In the world of web hosting control panels, cPanel has long been popular due to its user-friendly interface and powerful management capabilities. However, several excellent cPanel alternatives in the market offer unique features and functionalities to meet the diverse needs of web hosting providers and website owners.
These cPanel alternatives provide robust control panel solutions that empower users to efficiently manage their hosting environments, domains, databases, and other essential aspects of their online presence. This article will explore some of the best cPanel alternatives and delve into their standout features, ease of use, customization options, and overall performance.
These selections provide appealing options to meet your hosting needs, whether you’re looking for a less expensive solution, cutting-edge functionality, or a different user experience. Let’s examine the leading contenders for cPanel alternatives in more detail.
Let us Dive into the Best cPanel Alternatives:
1. Plesk
The debate between Plesk and cPanel has been ongoing in the realm of web hosting control panels. However, sometimes it’s worth exploring alternatives that can bring a fresh perspective and enhanced functionalities. Plesk is recommended as one of the best cPanel alternatives that offer a user-friendly interface encompassing all the essential categories within a website hosting control panel, easily accessible from the left side of the page.
What sets Plesk apart is its remarkable resemblance to cPanel in terms of functionality. You’ll find standard features like configuring domain settings, managing files, user accounts, and email addresses. Plesk even goes the extra mile by providing robust site security and encryption options, matching cPanel’s offerings.
Robust Features of Plesk
- User Friendly Interface: Plesk provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface that simplifies website and server management, making it accessible to users of all skill levels.
- Single Control Panel for All Websites: You can easily manage multiple websites from a single control panel. It allows you to create and configure domains, set up email accounts, manage files, and handle database operations effortlessly.
- Customization and Large Number of Tools: Plesk enables users to manage server settings, including managing services, configuring security measures, and monitoring system performance. It provides a comprehensive set of tools to ensure server stability and security.
- Backups and Restoration: Plesk simplifies the backup and restoration process, allowing users to create scheduled backups of their websites, databases, and configurations.
- Pricing: Plesk costs $9.16 per month for up to 10 domains or $13.75 per month if you need access to the developer tools.
2. DirectAdmin
DirectAdmin is another cPanel alternative, a graphical and web-based web hosting control panel. This is specifically designed to make the administration of websites more accessible.
DirectAdmin is also compatible with the different Red Hat, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Fedora Core, CentOS, FreeBSD, Ubuntu, and Debian versions. With CentOS Linux, it is all distributed by default. It is also less expensive and more lightweight than either cPanel or Plesk, lessening the server load.
DirectAdmin is one of the best choices you will find around. It is straightforward to use, and when you log in to it, you will observe that it displays the basic functionalities, and there, you can quickly go within the administrative area.
Robust Features of DirectAdmin
- Multiple Support: DirectAdmin comes with support for running two PHP versions alongside each other.
- Automatic Deployment: It can easily manage automatic deployment services.
- 24/7 Support: DirectAdmin is the new gen in stabilizing the server for web hosting. They provide excellent support.
- Suppost for Mojor Databases: DirectAdmin supports popular databases like MySQL and PostgreSQL. Users can create and manage databases, set up users and permissions, and access phpMyAdmin for database administration.
- Pricing: The DirectAdmin standard licenses are available at $29 per month, $200 per year and $299 for own.
Also Check: How to Install DirectAdmin On CentOS 7 ?
3. Webmin
Webmin is a free cPanel alternative offering extensive features and functionalities. It stands out as a feature-rich control panel that surpasses others in capability. Webmin allows users to perform essential modifications without any cost. Its built-in modules provide the ability to back up configuration files and configure Apache web servers effortlessly.
Additionally, Webmin facilitates bandwidth monitoring, fail2ban configuration, user administration, cron job setup, secure SSH connections, and many other advanced tasks. Its comprehensive features make it a highly professional server management and administration choice.
Webmin primarily caters to the Linux system administration field, which has garnered recognition for its efficiency and user-friendliness. If your server primarily hosts simple websites, Webmin can meet all your requirements and fulfil your needs. However, it is essential to note that some customers in the hosting industry, particularly those with limited experience, have raised concerns about certain drawbacks, such as a subpar user interface and missing features.
Robust Features of Webmin
- Support for Multiple PHP Versions: The Webmin supports multiple PHP versions on the same server.
- Package Management: Administrators can use Webmin to install, update, and remove software packages on their Linux servers. It supports package managers like APT (Advanced Package Tool) and YUM (Yellowdog Updater Modified) for Debian and Red Hat-based distributions.
- File Management: Graphical file management makes editing, uploading, and downloading files a breeze. And you can change file permissions to restrict access.
- Security and Firewall Configuration: Email servers built on Exim, Dovecot, Postfix, or qmail are supported by default, and there’s a SpamAssassin package available for spam filtering.
- Pricing: Webmin is free but may lack certain features in other commercial cPanel alternatives.
4. VestaCP
VestaCP is a user-friendly and efficient control panel that offers a range of features for managing web hosting. It provides a simple and smooth user interface, supporting various server functionalities like web, DNS, FTP, database, and email servers. One notable advantage is its backup feature, allowing users to create fast data backups.
The control panel also includes a graphical data display feature that monitors website and server changes. It generates colourful web traffic and site bandwidth graphs over specific time intervals. VestaCP offers two access levels, namely Admin and Client, providing different privileges to users.
Like cPanel, VestaCP supports installing and automatically renewing Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for all domains, ensuring secure connections. It incorporates several security measures, such as firewalls and disabling the root user. However, it’s essential to configure these security features properly to avoid any potential vulnerabilities.
Robust Features of VestaCP
- Multi-Language Support: Vesta CP supports multiple PHP versions.
- Web-Based Interface: VestaCP provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface, making it easy for beginners and experienced users to navigate and manage their hosting environments.
- Domain and Website Management: VestaCP allows users to create FTP accounts, granting secure file transfer capabilities to upload and manage website files.
- DNS Management: VestaCP provides two access levels, Admin and Client, allowing hosting providers to offer management capabilities to their clients while retaining administrative control.
- Pricing: Although it is free, it has support pricing. Its basic package includes 60 minutes of support credit. The premium package would consist of 5 hours of support credit. Next, the unlimited package includes 15 hours of support credit.
Final Thoughts
When seeking alternatives to cPanel, it’s important to consider control panels like DirectAdmin and VestaCP. These options offer robust features, user-friendly interfaces, and efficient management capabilities. DirectAdmin provides a comprehensive set of tools for website and server administration, while VestaCP offers a range of functionalities with a focus on simplicity and ease of use. Both control panels present viable alternatives to cPanel, ensuring efficient management of web hosting environments while catering to different user preferences.
