/
Redirect Supply vs IONOS domain forwarding: Know exactly how your domain redirects
IONOS can forward a domain with an HTTP redirect or a frame redirect, sending everything to a single destination. Redirect Supply gives you the details IONOS leaves out: choose between 301 and 302 per rule, map every old page to its own new URL, and see how much traffic each domain still gets, while your domain stays registered at IONOS.
Redirect Supply vs IONOS forwarding: control over every redirect
Decision factor
Redirect Supply
IONOS forwarding
Choose based on
What it redirects
Every page of your old domain, each to its own new URL
The whole domain to one destination
Whether your old pages have new addresses
Redirect type
301, 302, 307, or 308, chosen per rule
HTTP redirect or frame redirect
A rebrand needs an explicit permanent 301
HTTPS
Automatic SSL certificate on every connected domain
Works when SSL is assigned to the domain
Whether you want to manage certificates at all
Analytics
See how much traffic each old domain still gets
No redirect traffic reports
Knowing when an old domain can finally go
Where your domain lives
Stays at IONOS; you only update DNS records
At IONOS
You don't have to transfer anything
Best fit
Rebrands, migrations, and studios managing client domains
A spare domain sent to one address
If more than one URL needs its own destination, Redirect Supply
Why Redirect Supply
Choose Redirect Supply for redirects that stay out of your way. Every old URL lands on the right page, every domain runs on HTTPS, and nothing breaks when your website moves.
IONOS forwarding or Redirect Supply? The short answer
Keep IONOS domain forwarding if a spare domain just needs to point to one address and SSL is already set up on it.
Switch to Redirect Supply if you're rebranding or migrating, need a guaranteed 301, or want each old page to land on its exact replacement. The free plan covers your first domain, with automatic HTTPS and analytics.
For a move that has to keep its rankings, that makes it a Redirect Supply job.
FAQs
Questions about IONOS forwarding and Redirect Supply
What's the difference between an HTTP redirect and a frame redirect at IONOS?
An HTTP redirect sends visitors to the destination and shows its address in the browser. A frame redirect keeps your old domain in the address bar and loads the destination inside it, which IONOS itself notes is not optimal for search engines. For SEO, always use a real redirect. Read more about URL masking.
Is IONOS domain forwarding a 301 or a 302?
IONOS's help center describes an HTTP redirect without specifying the status code. You can check what your domain returns with the free redirect tester. In Redirect Supply, you choose 301 or 302 for every rule yourself.
Does IONOS forwarding work with HTTPS?
Yes, when SSL encryption is assigned to the domain. IONOS warns that redirecting from HTTPS to plain HTTP can cause browser errors. Redirect Supply issues and renews an SSL certificate for every connected domain automatically, so there's nothing to assign.
Can IONOS forward individual pages to different URLs?
IONOS's forwarding sends a whole domain to one destination. To send /services to /work and /blog/* to /journal/*, you need path-level redirects, included on every Redirect Supply paid plan from $6 a month billed yearly.
Do I need to transfer my domain away from IONOS?
No. Your domain stays registered at IONOS. You change a few DNS records so Redirect Supply handles the redirects, and everything else stays in your IONOS account. See the DNS setup guide.
How do I switch an IONOS domain to Redirect Supply?
Add your domain in Redirect Supply and copy the records it shows. In IONOS, remove the existing forwarding from the domain's settings, then enter the new DNS records. Your redirects go live once DNS propagates.
Have more questions?
Daniel Kouba
Founder of FREAKS
Vojtech Elias
Reflektor Studio
