IONOS online storage

IONOS online storage plans and uses

HiDrive Next has three tiers. Starter provides 100 GB for one user, making it a straightforward choice for one person. Standard increases capacity to 500 GB and supports up to three users, which can suit a household or small group. Plus offers 1 TB for up to five users, for groups with more files to store and share. These are the personal file-sync plans shown in our comparison.

Cloud Backup is a different service, not a larger HiDrive plan. It protects devices or servers using backup agents and customer-configured plans; its Flex option bases storage on usage, with optional features. IONOS Cloud Object Storage is also not a fixed-capacity sync drive: it is consumption-based, with S3-compatible access for applications and storage tools.

What stands out about IONOS storage

HiDrive Next combines web access with desktop apps for Windows, macOS and Linux, plus Android and iOS apps. It supports folder syncing, mobile photo and video uploads, sharing links, permissions, and optional link passwords and expiry. A recycle bin and file version history provide recovery options, although the reviewed information does not state how long deleted files or versions are retained. Shared folders support collaboration through permissions; simultaneous Office-document editing was described as a possible future add-on at launch.

IONOS says HiDrive Next data is stored in Germany and that transfers are SSL-protected, up to 256-bit. It identifies its German data centres as ISO 27001-certified. The reviewed product information does not confirm at-rest or zero-knowledge encryption for HiDrive Next, so it should not be presented as a service where only the customer can decrypt files.

Locations vary across the other services. Cloud Backup product information offers a choice of Europe or the USA, but the exact location for the listed Flex offer is not confirmed. Object Storage documents several locations, including Frankfurt and Berlin in Germany; the selected bucket and account type affect availability. Backup schedules, retention and restores are configurable in Cloud Backup, while Object Storage offers optional versioning, lifecycle rules and Object Lock. These settings require customer configuration.

Prices, billing and renewals

The cheapest IONOS online storage plan currently starts at $1.12. HiDrive Next is described by IONOS as monthly cancellable, but the terms shown for individual plans can differ. IONOS’s launch information described an introductory offer for the largest HiDrive tier; it does not establish a general introductory-to-renewal pattern across all tiers. No general long-term discount pattern, trial or money-back guarantee was confirmed for these listed offers. Cloud Backup Flex is usage-based, while Object Storage bills for storage and outbound transfer by use. Check the specific listing for its current billing period and contract terms.

How IONOS compares with other online storage

For personal files stored in Switzerland, Infomaniak kDrive is an alternative: Infomaniak confirms that its data is stored and processed in Swiss data centres. Proton Drive is another provider-operated file-storage service, with servers in Switzerland, Germany or Norway. For configurable cloud storage regions and technical workloads, Microsoft Azure Storage lets customers select a primary region, subject to service and redundancy availability. Compare all online storage providers.

Read our IONOS review for an assessment of the provider overall.

See the IONOS provider page for its other products.