European alternatives > Web hosting

European web hosting companies

Your web host stores the files, databases, and data that keep your website online. That means your choice of provider shapes where your data lives, which laws protect it, and who controls the infrastructure behind your site.

European web hosting companies provide alternatives for everything from personal websites and online stores to business sites and larger projects. Many keep data in Europe, run their own infrastructure, or focus on privacy, sustainability, and local control. Choosing a European alternative also helps support a more diverse and resilient tech ecosystem.

Infomaniak

Based: Geneva, Switzerland

Positions itself as a full alternative to Google and Microsoft

Owns and operates its data centers
Keeps regular website backups in a separate data center
Systematically encrypts all customer data, including backups
Runs its infrastructure on 100% renewable energy
Operates under GDPR and provides a DPA (Data processing agreement) in account portals
Independent; protected from hostile takeovers by the Infomaniak Foundation, which maintains majority voting rights despite a public stock exchange listing

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Greenhost

Based: Amsterdam, Netherlands

Specializes in hosting for activists, journalists, and human rights organizations

Owns its hardware and network infrastructure, but rents colocation space in a third-party Amsterdam data center
Web and managed hosting; virtual servers
Free SSL/TLS certificates via Let's Encrypt
Runs on 100% Dutch wind energy
Operates under GDPR
Unclear backup encryption on shared hosting; opt-in full-disk encryption for VPS
No public DPA; available on request
Disclosed a 2026 breach (billing/account customer data, no passwords), patched in 2 days, reported to the Dutch DPA

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Hetzner

Based: Gunzenhausen, Germany

Grew from a small-town ISP into one of Europe's largest hosting providers

Hosts web hosting plans in its own Nuremberg data centers
Offers web hosting, VPS, dedicated servers, and domain registration
Free DDoS protection
Its S3-compatible cloud storage service isn't encrypted at rest by default, but can be enabled.
Powers its German and Finnish European data centers with renewable energy
Operates under GDPR and provides a public DPA
No external ownership

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

OVHcloud

Based: Roubaix, France

Also runs an enterprise cloud platform, cast as a European alternative to AWS and Azure

Web hosting, virtual servers, domains, and cloud services
Choose EU data center locations on VPS, dedicated, and cloud; shared web hosting is France-only
SSL certificates, backups, and DDoS protection
Owns and operates much of its own infrastructure, including data centers and fiber network
Operates under GDPR and provides a public DPA
Publicly listed and majority-owned by its founder
A 2021 fire destroyed two Strasbourg data centers, disrupting ~120,000 customer services

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Scaleway

Based: Paris, France

Increasingly known for GPU and AI cloud computing, popular with startups

Managed hosting for WordPress and other websites
Web hosting is hosted only in Paris
SSL certificates and support
Domains, email, backups, and server options
Runs on renewable energy
Backup encryption isn't stated for web hosting; other Scaleway products offer opt-in encryption
Holds ISO 27001 and HDS (health data) certifications
Operates under GDPR and provides a public DPA
A subsidiary of the Iliad Group, a major French telecom provider

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

IONOS

Based: Montabaur, Germany

Europe's largest hosting company, with more than 6 million customers worldwide

Includes a domain for the first year, SSL, email, and daily backups
Offers web hosting, WordPress, dedicated servers, and cloud services
Data centers span Europe and the US, but shared hosting locations are auto-assigned
Malware scanning and DDoS protection
Backups are encrypted at rest by default (AES-256) on its Cloud Backup Service; not confirmed for the basic backups bundled with shared web hosting plans
Operates under GDPR and provides a DPA
ionos.com is run by a US subsidiary; country sites like ionos.de are run by the German parent entity
Publicly traded and majority-owned by its parent company

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Why choose European web hosting?

Stronger data protection laws

Web hosting providers based in the EU operate under GDPR, which sets rules for how personal data can be collected, processed, stored, and shared. Providers elsewhere in Europe, such as Switzerland, operate under their own national privacy laws and may also need to comply with GDPR when serving customers in the EU.

Less exposure to foreign jurisdiction

US hosting and cloud companies are subject to US laws that can allow authorities to access data without the warrant protections many people assume apply. Choosing a European web host can keep more of your website data under European privacy laws and reduce exposure to foreign legal demands.

Better performance for European visitors

Hosting your website closer to your audience can reduce latency and help pages load faster. If most of your customers or visitors are in Europe, a European data center can improve responsiveness without routing traffic unnecessarily across continents.

More independence from US tech companies

Much of the internet depends on infrastructure controlled by US companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, and Google. You can support European tech sovereignty and independent providers by choosing a local or regional host and keeping more data, infrastructure, and expertise closer to home.

Which European web hosting provider is best for you?

European web hosting companies range from simple services for a single website to providers that can support much larger online projects. The right choice depends on what you are hosting and how much control you need.

Maximum privacy: Infomaniak and Greenhost put a strong emphasis on privacy, local infrastructure, and control over where data is hosted.
Everyday web hosting: Hetzner, IONOS, and Infomaniak offer straightforward hosting for personal sites, blogs, and business websites.(neues Fenster)
WordPress hosting: IONOS and Scaleway offer WordPress tools that make it easier to build and manage a site.
Larger websites: OVHcloud and Hetzner offer more powerful server options for websites that need extra resources.
European infrastructure: OVHcloud, Scaleway, Hetzner, and IONOS offer a range of server and hosting services across European data centers.
Sustainability: Greenhost, Infomaniak, and Hetzner use renewable energy and have made reducing the environmental impact of their infrastructure a priority.

Tips for switching to European web hosting

Moving a website to a new hosting provider takes a little planning, especially if it also handles your email, databases, or domain settings. Preparing the move first can help you avoid downtime or losing important data.

Check where your website will be hosted

A European hosting company may operate data centers in several parts of the world. If keeping your website in Europe matters to you, check which location will store your files, databases, and backups before signing up.

Choose the right type of hosting

Basic shared hosting is enough for many blogs, portfolios, and small business websites. Larger stores, busy websites, or custom applications may need a VPS (gives you more resources and control) or a dedicated server (the entire server is reserved for your website).

Back up everything first

Make a complete copy of your website before starting the move, including its files, databases, images, and configuration. Keep the backup somewhere separate from both hosting providers so you can restore the site if anything goes wrong during the transfer.

Move your website before changing the domain

Set up and test the website with your new host before pointing your domain to it. Check important pages, forms, logins, images, and other features first. Once everything works correctly, you can update your domain settings and send visitors to the new server.

Check your email settings

Web hosting packages often include email, so moving your website can also affect addresses that use your domain. Make sure existing mail is backed up and recreate any addresses, forwarding rules, and other settings before switching over.

Keep your old hosting temporarily

Avoid canceling your existing hosting as soon as the new site goes live. Keeping both services running for a short period gives you a fallback if you discover missing files, email problems, or other issues after the move and can help protect your business continuity.

Not European, but still not Big Tech web hosting

If you want an independent alternative to hosting from Amazon, Microsoft, or Google but don't specifically need a European provider, there are several options outside Europe. Remember that jurisdiction affects which laws and data access rules apply.

HostPapa

Based: Canada

Focused on small and medium-sized businesses

Website hosting, cloud services, domains, and managed hosting
Hosting options for WordPress and business websites
Data centers hosted in Canada, the US, and the Netherlands
Runs on renewable energy
Security and backup services
Free website migration for new customers (some source platforms excluded)
AES-256-encrypted backups available only as a paid add-on; encryption status for backups bundled with base hosting isn't stated
The EU recognizes Canada’s PIPEDA (federal privacy law)
Publishes a public GDPR DPA
Grown mainly by acquisition

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

DreamHost

Based: United States

One of the web's oldest hosts, founded in 1996 by college students

Shared, WordPress, VPS, dedicated, and cloud hosting
Customer-hosted data is only used to provide hosting services (standard law-enforcement disclosure still applies)
Provides free domain privacy (unavailable on some registries)
Free SSL certificates and daily automated backups
Free web application firewall, DDoS protection, and account-level 2FA
Database encryption isn't offered; object storage is unencrypted by default (advanced users can self-manage keys)
Publishes a GDPR/CCPA DPA
History of resisting government overreach
2021 database exposure (unconfirmed)
Independent and employee-owned

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

GreenGeeks

Based: United States

An EPA-recognized Green Power Partner since 2009, with a tree-planting program

Web hosting, WordPress hosting, VPS, and dedicated servers
Matches energy use with purchased renewable energy certificates
Free SSL certificates and website security features
Web application firewall and multi-layer DDoS protection
Automatic daily backups on shared/reseller plans only, not VPS or dedicated servers
Operates data centers in the US, Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore
Visitors from Europe, Africa, and Asia are auto-provisioned in its Amsterdam data center by default; customers elsewhere can select it manually
Publishes a GDPR DPA
Independent and founder-led

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐☆☆☆

Frequently asked questions about European web hosting

What is European web hosting?: European web hosting is website hosting provided by a company based in Europe. Depending on the provider and plan, your website files, databases, backups, and other information may also be stored in European data centers.
European web hosting companies include Hetzner in Germany, Infomaniak in Switzerland, OVHcloud and Scaleway in France, IONOS in Germany, and Greenhost in the Netherlands.
Is European web hosting better for privacy?: European web hosting providers often give customers strong data protection, clear choices about where data is stored, and access to infrastructure governed by European privacy laws. Some also own and operate their own data centers, reducing reliance on third-party hosting companies. Privacy practices vary between providers, so compare data locations, backup arrangements, third-party services, and the laws that apply to your chosen hosting plan.
It's also worth checking each specific product, not just the company overall, since a company's European credentials don't always apply uniformly across all of its hosting products.
Does using a European web host mean my data stays in Europe?: It can, but check the hosting location when choosing your plan. Some European providers also operate data centers outside Europe or use external services for parts of their hosting platform. If European data residency matters to you, choose a European data center and check where backups and other copies of your website data are stored.
The GDPR does not require EU data residency, so storing data in Europe is a choice a provider makes, not a legal requirement imposed on it. Choosing a provider that does store data in Europe matters because it avoids the extra legal steps required by the GDPR whenever personal data is transferred outside the EU/EEA.
Can I move an existing website to a European host?: Yes. Most web hosts allow you to transfer an existing website, domain, databases, and email accounts. Some providers also offer migration tools or support to make the process easier. Keep your existing host active until the new website has been transferred, tested, and connected to your domain to reduce the risk of downtime.
What is the best European web hosting company?: The best provider depends on the type of website you run. Hetzner and IONOS offer broad hosting options for everyday websites, Infomaniak and Greenhost put a stronger emphasis on privacy and sustainability, while OVHcloud and Scaleway also offer infrastructure for larger or more demanding projects.

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