How to Migrate from IONOS to Bluehost (2026)
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IONOS (formerly 1&1) hooks people with the €1 teaser, then the renewal invoice is a different conversation. The migration out is standard WordPress work - the friction is all in their bundled email and the fact they sell two different site products.
First: WordPress or Builder?
IONOS sells both a website builder AND WordPress hosting. Only actual WordPress installs migrate - their builder sites are proprietary and don't export. Check your IONOS panel: if you see "WordPress" as the app, you're good. If it's "Website Builder," you're rebuilding on WordPress at Bluehost (which is what most people do anyway).
Export the WordPress Site
- Bluehost free migration - give them IONOS FTP/MySQL credentials after signup, they handle it in 2-5 days
- Duplicator plugin on the IONOS WP install - export package, import on Bluehost, done same-day
- Manual export - IONOS's FTP access + their phpMyAdmin both work for downloading files and DB
The Email Question (Handle First)
IONOS email is deeply integrated into their hosting. Your options: keep IONOS for email only (cancel the hosting product, keep mailboxes), or move to Google Workspace/Bluehost email BEFORE the DNS switch. If you just change nameservers without handling mail, incoming email dies to the old IONOS MX records.
Domain and DNS
If your domain is registered at IONOS, keep it there - just change nameservers to Bluehost's (ns1.bluehost.com, ns2.bluehost.com) in IONOS's domain management. No need to transfer the registration. Keep the IONOS hosting active until DNS fully propagates (24-48h) for zero downtime.
Honest Pricing Forward
IONOS's €1→€10+ renewal is exactly the pattern people leave. Bluehost's pricing is transparent upfront and the WordPress stack is officially recommended. Free migration removes the technical barrier.
Switch to Bluehost →Keep Reading
- Bluehost vs IONOS 2026
- WordPress migration guide
- Renewal price index - the bait-and-switch math
- Migration mistakes
- Bluehost review 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is IONOS to Bluehost migration hard?
No - WordPress migrates the same regardless of IONOS's custom panel (formerly 1&1). Duplicator or Bluehost's free migration service handles it. The only real friction is IONOS's bundled email and domain setup, which you'll untangle separately.
What's the IONOS-specific migration catch?
Two things: (1) their email hosting is deeply integrated - many people have IONOS mailboxes that need separate handling before DNS changes, and (2) they offer both a website builder AND WordPress hosting; only WordPress installs migrate. If you're on their builder, you're rebuilding not migrating.
Does Bluehost migrate IONOS sites for free?
Yes - the free migration service works from any host. Request it after signup, provide your IONOS credentials (they'll want FTP/MySQL access from your IONOS panel), and they do the transfer in 2-5 business days.
Do IONOS email mailboxes transfer?
No - email is a separate product. Either keep IONOS for email only (cancel hosting, keep email), or migrate mailboxes to Google Workspace/Bluehost email first. Export existing mail via IMAP before switching DNS or old messages get stranded.
Why are people leaving IONOS?
The €1/month first-year deal becomes €8-12+/month at renewal - the bait-and-switch pricing that drives most IONOS migrations. Also their support has become harder to reach and the panel is cluttered with upsells. Bluehost's cleaner pricing and WordPress focus win the comparison.
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