cPanel vs. Other Hosting Control Panels

 As a first-time hosting customer, you will certainly require something to help manage your website’s server.

This invariably necessitates the use of a control panel, which reduces your technical load. While some web hosting companies include a control panel with their plans, others require separate purchase of a control panel.

HTS hosting includes a control panel with all of its hosting plans, at no additional cost.

Now, here the question arises, what is the most important web hosting control panel in the market? Any guess?

Yes, it’s cPanel. It was first made available in the year 1996. It is a website hosting dashboard that runs on the Linux operating system and, through its graphical interface, aids in the management of your website.

However, due to the unexpected price changes in cPanel, people have started searching for alternatives.

Such alternatives are open-source software, which means they are developed and maintained by a community of like-minded people.

The main difference between cPanel and its alternatives is their compatibility with specific software and the level of support provided.

In this article, we will cover the most popular control panel, i.e. cPanel, and its alternatives, one by one.

• cPanel

This panel is only available for Linux users. It is one of the most popular control panels. It includes a graphical user interface and a server management interface through WHM (Web Host Manager).

Because these environments are interconnected, you can manage your website in either of them. As a result, it is ideal for both beginners and developers who prefer console over pretty design.

cPanel offers numerous features. All of them are on the same page, which is convenient because you won't have to navigate through multiple menus to find what you're looking for. These features include the following:

• Domain name configuration, registration, and transfer

• Set up of autoresponders and email forwarders, as well as email creation and management

• Automation of backup creation.

• Monitoring of server performance

• Database creation and administration

• Logs of visitors and errors

• Creation of file managers and FTP users and so on…

As we have discussed cPanel and its features, let us now look at its alternatives and what they offer.

• Alternatives to cPanel

• Plesk

Plesk is the second most popular control panel in the market after cPanel. Unlike cPanel, which is only available on Linux servers, Plesk is available on both Linux and Windows servers. So, if you are running Windows, Plesk is a safe bet.

Moreover, Plesk, like cPanel, has an appealing and user-friendly interface.

When comparing Plesk and cPanel, Plesk has a centralized control panel.

cPanel has separate panels for accessing WHM subscriptions and managing users, whereas Plesk allows you to enter admin or other user credentials through a single login interface.

Also, one of the distinctive features of Plesk is the availability of a wide range of automation tools. They will free up your time and resources, allowing you to concentrate on website development rather than server maintenance.

HTS Hosting includes the Plesk control panel with its Windows hosting plans, so you won't have to pay extra for it, and you'll be able to enjoy a dependable hosting service at an affordable price, with constant support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

• DirectAdmin

It is a standalone control panel for Linux that is one of the most cost-effective alternatives to cPanel.

DirectAdmin provides three levels of access: administrator, resellers, and users, with each level limiting control options based on the user control. It also includes anti-spam tools.

Customization is made simple with its efficient user interface by simply changing the visible number of menus for the end-user or importing new interface designs.

DirectAdmin provides a useful overview of all the server resources that are currently in use, in addition to DNS management, IP configurations, account management, and much more.

• Interworx

Interworx, which manages and handles website hosting, is ideal for web- designers and developers as well as agencies and resellers.

It is divided into two parts:

• NodeWorx, which focuses on holistic server configuration and monitoring.

• SiteWorx, which gives you access to tools for managing your websites, email, and databases.

Users can upload and create websites, email accounts, manage statistics, and even change other preferences within SiteWorx. It also allows you to manage core services such as MySQL, DNS, and FTP, as well as configure firewall rules and manage spam.

• ISPConfig

ISPConfig, a popular choice among bloggers, website owners, and small businesses, includes all of the basic features you'd expect from a control panel, but it's completely free.

The interface of ISPConfig's may appear a little outdated, but that's only because it focuses primarily on support functions. It supports more operating systems than any other control panel alternatives.

Because ISPConfig does not include a one-click installer, installing and configuring it on your server can be time-consuming. Although there are guides available, many are user-submitted and may not contain all of the most up-to-date information required for beginners.

• Webuzo

Webuzo, a popular choice among web publishers, programmers, and developers, was created by the Softaculous founders.

Webuzo, designed as a single-user control panel, assists users in deploying web applications and system applications on virtual machines or in the cloud.

Webuzo, like other control panels, supports all of the essential server management features, such as DNS, web servers, FTP, databases, and more.

• Vesta Control Panel

Vesta is an open-source control panel that is simple to use and free. One of the major advantages of Vesta is its low system requirements, which translates to faster loading times.

Although Vesta does not support multi-server configurations, it does prioritize performance by employing Nginx for the web panel frontend and Apache for the application backend.

Conclusion:

Each of the aforementioned panels has its own quirks, advantages, and disadvantages. It is difficult to say which one is superior. This is a matter of personal preference. However, these web panels all have one thing in common: they make managing servers and hosting easier and faster. As a result, they are an excellent choice for both beginners and developers.

Source:https://www.htshosting.org/knowledge-base/cpanel/252/cpanel-vs-other-hosting-control-panels