Europe’s Largest Web Host Ionos Abruptly Hikes VPS Prices, Citing Plesk and cPanel License Fee Surge

Ionos, Europe’s leading web hosting company, has drawn backlash after suddenly increasing prices for its virtual private server (VPS) plans, blaming the spike on rising license fees from WebPros International—the firm behind popular hosting tools Plesk and cPanel. The company announced that an extra £5 per month (excluding VAT) will now be charged for every Plesk license tied to a VPS, giving customers just 30 days’ notice to pay up or remove Plesk from their systems.

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Notable points from the situation:

  • Short Notice for Customers: Many users were frustrated by the short warning, arguing that 30 days is insufficient to migrate multi-server setups without risking downtime or configuration issues. Small business web hosts, who rely on Plesk for day-to-day management, are especially affected.
  • Mid-Contract Changes: Customers questioned the fairness of altering contract terms mid-way, particularly since Plesk was previously bundled “for free.” Some argued such changes should only apply at the time of contract renewal.
  • Limited Alternatives: Dropping Plesk could create administrative headaches, particularly for non-expert users who depend on it to manage email, domains, and websites. Switching to a new control panel introduces the risk of data loss and operational disruptions.
  • Vendor Transparency Issues: Multiple attempts to get a public response from Ionos have gone unanswered, amplifying customer dissatisfaction and eroding trust.
  • Wider Implications: The price hike highlights a recurring problem in web hosting: changes in licensing or provider relationships can rapidly be passed onto end users, often those least prepared to adapt.

Ultimately, Ionos users now have to decide whether to pay the increased fees, reconfigure their systems without Plesk, or search for an alternative host—and many are questioning the reliability of “free” bundled software in future service contracts.