Strato hosting packages in comparison - Which solution is right for you?

I compare the strato hosting packages 2025 on the basis of Performance, price and usage profile and show which package is right for your blog, company website or store. With clear criteria, concrete limits and Upgrade paths you will quickly find the right solution here.

Key points

To help you get a feel for the tariffs more quickly, I'll briefly summarize the most important aspects. I'll show you which key figures really count and how to avoid typical stumbling blocks. Then I'll go into more detail so that you can make a confident decision. How to save Time and invest your budget where it will have an impact. Read the list and then jump to the appropriate section.

• Goal clarify: Blog, company presence, store or app
• Resources check: Memory, databases, e-mail
• Performance categorize: Visitors, Caching, Uptime
• Security secure: SSL, backups, updates
• Growth plan: Upgrade, Domains, Support

The points above cover the key questions that I clarify first for every hosting project. This allows you to quickly recognize whether Starter, Basic, Plus or Pro is right for your project. I always evaluate price and performance together, because cheap tariffs are of little use without suitable reserves. At the same time, I avoid oversized offers that only tie up money. With this Procedure you make a well-founded Choice.

Which Strato package suits you?

I always start with the project goal because it is the Resources defines: A business card requires different values than a store. A few databases, an SSL certificate and little memory are sufficient for a simple presence, while a store needs more mailboxes, several SSLs and stable database performance. Plan in reserves so that updates, media and peaks do not immediately become tight. Pay attention to the number of domains if you want to create sub-projects or microsites. The right Classification saves you time when changing later.

If you're starting out, it makes sense to begin with the Starter or Basic tariff and regularly check your utilization and response times. If the traffic grows, you can switch to Plus or Pro without stress. This way, you can keep an eye on costs and ensure you have room for performance at the same time. I recommend Pro for data-intensive apps and portals because the limits are clearly higher. If you are planning several projects in the long term, you will benefit from more domains and certificates in the package.

Tariff overview: Starter, Basic, Plus, Pro

Strato divides its web hosting into four variants with clear Limits and prices. Starter (from around €5) is aimed at small sites with up to 50 GB of storage, one domain, SSL and a few databases. Basic (from approx. €9-10) doubles the memory, offers more domains, more SSLs and significantly more databases. Plus (from approx. €12-14) significantly expands resources and is suitable for club websites, SMEs and more sophisticated blogs. Pro (from approx. €22-24) provides the most features for stores, portals and data-intensive projects with many Databases and SFTP accesses.

All packages are located in German data centers, which simplifies data protection, latency and legal security. SSL certificates are included, which makes it easier to set up secure connections. Domains and email inboxes vary significantly depending on the tariff and should be taken into account when planning. In particular, I check how many mailboxes and how much storage is actually included per mailbox. Those who operate several brands or subsites benefit from higher domain quotas in Plus and Pro.

Comparison at a glance

The following table shows the most important differences in storage, domains, certificates, mailboxes, SFTP and databases. I always use such an overview as a Checklist for my selection so that I don't forget anything. Determine which key figures are essential before the comparison. Then check which package reliably meets these criteria. So you can decide without Guesswork and keep the budget under control.

Package	Storage space	Domains	SSL certificates	E-mail inboxes	SFTP accounts	SSD databases	Price from (€/month)
Starter	50 GB	1	1	1	3	2	5 €
Basic	100 GB	3	3	2-3	10	25	9-10 €
Plus	150 GB	5	5	2-5	50	50	12-14 €
Pro	200 GB	10	10	5-10	80	75	22-24 €

I rate Starter as a sensible entry point for small sites and personal projects. Basic closes the first gap in databases and domains, which is important for dynamic websites. Plus is worthwhile if you want to run several projects with separate certificates. I use Pro as soon as stores, APIs or many mailboxes come into play. In addition to the basic price, always include Growth and plan certificates and Domains with.

Performance, availability and data centers

What counts for me with hosting is the actual Availability and the response time under load. German data centers help with latency and data protection, but what counts in the end is practical stability in everyday use. Regularly check the status and uptime of your project and record key figures in writing. A helpful starting point for more in-depth data is the article on Strato uptime and performance. This allows you to recognize early on whether an upgrade is necessary before visitors notice it, and ensures that you Plannability.

Performance depends not only on the tariff, but also on caching, code quality, image sizes and database queries. I rely on clean themes, minimized scripts and server-side caching to reduce loading times. I also track how peaks are affected by campaigns or seasonal effects. If you deliver large files, consider bandwidth, CDN use and browser caching. This allows you to use the available resources efficiently and avoid expensive Bottlenecks.

Key figures that I keep an eye on

• TTFB and LCP in the EU target market (Core Web Vitals) - TTFB ideally under 600 ms
• Error rate (5xx), timeouts and slow queries in the logs
• Cache hit rates of page and object caches
• Memory and CPU utilization over time, not just in peaks

Caching strategy that works in practice

I work in several stages: HTTP caching headers for static assets, a page cache solution for dynamic content and consistently activated PHP OPcache. For stores, I deactivate caching for the shopping cart/checkout and rely on preloading landing pages. I store images in modern formats (WebP/AVIF) and use delayed loading. This keeps the Response time stable even during campaigns.

Technical limits and developer features

In addition to memory and databases, soft factors determine suitability for everyday use. The first thing I do after ordering is to check the default values in the PHP configuration and adjust them if necessary:

• memory_limit: For complex themes, Pagebuilder and WooCommerce I plan 256-512 MB.
• max_execution_timeImport and backup jobs run more stable from 120 s; I split large tasks.
• max_input_vars: I set 2000-4000 for many menus/options to avoid save errors.
• Upload limitsI upload large media/plugins via SFTP instead of via the backend.

For files, I pay attention to the number of objects (inodes). Many small thumbnails or caches can reach the limit sooner than the storage space. For databases, I check the version and indices, tidy up transients and keep tables lean. Regular optimizations have a noticeable effect on query times.

On the developer side, I work with SFTP deployments and use cronjobs for recurring tasks (backups, sitemap pings, cleanup) depending on the tariff. If no SSH/Composer is available, I build artifacts locally and import them automatically via SFTP. I rotate logs and only activate debugging in staging environments. This keeps the production environment clean and comprehensible.

For Pro profiles, I also plan separate sub-accounts for SFTP and clean rights concepts per project. This reduces misconfigurations in the team and makes offboarding easier.

WordPress hosting with Strato: for bloggers and teams

Strato offers its own WordPress tariffs with preconfigured Surroundingsautomatic backups and practical tools. WP Starter is aimed at simple blogs with one installation, WP Basic at multiple projects and WP Plus at larger sites with more memory and installations. I appreciate the fast deployment and the integrated SSL certificates because I can go live immediately. When choosing, pay attention to the number of installations, memory and cronjobs. Also check whether you need staging and how you Updates organize.

WP Starter provides sufficient reserves for small blogs. If you are setting up several sites or testing plugins, WP Basic is a more relaxed option. Large portfolios, magazines or company blogs benefit from WP Plus because more installations and memory remain flexible. Note that premium themes and many plugins require additional resources. Therefore, plan enough buffer so that you don't have to upgrade under pressure later.

Typical WordPress setups by package

• Starter1 small installation, caching plugin, few extensions, slim theme.
• Basic2-3 instances (e.g. blog + microsite), separate DBs, common media concept.
• Plus3-5 instances, staging on subdomain, cronjobs for backups and maintenance.
• ProMultiple instances incl. WooCommerce, clear separation of projects and accesses.

WooCommerce and dynamic pages

Stores generate many write processes (shopping cart, checkout, search). I minimize plugins, rely on lean themes and activate server and page caching outside of account/checkout. I consistently optimize product images and plan reserves for import/export jobs. This keeps the system running even under load responsive.

Staging without 1-click

If no dedicated staging is available, I set up a subdomain (staging.domain.tld) with its own database, lock it with a password and Noindex header. After testing, I replace URLs, save a backup and only then go live. This procedure prevents failures and minimizes the risk of controllable.

E-mail, domains and security

Email remains crucial in everyday life, which is why I pay close attention to the number of mailboxes, storage per mailbox and Spam filter. Starter often only has a few mailboxes, while Plus and Pro contain several accounts with more generous storage. If you use multiple roles, function addresses or teams, you need more mailboxes and clear rules for aliases early on. When it comes to SSL, I consistently rely on HTTPS, HSTS and regular renewal of certificates. Go into more detail about mailboxes, aliases and storage with this compact overview of E-Mail with Strato.

I plan domains with branding, SEO and redirects in mind. A main domain combined with two to four microsites often covers campaigns, careers or separate brands. I keep DNS entries cleanly documented so that changes run quickly and without errors. Also pay attention to GDPR-compliant backups, log rotation and the handling of IP addresses. This way, you protect users, maintain the integrity of your data and avoid Failures.

Deliverability and guidelines

I consistently set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC and use TLS for SMTP/IMAP. For newsletters or transactional emails, I calculate possible sending limits. As soon as volumes or criticality increase, I separate marketing and system emails to protect my reputation. In the team, I rely on separate mailboxes instead of catch-all, clear password guidelines and 2FA where available.

Compliance and logging

For GDPR projects, I conclude an order processing agreement, document data flows and define retention periods for logs. I regularly rotate error and access logs and pseudonymize where possible. I randomly test backups so that restore processes are in place when it matters.

Scaling and upgrade paths

I plan every project in such a way that a change to higher tariffs works without a rush. Start small, monitor growth and upgrade as soon as databases, CPU load or Memory become critical. If you want to manage several sites under one administration, you will benefit early on from Plus or Pro. This bundles domains, mailboxes and certificates in one place and saves administration time. I like to check upgrades at my leisure and activate them before visitors notice any limits.

Also keep an eye on third-party components: CDN, image optimization, caching plugins and database tuning. A clean stack postpones bottlenecks and makes the next tariff change easier to plan. Document changes to themes, plugins and cronjobs to find errors more quickly. Test updates on a copy first before going live. This Discipline pays off with every migration.

Concrete thresholds for the change

• Continuously high CPU/RAM utilization or TTFB increase over several days
• Growing DB waiting times and increased slow queries
• Regular limits for uploads, cron jobs or mail dispatch
• New requirements: additional domains, SSLs, mailboxes or staging

Upgrade and relocation without downtime

Before a change, I lower the DNS TTL, copy files and database, test everything on a temporary domain and only switch after a final check. I deactivate old logins, empty caches and actively monitor after the cutover. This keeps the change for visitors invisible.

Practical decision-making aid

Starter is comfortable enough for a small business card with one or two pages, as long as you keep media sparingly and Backups activate. An active blog with images and forms usually feels more comfortable on the Basic plan. Club sites and small companies with several email accounts, subdomains and SSL certificates are more relaxed with Plus. A growing store with many products and regular peaks benefits from Pro and clearly separated mailboxes. If you want more speed regardless of tariffs, invest in caching, image optimization and a clean database.

Think in scenarios: What happens if traffic doubles, newsletters are launched or new languages are added? I then plan the budget and resources at the same time and avoid bottlenecks. I also take vacation times and substitutions into account so that updates don't fall through the cracks. A clear process for deployments, tests and rollbacks saves hours. So your project stays on track stable accessible and grows without chaos.

Other typical profiles

• Portfolio/PhotoLots of media, but little logic. Focus on image compression, caching and CDN. Basic/Plus depending on scope.
• Multilingual siteAdditional strings, larger DB, more maintenance. Plus offers reserves; Pro makes sense for several teams.
• Knowledge Base/FAQMany posts, search is central. Clean indexes and caching, Basic/Plus sufficient.
• PodcastLarge files are better delivered externally, web hosting for feed/website. Starter/Basic is often sufficient.

Market comparison and alternatives

It never hurts to think outside the box, especially if you are looking for performance and Price want to strike a fine balance. Differences often lie in uptime, support quality, administration and dealing with peak loads. This comparison is worthwhile for an assessment in a direct duel: IONOS vs. Strato. Check response times, tariff limits and maintenance tools in particular. How to make a informed Decision without trial and error.

In the comparison, I also pay attention to contract terms, price after the start phase and scope of the inclusive domains. Pay attention to how providers solve migration assistance, staging and backups. If you serve global target groups, a CDN and proximity to relevant regions count. For sensitive projects, location and auditability are more important. Take the time to make a short table of priorities and then choose the most suitable offer.

Realistically assess cost structure

• Price after promotion phaseDecisive is the standard price from year 2.
• Domains & SSLCheck how many are included and what additional domains cost.
• ResourcesMore databases, mailboxes or storage can make the upgrade worthwhile.
• ServiceSupport speed and recovery in an emergency are real cost factors.

Checklist before ordering

• Define goal and growth path (blog, company, store, app)
• Define minimum values: Storage, databases, mailboxes, domains
• Estimate performance requirements: Visitors, media, import/export jobs
• Clarify security concept: SSL/HSTS, updates, backups, roles & rights
• E-mail planning: number of mailboxes, aliases, deliverability (SPF/DKIM/DMARC)
• Consider staging/tests: subdomain, separate DB, access protection
• Select monitoring: Uptime, Error Logs, Core Web Vitals
• Calculate budget incl. year 2 price and additional domains
• Document upgrade paths and migration processes
• Record accesses, DNS and emergency plan in writing

Short summary: My recommendation by profile

I see starters for very small sites and hobby projects that require little memory and few Databases get by. Basic is suitable for dynamic websites that regularly use content, forms and small tools. I recommend Plus for clubs and SMEs with multiple domains, mailboxes and clear SSL requirements. I choose Pro for stores, portals and teams that need many accounts, a higher load and more management functions. Always decide according to your goal, resources and a realistic view of the next step. Year.

Plan a minimum of monitoring, secure updates and reliable backups early on. Document access, DNS entries and processes so that you can act quickly in the event of an emergency. Check the costs after the introductory phase to avoid any surprises. Don't put off upgrades if key figures change. This will keep your hosting reliable, affordable and fit for growth.