mailboxes Number and size of mailboxes in the plan; “not included” if email has to be booked separately.
1 mailbox with 3 GB storage on your domain.
SSL certificates Whether SSL certificates are included at no extra cost for all domains, only in limited numbers, or cost extra.
Included, limited number
Backups by the provider Frequency and retention period of automatic backups.
Daily: web space backups of the last 14 days, database…Daily: web space backups of the last 14 days, database backups for up to 2 weeks (packages from 31 March 2025).
Restore How you restore files, databases or mailboxes from backups and whether it costs extra.
Yourself in the customer login: full backup or individual folders and filesYourself in the customer login: full backup or individual folders and files; databases via database management. STRATO states no costs.
Staging A copy of the website where you try out changes before they go live.
Not confirmednot published by the provider (STRATO mentions no staging feature on the plan page or in its help pages.)
SSH access Whether the plan offers shell access via SSH (not just SFTP).
Yes
PHP and resources PHP versions and limits such as memory per PHP process or number of processes, as far as the provider states them.
PHP 8.2 to 8.5 selectable in the customer loginPHP 8.2 to 8.5 selectable in the customer login; per help page for PHP 8.0 to 8.3: memory_limit 512 MB, max_execution_time 240 seconds.
Two-factor authentication
Yes
Data processing agreement (GDPR Art. 28)
Yes
Support availability Channels and hours according to the provider; says nothing about the quality in a specific case.
Contact form/email and service hotline Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pm…Contact form/email and service hotline Mon–Fri 8 am–8 pm, Sat–Sun 10 am–6:30 pm; round-the-clock hotline as a paid option.
Cancellation and term
12-month minimum term, cancel with one month’s notice to the…12-month minimum term, cancel with one month’s notice to the end of the term; then indefinite, cancellable at any time with one month’s notice.
Trial or free plan
30-day money-back guarantee according to the plan page30-day money-back guarantee according to the plan page; with a 12-month term, the first month is free in Starter, Plus and Pro.
All information is based on the providers’ own pages: plan and pricing pages, help articles, service descriptions, terms and privacy notices. Every statement has a source with its retrieval date. Information on loading time, availability or support quality comes only from the providers, where they give any; statements such as “suits …” are clearly worded as an assessment.
Reference project, status and prices
For each provider, we compare the entry-level plan of its web hosting offering that covers this reference project: one WordPress website with a .de domain, email on your own domain, an SSL certificate and backups by the provider. For Raidboxes, this is the entry-level WordPress hosting plan; for mittwald, the entry-level web hosting plan of its agency platform. If a component is missing from the plan, such as the domain, we add its cost as a mandatory extra. Separate WordPress offerings of the classic hosts are mentioned in the respective entry and under “All plans”.
Pricing rules:
The period considered is 24 months.
Calculations use euro prices including VAT. If a provider states net prices, the comparison adds the German VAT rate of 19 percent.
If new customers pay a lower price for the first months, that price and then the regular price count. Time-limited discounts with an end date are not included.
One-time setup fees are included once within the period.
If a provider bills several months in advance, we record the amount per billing period (monthly price times months). This does not change the costs over 24 months.
If a provider does not state whether VAT is included, the plan is treated as not comparable.
Information is as of the retrieval date of each source. Prices and plans change frequently; the current details at the provider always apply. Further plans are listed under “All plans”.
Selection, order and own use
The comparison covers eight web hosts with data centres in Germany, from classic web hosting to managed WordPress and a platform for agencies. The selection is a starting point, not a complete market overview. The order is an editorial classification for the reference project, not a measured ranking; a different provider may suit your use case better. Use the filters, roles and target groups for that.
Transparency note: TutKit itself uses cloud servers and Storage Boxes from Hetzner, not Hetzner’s web hosting. Statements on Hetzner web hosting are therefore based on the provider’s information, as with all other providers. Our own use did not influence the selection or the order. There are no partner or affiliate links in this comparison.
The editorial team sets the order. In descending weight, it is based on: suitability for the audience’s typical use, features as compared here, pricing model (such as a free version, one-off purchase or subscription), and data protection and server location.
Research and drafts are partly AI-assisted; every statement has been checked editorially against its source and is the responsibility of Stefan Petri.
How we are funded
These comparisons are funded by commissions from affiliate links (marked *). TutKit also sells its own courses on some programs; they are marked “TutKit’s own offer” and are not part of the selection. There are no paid placements on these pages.
Buying guide
Which web host suits you depends less on the monthly price on the homepage than on three questions: who looks after WordPress? How well are you protected against data loss? And what does the package cost once the introductory price has expired? This comparison therefore calculates the same reference project for each provider: one WordPress website with a .de domain, email, an SSL certificate and backups over 24 months.
What the reference project costs
Total costs over 24 months vary widely. The classic web hosts need only a fraction of what the specialists for agencies and managed WordPress charge. Three things shift the calculation in particular: introductory prices for new customers, after which the regular price applies (a free first month at ALL-INKL and STRATO, several cheaper months at IONOS and manitu), one-time setup fees (IONOS in the entry plan, mittwald for the domain) and components that cost extra. Hetzner, mittwald and Raidboxes do not include a domain in the plan, Raidboxes also includes no email, and in ALL-INKL's Privat plan the SSL certificate costs extra. mittwald and Raidboxes state net prices and mainly address business customers; the comparison adds VAT.
Also look at the term. ALL-INKL and Hetzner have no minimum term in the plan considered, and mittwald runs monthly. With netcup, manitu, IONOS and STRATO you initially commit for 12 months, and with Raidboxes' annual payment as well.
Classic web hosting for website and email
For a company website, an association site or a blog with your own domain and email, classic web hosting is enough. ALL-INKL, netcup, manitu, IONOS and STRATO include a domain and email in the entry plan. At IONOS, however, the plan table lists the domain as free only for the first year, while the help centre speaks of the entire contract term; the costs over 24 months are therefore provisional there, so clarify this before ordering. At Hetzner you book the domain separately and get any number of mailboxes within the plan's storage.
How many mailboxes you need also determines the plan. IONOS Standard and STRATO Starter include one mailbox; ALL-INKL, netcup, manitu, Hetzner and mittwald considerably more.
Backups and restore
The providers differ more in backups than the plan cards suggest. Hetzner, STRATO and IONOS back up daily and keep the copies for about two weeks; you restore them yourself in the customer area. According to its plan page, mittwald keeps daily backups for 30 days, but they use your booked storage. Raidboxes backs up every night and keeps the copies for seven days in the entry plan. At netcup, the daily backups are voluntary and kept for up to seven days; manitu has daily backups. In both cases a restore by support costs extra. ALL-INKL backs up databases more often, but according to the provider the web space only about every two weeks. In our view, you should set up your own additional backup with any provider, for example via a WordPress plugin.
WordPress without your own maintenance work
If you do not want to deal with WordPress updates, caching and staging, Raidboxes is the specialist in this comparison. The provider updates the WordPress core itself, and staging and a server cache are included even in the entry plan. According to its pricing page and help centre, Raidboxes only takes over plugin and theme updates from the Fully Managed plan upwards, and domain and email come as separate contracts. IONOS has a separate managed offering, Hosting for WordPress, which you will find under “All plans”. With the classic hosts, you install WordPress with one click. Some apply updates automatically: netcup mentions automatic updates for WordPress and Joomla and already includes the WordPress Toolkit in its entry plan, and mittwald mentions automatic software updates for its managed apps. This is not full maintenance, though: you take care of plugins, themes and your individual configuration yourself unless the provider states otherwise.
Agencies and several client projects
If you look after many client websites, mittwald is worth a look. Its mStudio management is designed for agencies, with roles for clients, team and accounting, 1:1 copies of apps and flexibly expandable resources. In our view, the platform offers more than a single small website needs, and according to mittwald its offers are aimed exclusively at business customers. Raidboxes offers agencies volume discounts, separate reseller terms and templates for new websites.
Technology and development
SSH access is available in the plan considered at netcup, manitu, IONOS, STRATO and mittwald. Hetzner Webhosting S, ALL-INKL Privat and Raidboxes Mini lack it; there you need a larger plan. For WordPress, also look at the PHP limits: in netcup's entry plan the memory_limit is 128 MB, and the same applies to Raidboxes Mini.
Data protection and companies
According to their own information, the eight providers host in Germany, offer a data processing agreement and protect the customer area with two-factor authentication. At netcup you choose the location when ordering; for Germany, pick the Nuremberg variant. There are differences in ownership: IONOS and STRATO belong to the IONOS Group, whose majority shareholder is United Internet AG. According to netcup, it belongs to the Austrian Anexia Group, and Raidboxes belongs to team.blue. For ALL-INKL, Hetzner, manitu and mittwald, the legal notice names no parent company.
Support
According to the provider, IONOS support is available around the clock. mittwald also states around the clock on its plan page, while its contact page lists phone hours on weekdays plus an emergency number. ALL-INKL can also be reached by phone in the evenings and at weekends, STRATO at weekends as well. Hetzner, manitu and netcup offer phone support during office hours, Hetzner for web hosting only from the XL plan upwards; Raidboxes offers live chat from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. These details say nothing about how well support helps in an individual case.
Check before ordering
Before ordering, check the regular price after the introductory offer, the minimum term and the notice period. Check whether domain, SSL certificate and mailboxes are really included, how long backups are kept and whether a restore costs anything. If you maintain WordPress yourself, plan your own backup and updates firmly.
Terms
Shared hosting (web hosting)
Many websites share one server; the provider takes care of operation, system updates and security. You manage website, databases and email through a control panel.
Managed WordPress
Hosting tailored to WordPress: the provider handles things like updates, caching, staging and backups. Other applications usually cannot run there.
Cloud server (VPS)
Your own virtual server that you set up and maintain yourself. More freedom but also more responsibility than web hosting; this comparison only covers web hosting.
Included domain
A domain included in the plan at no extra cost. If it is missing, the domain fee is added to the plan price.
SSL certificate
Provides the encrypted connection (https). Many providers supply free Let’s Encrypt certificates, some only in limited numbers.
Staging
A copy of your website. You try out updates or changes there and only then apply them to the live site.
SSH
Access to the server’s command line. Important for developers, for example for Git, Composer or WP-CLI; usually not needed for simple websites.
PHP memory (memory_limit)
How much memory a PHP process may use. Large WordPress sites with many plugins or shops need more.
Backup retention
How long older backups are kept. The longer, the more likely you are to find a state from before an unnoticed error or attack.
Data processing agreement (DPA)
Agreement under Art. 28 GDPR that you need with your host as a website operator if it processes personal data for you – such as contact forms or emails.
Introductory and regular price
Some providers charge a lower price for the first months. After that the regular price applies. Both count for the cost over two years.
Server location, registered office and group
Where the servers are, where the operating company is registered and which group it belongs to are three different things. The comparison lists them separately.
Conclusion
For a WordPress website with domain and email, classic web hosting is enough in most cases, and there the costs over 24 months are well below those of the specialists. In our view, what matters is less the introductory prices than the regular price, term, included components and how you get to your backups. Hetzner, STRATO and IONOS let you restore daily backups yourself; at netcup and manitu a restore by support costs extra, and at ALL-INKL the provider backs up the web space only about every two weeks. If you want to start without a minimum term, the plans considered at ALL-INKL and Hetzner offer that, and mittwald runs monthly. If you do not want to maintain WordPress yourself, Raidboxes is a good fit, but you pay extra for domain and email there. Agencies with many client projects will find suitable management at mittwald. The order in this comparison is an editorial classification for the reference project; check the current terms at the provider before ordering.
Frequently asked questions
Which web host is suitable for a small WordPress website?
For a single WordPress website with domain and email, classic web hosting is enough. Pay particular attention to the regular price, minimum term, included domain and whether you can restore backups yourself. Hetzner, STRATO and IONOS offer daily backups that you can restore yourself; at Hetzner the domain costs extra, at IONOS there is a one-time setup fee. If you do not want to maintain WordPress yourself, take a look at Raidboxes.
What does web hosting really cost over 24 months?
More than the advertised introductory price suggests. Over 24 months, the comparison uses the introductory price for new customers and then the regular price, plus setup fees and mandatory extras such as a domain not included in the plan. It adds 19 percent VAT to net prices. This makes plans with different pricing models comparable.
Is my data stored in Germany with these providers?
According to their own information, the eight providers in this comparison host in Germany. At netcup you choose the location when ordering; for Germany, take the Nuremberg variant. Separately, you should look at company seat and group: IONOS and STRATO belong to the IONOS Group, netcup to the Austrian Anexia Group and Raidboxes to team.blue.
How important are the host's backups?
Very important, but do not rely on them alone. The providers differ in how often they back up, how long they keep the copies and whether you can restore them yourself or have to order a paid restore from support. At netcup, backups are voluntary according to the T&Cs. So also set up your own backup, for example via a WordPress plugin, and store it outside the web space.
Do I need managed WordPress?
Only if you want to hand over updates, caching and staging. With managed WordPress such as Raidboxes, the provider updates the WordPress core, includes staging and a server cache and backs up every night. This costs more, and you book domain and email separately there. If you maintain WordPress yourself, classic web hosting with one-click installation is enough.
What is the difference between company seat, group and server location?
The server location tells you where your data is stored. The company seat tells you where your contractual partner is based, and the group which corporate group it belongs to. A provider based in Germany can belong to a group abroad, such as netcup to the Austrian Anexia Group. The comparison therefore lists the three details separately.
Why is Hetzner in the comparison if TutKit uses Hetzner?
TutKit uses Hetzner's cloud servers and Storage Boxes, not Hetzner's web hosting. As with the other providers, the details on Hetzner web hosting are based on the provider's pages. There are no partner or affiliate links in this comparison.
Can I book with mittwald or Raidboxes as a private individual?
According to mittwald, its offers are aimed exclusively at business customers, and its terms apply to businesses. Raidboxes states all prices plus VAT, and according to the provider its email plans are aimed at business customers. Clarify with the provider before ordering whether you can book as a private individual or association.
For providers
The editorial team selects the entries and decides on their order. Providers can report corrections; there is no entitlement to inclusion or to a particular position.
Product names and logos are trademarks of their respective owners and are used for identification only. No partnership, certification or endorsement by the manufacturers; for commissions, see the advertising notice.
