IONOS vs Exoscale
Both IONOS and Exoscale are European-built, GDPR-compliant solutions in the cloud hosting & iaas space. This comparison breaks down their features, pricing, compliance posture, and data residency so you can make an informed choice for your team.
Quick Overview
IONOS
EU- Headquarters
- Montabaur, DE
- Pricing
- From €1/mo
- Open Source
- No
Exoscale
EU- Headquarters
- Lausanne, CH
- Pricing
- From €5/mo (usage-based)
- Open Source
- No
Key Differences
- IONOS starts at €1/month, while exoscale uses usage-based pricing starting at €5/month. The different pricing models mean you should evaluate which approach better fits your usage pattern.
- Data residency differs: IONOS hosts data in Germany, GB, Spain, US, while Exoscale hosts in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Bulgaria. If your organisation requires data to stay in a specific EU country, this distinction matters for compliance.
- Exoscale holds ISO 27001 and SOC 2 certifications, providing third-party assurance of its security practices. IONOS does not currently hold these certifications, which may matter for enterprise procurement requirements.
- IONOS was founded in 1988, giving it a 23-year head start over Exoscale (founded 2011). More time in market often means a larger user community and more mature integrations, though newer entrants may offer more modern architectures.
- Each product has unique strengths: IONOS offers Cloud servers (VPS) and Dedicated servers, while Exoscale provides Compute instances and Managed Kubernetes (SKS). Your choice depends on which capabilities matter most for your workflow.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | IONOS | Exoscale |
|---|---|---|
| Name | IONOS | Exoscale |
| Pricing | From €1/mo | From €5/mo (usage-based) |
| Free Tier | ||
| GDPR | ||
| ISO 27001 | ||
| Open Source | ||
| Headquarters | Montabaur, DE | Lausanne, CH |
| Data Centers | DE, GB, ES, US | CH, DE, AT, BG |
| Cloud servers (VPS) | ||
| Dedicated servers | ||
| Managed Kubernetes | ||
| S3-compatible object storage | ||
| Web hosting | ||
| Domain registration | ||
| Website builder | ||
| Managed WordPress | ||
| Email hosting | ||
| API and CLI tools | ||
| Compute instances | ||
| Managed Kubernetes (SKS) | ||
| Object storage | ||
| Managed databases | ||
| DNS | ||
| Block storage | ||
| Private networks | ||
| API | ||
| CLI | ||
| EU data sovereignty |
Pricing Comparison
IONOS
From €1/mosubscription
Exoscale
From €5/mo (usage-based)usage-based
Compliance Comparison
IONOS
GDPRISO 27001DPA
Exoscale
GDPRISO 27001SOC 2DPA
Get Started
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How to Choose
You need enterprise-grade support and stability
Choose Exoscale
You prefer a nimble provider with personalised support
Choose IONOS
IONOS vs Exoscale — FAQ
What is the main difference between IONOS and Exoscale?
Both IONOS and Exoscale are European cloud hosting & iaas solutions with full GDPR compliance. The key differences lie in their approach: IONOS uses subscription pricing while Exoscale uses usage-based. IONOS is headquartered in Montabaur, Germany, while Exoscale is based in Lausanne, Switzerland. Your choice should depend on your specific requirements for features, pricing, and data residency.
Which is more affordable, IONOS or Exoscale?
IONOS starts at €1/month, while exoscale uses usage-based pricing starting at €5/month. Pricing models differ (subscription vs. usage-based), so compare based on your usage pattern rather than just the starting price.
Are both IONOS and Exoscale GDPR compliant?
Yes. Both IONOS and Exoscale are European companies that store data within the EU/EEA and offer Data Processing Agreements. Neither is subject to the US CLOUD Act or FISA surveillance. Additionally, IONOS and Exoscale hold ISO 27001 certification. For GDPR purposes, either option eliminates the legal risks associated with using US-based services.