Users who use a virtual server or dedicated server have 3 control panels that come to mind first; cPanel, Directadmin, and Plesk.
Control panels allow you to manage your server in all aspects, without the use of commands. In this way, you can add new users, manage databases, install popular software, perform e-mail configurations, and perform many operations such as backup and restore via control panels. Even if technically possible, general users can’t perform transactions or even sell hosting on a server without a control panel.
One of the main challenges when choosing a control panel is that if you change your mind later, the migration can be challenging for you because of the differences between them. Therefore, when choosing the control panel, you should analyze your needs correctly and make the selection decision accordingly. Which is the best cheap email hosting provider company?
In this article, we have prepared a guide for users who find it difficult to choose about this by talking about the main differences between different hosting control panels.
Interface Overview
Another factor that can affect your hosting control panel selection may be the control panel interface and design. The simple, understandable, and easy accessibility of all functions that you and your users will perform will have a positive effect.
Operating System Compatibility
It is also very important which operating system the control panel you choose supports and works in harmony and stably. Although some control panels support both Linux and Windows operating systems, you should determine which components are suitable for your purpose and which operating system and the control panel that are compatible with it. At this point, you can see which operating systems the cPanel, Maestropanel, and Plesk panel support in the table below;
CPanel
The cPanel Hosting Control Panel runs on Linux systems and supports three platforms. These; we can list as CentOS, CloudLinux, and RedHat. Despite this limitation, cPanel has achieved a fairly common utilization rate in the server market. However, if you are going to use a Windows operating system based server, cPanel is not the right choice for you.The email shop is offering the cheapest email hosting service.
A few years ago, it was expected to be a version of cPanel running on Windows operating system-based servers as well. It was even launched in the development phase called Enkompass. Unfortunately, although it attracted attention when it was released, the usage rate remained stable in the following process, and updates on the cPanel side also stopped. This caused cPanel Windows to be shelved as End-Of-Life in 2014.
Conclusion: If you prefer a Windows server, you cannot use cPanel.
Plesk
Unlike cPanel, the Plesk control panel offers more variety of operating systems, including variations within Linux. In addition to the three platforms supported by cPanel; you can also run Plesk on Ubuntu, Debian, and OpenSUSE. Buy mail365 services from the email shop.
Plesk also supports the Windows operating system. It is recommended to use Windows Server 2012 R2 with the release of the new version of Plesk. Among the three hosting control panels we reviewed in this article, Plesk is the only control panel that supports the Windows operating system. At this point, the operating system you will use will be the decisive point.
DirectAdmin
Like cPanel, DirectAdmin only supports Linux operating systems. It works especially on RedHat, CentOS, FreeBSD, and Debian.
When it comes to hosting control panel, there is a wide range of alternatives for Linux systems, and when it comes to using Windows operating system, the selection range you can make in this regard is narrowing.
Pricing
The pricing options of these three hosting control panels are largely variable. None of these control panels is open source, but DirectAdmin’s pricing includes the “Lifetime License” and “Unlimited Update” option. The other two dashboards allow you to license only for certain periods and allow you to receive updates that are released during these processes.
The prices in the table above are valid if you purchase directly from the websites of the relevant control panels. However, different service providers can offer various discounts and campaigns within their franchise programs.Buy cheap ssl certificate uk from the email shop.
CPanel
There are two different pricing specifically for the best dedicated server hosting uk or virtual server in the license pricing of the cPanel control panel. When you want to get an annual license for a dedicated server, you have to pay $ 425.
Also, cPanel provides phone support for a $ 64 charge per event when you experience any problems. Also, if you want to get a monthly license for your VPS server, you need to revise the $ 20 payment.
Plesk
Plesk offers separate pricing for dedicated and VPS servers such as its biggest rival, cPanel. However, unlike cPanel, “developer tools” offer a wide range of choices such as “number of domains to host”. For example, if you will host 5 domains on your server, you only need to pay $ 4 per month for Plesk.
DirectAdmin
Unlike other control panels, DirectAdmin offers the “Lifetime License” option and you can purchase unlimited licenses by paying $ 299. However, DirectAdmin also offers Monthly, Quarterly, and Yearly License options.
An important feature that distinguishes DirectAdmin from cPanel is that it offers unlimited technical support on all licensing options. You can get support for your problems without any extra fees. Plesk also states that it offers free technical support, but it is difficult to find the scope and policies of this support. DirectAdmin prides itself on its simplicity and publishes its terms and conditions accordingly.
Note: Technical support is limited to 90 days if you purchase DirectAdmin “Lifetime License”!
Management Interface / User Interface and Functionality
The point of view of a person using his server to the control panels is very different from that of the end-user. Even a normal user using cPanel may have never heard of WHM. It may not be known to the end-user that WHM Panel is an administrative control panel, where all operations related to cPanel are performed and many administrative adjustments are made such as DNS configuration, security, user settings, server configurations, and package adjustments.
Although there is no such distinction in Plesk and DirectAdmin control panels, there are administrative settings within the same interface that the user can access within the same interface. (Reseller, Admin, etc.) In this subject, we will compare the interfaces and administrative options of the relevant control panels on the table below.
Security
Continuing the above table, cPanel, Plesk and DirectAdmin security models are quite different from the current permissions for the end-user and administrator accounts. Let’s examine this in the table below;
CPanel
With cPanel / WHM, you can create separate WHM access privileges for each user. The options and resources available to these users are determined in advance.
Plesk
On the other hand, there is the concept of “Subscriptions” in the Plesk panel. Each subscription is linked to the plan, which determines the resources and settings that a user can access.
DirectAdmin
The package concept assigned to users is used in the DirectAdmin control panel. New users can be created by the administrator or from the reseller account.
Usability
This section has been prepared as a subjective assessment.
CPanel
CPanel and WHM offer a slightly more complex interface compared to the other two control panels, due to power, flexibility, and the variety of options required to provide this combination.
Plesk
The Plesk control panel has a more aesthetic and plain layout compared to cPanel. There is a transition between the end-user and administrative interfaces and offers easy use in general.
DirectAdmin
DirectAdmin stands out from the other three control panels in this regard, which has a very simple and easy-to-use interface. Simplicity and ease of use in the management and end-user interfaces offer a unique experience to its users.
Evaluation
Each of the three web hosting control panel products has several strengths and weaknesses. Operating system compatibility, pricing, technical support, ease of use, plugins, and pricing. I hope this article, which has been prepared as a guide to facilitate your selection in your studies, will be useful.
