iPage has long marketed itself as one of the most affordable hosting options for small websites. With a one-size-fits-all plan, it promises unlimited storage, free domain, email, and a drag-and-drop builder — all for under $2/month.
But in a world where LiteSpeed servers, staging environments, and developer tools are the norm, the question arises:
Is iPage still a viable hosting provider in 2025, or is it stuck in the past?
This review dives into iPage’s hosting stack, features, limitations, real-world performance, and ideal use cases.
🧠 Snapshot Overview
| Feature | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Starting Price | $1.99/mo |
| Hosting Type | Basic Shared (1 main plan) |
| Dev Tools | Minimal (no SSH/Git) |
| Performance | Average (1.0–1.3s load times) |
| Best For | Simple websites, blogs, local biz |
| Infrastructure | Apache + vDeck |
🏗️ Hosting Stack & Technology
🔹 Legacy Apache Stack
iPage’s shared hosting is powered by:
- Apache HTTP server (no LiteSpeed/NGINX)
- Standard Linux stack
- MySQL databases
- PHP versions 7.4 to 8.1
Unfortunately, no indication of NVMe SSDs or cloud infrastructure, meaning the hardware is likely mid-tier and slower under traffic spikes.
🛠️ The backend is managed through vDeck, a proprietary and somewhat outdated control panel. There is no cPanel or hPanel option.
⚙️ Core Features
iPage follows a “one shared hosting plan for all” model. You get:
- ✅ Unlimited websites
- ✅ Free domain (1st year)
- ✅ Unlimited storage & bandwidth
- ✅ Free email accounts
- ✅ Free SSL certificate
- ✅ Website builder + templates
- ✅ 1-click WordPress install
🚫 But no staging, no Git/SSH, and no server-side caching tools.
📊 Performance & Uptime Benchmarks (2025)
Test setup: WordPress install with basic theme and no cache plugins
| Metric | Result |
|---|---|
| Global Load Time | 1.1–1.3s |
| TTFB (US) | 450–600ms |
| TTFB (Asia/EU) | 700–900ms |
| Uptime (12-month avg) | 99.91% |
| Core Web Vitals | Needs caching plugin to pass |
Performance is acceptable for small websites or portfolios, but not suitable for:
- High-traffic WordPress blogs
- WooCommerce or membership sites
- Sites needing international speed
🧰 Control Panel: vDeck
While most modern hosts use cPanel, iPage still uses vDeck, which:
- ✅ Offers DNS editing, email creation, FTP, and file management
- ❌ Has no advanced UI or dev tools
- ❌ Lacks plugin integration or software marketplace
- ❌ Feels outdated compared to Hostinger or SiteGround dashboards
🙃 For beginners, it’s clean enough. For developers, it feels restrictive.
🧑💻 Developer & Power User Tools
| Feature | Availability |
|---|---|
| SSH Access | ❌ No |
| Git Support | ❌ No |
| Staging | ❌ No |
| WP-CLI | ❌ No |
| Cron Jobs | ✅ Limited UI |
| PHP Switching | ✅ Basic |
Bottom line: iPage is not designed for developers, agencies, or performance-sensitive users.
🔐 Security Stack
| Security Feature | Included? |
|---|---|
| Free SSL | ✅ Yes (Let’s Encrypt) |
| DDoS Protection | ✅ Shared firewall |
| Malware Scans | ❌ Paid add-on |
| Backups | ❌ Only manual backups |
| Email Spam Filter | ✅ Basic spam protection |
❗ You’ll need to manually configure or pay for backups and enhanced security tools.
💰 Pricing (2025 Update)
iPage has a single shared hosting plan:
| Plan | Price | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Go Plan | $1.99/mo (36-mo) | Unlimited websites, storage, email, SSL |
Things to Know:
- Price only applies if you pay 36 months upfront
- Renewal price jumps to $7.99/month
- Monthly billing not available
- Add-ons at checkout (site backup, security, support priority) can drive up cost
🧠 Ideal Use Cases
✔️ Best For:
- Beginners launching first blog or site
- Static or low-traffic business websites
- Personal portfolios or brochure sites
- Users who want an all-in-one budget bundle
❌ Not Recommended For:
- Developers (no Git, SSH, staging)
- eCommerce, LMS, or high-traffic WP sites
- Anyone needing advanced control panel access
- Agencies hosting client projects
🗣️ What Real Users Are Saying
“Great for small sites, but I outgrew it quickly once I started optimizing.” — Freelancer
“Support was helpful with domain transfer, but tech questions took time.” — Local business owner
“If you know what you’re doing, you’ll hit a wall fast. But for $2, it’s hard to complain.” — Hobby blogger
🆚 iPage vs Hostinger vs A2 Hosting
| Feature | iPage | Hostinger | A2 Hosting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price (Start) | $1.99/mo | $1.99/mo | $2.99/mo |
| Control Panel | vDeck | hPanel | cPanel |
| Dev Tools (SSH/Git) | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Email & SSL | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| CDN/Caching | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Global Speed | Slow–Medium | Fast | Fast |
✅ Final Verdict: Is iPage Hosting Still Worth It in 2025?
If you’re launching your first small website and just need basic tools, domain, email, and a simple control panel — iPage delivers decent value at a low cost.
However, for developers, performance-focused users, or growing websites, iPage is simply too limited in 2025. With no dev tools, legacy stack, and poor scaling options, you’ll likely outgrow it quickly.
For the same price or a little more, you can get far better performance and flexibility from:
- Hostinger (speed + tools)
- GreenGeeks (eco-friendly + backups)
- A2 Hosting (performance + dev support)
Overall Rating: 3.0 / 5 ⭐