Alternatives to cPanel logo

Alternatives to cPanel

WordPress, Plesk, DirectAdmin, Runcloud, and phpMyAdmin are the most popular alternatives and competitors to cPanel.
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What is cPanel and what are its top alternatives?

cPanel is a popular web hosting control panel that provides a user-friendly interface for managing websites, domains, email accounts, and more. It offers features like one-click installations of software, file management, database management, and security settings. However, cPanel can be expensive for small businesses and has limitations in terms of customization and flexibility compared to other alternatives.

  1. Plesk: Plesk is a comprehensive web hosting control panel similar to cPanel but with a focus on both Windows and Linux servers. It offers features like one-click installations, website staging, security tools, and more. Pros: Supports both Windows and Linux servers. Cons: Can be more expensive than cPanel.
  2. DirectAdmin: DirectAdmin is a lightweight yet powerful web hosting control panel that offers a simple interface for managing websites and servers. Key features include one-click installations, file management, email support, and DNS management. Pros: Light on server resources. Cons: Less user-friendly than cPanel.
  3. VestaCP: VestaCP is an open-source control panel that provides an easy-to-use interface for managing servers and websites. It offers features like website and database management, email support, and Let's Encrypt integration for SSL certificates. Pros: Free and open source. Cons: Limited third-party integrations.
  4. Webmin: Webmin is a free control panel that allows users to manage Unix-based systems through a web interface. It offers features like user account management, file management, package installations, and more. Pros: Free and open source. Cons: Not as feature-rich as cPanel.
  5. ISPConfig: ISPConfig is an open-source hosting control panel that enables users to manage websites, email accounts, databases, and more. It offers features like multi-server management, support for various Linux distributions, and a user-friendly interface. Pros: Free and open source. Cons: Limited documentation for beginners.
  6. Virtualmin: Virtualmin is a powerful and flexible web hosting control panel that supports both shared and dedicated hosting. It offers features like domain and website management, email support, and server monitoring tools. Pros: Supports various Linux distributions. Cons: Steeper learning curve than cPanel.
  7. CentOS Web Panel: CentOS Web Panel is a free control panel for managing CentOS servers. It offers features like website management, email support, DNS management, and one-click installations. Pros: Free to use. Cons: Limited support for other operating systems.
  8. CyberPanel: CyberPanel is a modern and feature-rich control panel that is designed to optimize WordPress websites. It offers features like LiteSpeed web server, one-click installations, website staging, and automatic backups. Pros: Optimized for WordPress. Cons: Requires technical knowledge to set up.
  9. Ajenti: Ajenti is a free and open-source control panel that allows users to manage servers and websites through a web interface. It offers features like system monitoring, file management, package installations, and more. Pros: Free and open source. Cons: Less intuitive user interface compared to cPanel.
  10. Froxlor: Froxlor is an open-source server management panel that enables users to manage websites, databases, email accounts, and more. It offers features like Let's Encrypt integration, FTP management, and domain management. Pros: Free and open source. Cons: Limited third-party integrations.

Top Alternatives to cPanel

  • WordPress
    WordPress

    The core software is built by hundreds of community volunteers, and when you’re ready for more there are thousands of plugins and themes available to transform your site into almost anything you can imagine. Over 60 million people have chosen WordPress to power the place on the web they call “home” — we’d love you to join the family. ...

  • Plesk
    Plesk

    Build and manage multiple sites from a single dashboard. You can also run updates, monitor performance and onboard new prospects all from the same place. It is a WebOps platform to run, automate and grow applications, websites and hosting businesses. ...

  • DirectAdmin
    DirectAdmin

    It is a graphical web-based web hosting control panel designed to make administration of websites easier. It is an extremely efficient control panel that uses the bare minimum of system resources. This makes it ideal for systems ranging from low-end VPS units to heavily-loaded dedicated servers ...

  • Runcloud
    Runcloud

    SaaS based PHP cloud server control panel. Support Digital Ocean, Linode, AWS, Vultr, Azure and other custom VPS. GIT deployment webhook and easiest control panel to manage Laravel, Cake, Symphony or WordPress. ...

  • phpMyAdmin
    phpMyAdmin

    As a portable web application written primarily in PHP, it has become one of the most popular MySQL administration tools, especially for web hosting services. ...

  • Webmin
    Webmin

    It is a web-based interface for system administration for Unix. Using any modern web browser, you can setup user accounts, Apache, DNS, file sharing and much more. It removes the need to manually edit Unix configuration files. ...

  • GoDaddy
    GoDaddy

    Go Daddy makes registering Domain Names fast, simple, and affordable. It is a trusted domain registrar that empowers people with creative ideas to succeed online. ...

  • Git
    Git

    Git is a free and open source distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency. ...

cPanel alternatives & related posts

WordPress logo

WordPress

97.4K
39.7K
2.1K
A semantic personal publishing platform with a focus on aesthetics, web standards, and usability.
97.4K
39.7K
+ 1
2.1K
PROS OF WORDPRESS
  • 416
    Customizable
  • 367
    Easy to manage
  • 354
    Plugins & themes
  • 258
    Non-tech colleagues can update website content
  • 247
    Really powerful
  • 145
    Rapid website development
  • 78
    Best documentation
  • 51
    Codex
  • 44
    Product feature set
  • 35
    Custom/internal social network
  • 18
    Open source
  • 8
    Great for all types of websites
  • 7
    Huge install and user base
  • 5
    I like it like I like a kick in the groin
  • 5
    It's simple and easy to use by any novice
  • 5
    Perfect example of user collaboration
  • 5
    Open Source Community
  • 5
    Most websites make use of it
  • 5
    Best
  • 4
    API-based CMS
  • 4
    Community
  • 3
    Easy To use
  • 2
    <a href="https://secure.wphackedhel">Easy Beginner</a>
CONS OF WORDPRESS
  • 13
    Hard to keep up-to-date if you customize things
  • 13
    Plugins are of mixed quality
  • 10
    Not best backend UI
  • 2
    Complex Organization
  • 1
    Do not cover all the basics in the core
  • 1
    Great Security

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Dale Ross
Independent Contractor at Self Employed · | 22 upvotes · 1.6M views

I've heard that I have the ability to write well, at times. When it flows, it flows. I decided to start blogging in 2013 on Blogger. I started a company and joined BizPark with the Microsoft Azure allotment. I created a WordPress blog and did a migration at some point. A lot happened in the time after that migration but I stopped coding and changed cities during tumultuous times that taught me many lessons concerning mental health and productivity. I eventually graduated from BizSpark and outgrew the credit allotment. That killed the WordPress blog.

I blogged about writing again on the existing Blogger blog but it didn't feel right. I looked at a few options where I wouldn't have to worry about hosting cost indefinitely and Jekyll stood out with GitHub Pages. The Importer was fairly straightforward for the existing blog posts.

Todo * Set up redirects for all posts on blogger. The URI format is different so a complete redirect wouldn't work. Although, there may be something in Jekyll that could manage the redirects. I did notice the old URLs were stored in the front matter. I'm working on a command-line Ruby gem for the current plan. * I did find some of the lost WordPress posts on archive.org that I downloaded with the waybackmachinedownloader. I think I might write an importer for that. * I still have a few Disqus comment threads to map

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Shared insights
on
ElementorElementorWordPressWordPress

hello guys, I need your help. I created a website, I've been using Elementor forever, but yesterday I bought a template after I made the purchase I knew I made a mistake, cause the template was in HTML, can anyone please show me how to put this HTML template in my WordPress so it will be the face of my website, thank you in advance.

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Plesk logo

Plesk

1.7K
92
4
A web hosting platform with a control panel
1.7K
92
+ 1
4
PROS OF PLESK
  • 1
    Free
  • 1
    Not free
  • 1
    Reliable
  • 1
    Easy to use
CONS OF PLESK
    Be the first to leave a con

    related Plesk posts

    Shared insights
    on
    MySQLMySQLcPanelcPanelPleskPleskHostGatorHostGator

    Hello,

    I’ve been using a Reseller account to host my client's websites for many years ago.

    I noticed in the last few years low performance and weakness in technical support services, so I intended to move to another provider just like "HostGator," the problem is I'm using currently Plesk "Direct Admin" but the intended new reseller using "cPanel," the question is could I move my reseller without interrupting my clients? "No change from client-side will be performed ex (FTP accounts, control panel credentials, MySQL databases, users, DNS configuration, webmail boxes, and messages)."

    I would love your insights on where I should go. (Experienced)

    Note: I called the HostGator support, and they will make a migration manually; they also assure me that it wouldn't be any interruption, but I'm also not sure.

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    DirectAdmin logo

    DirectAdmin

    18
    29
    0
    Powerful And Easy To Use Web Hosting Control Panel
    18
    29
    + 1
    0
    PROS OF DIRECTADMIN
      Be the first to leave a pro
      CONS OF DIRECTADMIN
        Be the first to leave a con

        related DirectAdmin posts

        Runcloud logo

        Runcloud

        25
        69
        0
        PHP web application & server management panel
        25
        69
        + 1
        0
        PROS OF RUNCLOUD
          Be the first to leave a pro
          CONS OF RUNCLOUD
            Be the first to leave a con

            related Runcloud posts

            phpMyAdmin logo

            phpMyAdmin

            318
            297
            15
            A free software, for MySQL and MariaDB
            318
            297
            + 1
            15
            PROS OF PHPMYADMIN
            • 5
              Query linter
            • 5
              Easy data access
            • 5
              User administration
            CONS OF PHPMYADMIN
            • 1
              Insecure

            related phpMyAdmin posts

            Webmin logo

            Webmin

            72
            163
            13
            A web-based system configuration tool
            72
            163
            + 1
            13
            PROS OF WEBMIN
            • 3
              Review real-time resources (cpu, mem, stg, proc)
            • 2
              Easy to use
            • 2
              Virtualmin
            • 2
              Free
            • 1
              DNS Zone Editor
            • 1
              Modify ports and usage
            • 1
              Extensible and flexible
            • 1
              Modify applications
            CONS OF WEBMIN
              Be the first to leave a con

              related Webmin posts

              GoDaddy logo

              GoDaddy

              553
              496
              11
              Your all in one solution to grow online
              553
              496
              + 1
              11
              PROS OF GODADDY
              • 8
                Flexible payment methods for domains
              • 3
                .io support
              CONS OF GODADDY
              • 2
                Constantly trying to upsell you
              • 1
                Not a great UI

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              Deep Shah
              Software Engineer at Amazon · | 6 upvotes · 963.7K views

              I only know Java and so thinking of building a web application in the following order. I need some help on what alternatives I can choose. Open to replace components, services, or infrastructure.

              • Frontend: AngularJS, Bootstrap
              • Web Framework: Spring Boot
              • Database: Amazon DynamoDB
              • Authentication: Auth0
              • Deployment: Amazon EC2 Container Service
              • Local Testing: Docker
              • Marketing: Mailchimp (Separately Export from Auth0)
              • Website Domain: GoDaddy
              • Routing: Amazon Route 53

              PS: Open to exploring options of going completely native ( AWS Lambda, AWS Security but have to learn all)

              See more
              Git logo

              Git

              297.2K
              178.6K
              6.6K
              Fast, scalable, distributed revision control system
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              PROS OF GIT
              • 1.4K
                Distributed version control system
              • 1.1K
                Efficient branching and merging
              • 959
                Fast
              • 845
                Open source
              • 726
                Better than svn
              • 368
                Great command-line application
              • 306
                Simple
              • 291
                Free
              • 232
                Easy to use
              • 222
                Does not require server
              • 27
                Distributed
              • 22
                Small & Fast
              • 18
                Feature based workflow
              • 15
                Staging Area
              • 13
                Most wide-spread VSC
              • 11
                Role-based codelines
              • 11
                Disposable Experimentation
              • 7
                Frictionless Context Switching
              • 6
                Data Assurance
              • 5
                Efficient
              • 4
                Just awesome
              • 3
                Github integration
              • 3
                Easy branching and merging
              • 2
                Compatible
              • 2
                Flexible
              • 2
                Possible to lose history and commits
              • 1
                Rebase supported natively; reflog; access to plumbing
              • 1
                Light
              • 1
                Team Integration
              • 1
                Fast, scalable, distributed revision control system
              • 1
                Easy
              • 1
                Flexible, easy, Safe, and fast
              • 1
                CLI is great, but the GUI tools are awesome
              • 1
                It's what you do
              • 0
                Phinx
              CONS OF GIT
              • 16
                Hard to learn
              • 11
                Inconsistent command line interface
              • 9
                Easy to lose uncommitted work
              • 8
                Worst documentation ever possibly made
              • 5
                Awful merge handling
              • 3
                Unexistent preventive security flows
              • 3
                Rebase hell
              • 2
                Ironically even die-hard supporters screw up badly
              • 2
                When --force is disabled, cannot rebase
              • 1
                Doesn't scale for big data

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              Simon Reymann
              Senior Fullstack Developer at QUANTUSflow Software GmbH · | 30 upvotes · 11.1M views

              Our whole DevOps stack consists of the following tools:

              • GitHub (incl. GitHub Pages/Markdown for Documentation, GettingStarted and HowTo's) for collaborative review and code management tool
              • Respectively Git as revision control system
              • SourceTree as Git GUI
              • Visual Studio Code as IDE
              • CircleCI for continuous integration (automatize development process)
              • Prettier / TSLint / ESLint as code linter
              • SonarQube as quality gate
              • Docker as container management (incl. Docker Compose for multi-container application management)
              • VirtualBox for operating system simulation tests
              • Kubernetes as cluster management for docker containers
              • Heroku for deploying in test environments
              • nginx as web server (preferably used as facade server in production environment)
              • SSLMate (using OpenSSL) for certificate management
              • Amazon EC2 (incl. Amazon S3) for deploying in stage (production-like) and production environments
              • PostgreSQL as preferred database system
              • Redis as preferred in-memory database/store (great for caching)

              The main reason we have chosen Kubernetes over Docker Swarm is related to the following artifacts:

              • Key features: Easy and flexible installation, Clear dashboard, Great scaling operations, Monitoring is an integral part, Great load balancing concepts, Monitors the condition and ensures compensation in the event of failure.
              • Applications: An application can be deployed using a combination of pods, deployments, and services (or micro-services).
              • Functionality: Kubernetes as a complex installation and setup process, but it not as limited as Docker Swarm.
              • Monitoring: It supports multiple versions of logging and monitoring when the services are deployed within the cluster (Elasticsearch/Kibana (ELK), Heapster/Grafana, Sysdig cloud integration).
              • Scalability: All-in-one framework for distributed systems.
              • Other Benefits: Kubernetes is backed by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), huge community among container orchestration tools, it is an open source and modular tool that works with any OS.
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              Tymoteusz Paul
              Devops guy at X20X Development LTD · | 23 upvotes · 9.7M views

              Often enough I have to explain my way of going about setting up a CI/CD pipeline with multiple deployment platforms. Since I am a bit tired of yapping the same every single time, I've decided to write it up and share with the world this way, and send people to read it instead ;). I will explain it on "live-example" of how the Rome got built, basing that current methodology exists only of readme.md and wishes of good luck (as it usually is ;)).

              It always starts with an app, whatever it may be and reading the readmes available while Vagrant and VirtualBox is installing and updating. Following that is the first hurdle to go over - convert all the instruction/scripts into Ansible playbook(s), and only stopping when doing a clear vagrant up or vagrant reload we will have a fully working environment. As our Vagrant environment is now functional, it's time to break it! This is the moment to look for how things can be done better (too rigid/too lose versioning? Sloppy environment setup?) and replace them with the right way to do stuff, one that won't bite us in the backside. This is the point, and the best opportunity, to upcycle the existing way of doing dev environment to produce a proper, production-grade product.

              I should probably digress here for a moment and explain why. I firmly believe that the way you deploy production is the same way you should deploy develop, shy of few debugging-friendly setting. This way you avoid the discrepancy between how production work vs how development works, which almost always causes major pains in the back of the neck, and with use of proper tools should mean no more work for the developers. That's why we start with Vagrant as developer boxes should be as easy as vagrant up, but the meat of our product lies in Ansible which will do meat of the work and can be applied to almost anything: AWS, bare metal, docker, LXC, in open net, behind vpn - you name it.

              We must also give proper consideration to monitoring and logging hoovering at this point. My generic answer here is to grab Elasticsearch, Kibana, and Logstash. While for different use cases there may be better solutions, this one is well battle-tested, performs reasonably and is very easy to scale both vertically (within some limits) and horizontally. Logstash rules are easy to write and are well supported in maintenance through Ansible, which as I've mentioned earlier, are at the very core of things, and creating triggers/reports and alerts based on Elastic and Kibana is generally a breeze, including some quite complex aggregations.

              If we are happy with the state of the Ansible it's time to move on and put all those roles and playbooks to work. Namely, we need something to manage our CI/CD pipelines. For me, the choice is obvious: TeamCity. It's modern, robust and unlike most of the light-weight alternatives, it's transparent. What I mean by that is that it doesn't tell you how to do things, doesn't limit your ways to deploy, or test, or package for that matter. Instead, it provides a developer-friendly and rich playground for your pipelines. You can do most the same with Jenkins, but it has a quite dated look and feel to it, while also missing some key functionality that must be brought in via plugins (like quality REST API which comes built-in with TeamCity). It also comes with all the common-handy plugins like Slack or Apache Maven integration.

              The exact flow between CI and CD varies too greatly from one application to another to describe, so I will outline a few rules that guide me in it: 1. Make build steps as small as possible. This way when something breaks, we know exactly where, without needing to dig and root around. 2. All security credentials besides development environment must be sources from individual Vault instances. Keys to those containers should exist only on the CI/CD box and accessible by a few people (the less the better). This is pretty self-explanatory, as anything besides dev may contain sensitive data and, at times, be public-facing. Because of that appropriate security must be present. TeamCity shines in this department with excellent secrets-management. 3. Every part of the build chain shall consume and produce artifacts. If it creates nothing, it likely shouldn't be its own build. This way if any issue shows up with any environment or version, all developer has to do it is grab appropriate artifacts to reproduce the issue locally. 4. Deployment builds should be directly tied to specific Git branches/tags. This enables much easier tracking of what caused an issue, including automated identifying and tagging the author (nothing like automated regression testing!).

              Speaking of deployments, I generally try to keep it simple but also with a close eye on the wallet. Because of that, I am more than happy with AWS or another cloud provider, but also constantly peeking at the loads and do we get the value of what we are paying for. Often enough the pattern of use is not constantly erratic, but rather has a firm baseline which could be migrated away from the cloud and into bare metal boxes. That is another part where this approach strongly triumphs over the common Docker and CircleCI setup, where you are very much tied in to use cloud providers and getting out is expensive. Here to embrace bare-metal hosting all you need is a help of some container-based self-hosting software, my personal preference is with Proxmox and LXC. Following that all you must write are ansible scripts to manage hardware of Proxmox, similar way as you do for Amazon EC2 (ansible supports both greatly) and you are good to go. One does not exclude another, quite the opposite, as they can live in great synergy and cut your costs dramatically (the heavier your base load, the bigger the savings) while providing production-grade resiliency.

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