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Plesk vs cPanel: Which one’s the best Control Panel?
Control panel, aka web panel, assists in accessing the backend of a website which is the server and other technical features. Such panel includes the tools that are more like the shortcuts to manage complex tasks. It does not matter individual users or system administrators; the control panel is vital. The two control panels that come at the top of the list include Plesk vs cPanel. However, choosing one can be demanding when both panels are well-favored, especially for non-specialists. Therefore, this post encompasses Plesk panel vs cPanel detailed comparison, putting on view the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Operating System Compatibility
The first attribute, which is indeed the most noticeable difference, is the operating systems or the servers that these control panels support. cPanel works for Linux only, while Plesk is usable for both Windows and Linux and their families.
That means you can operate Linux servers with a cPanel license and Windows plus Linux with a Plesk license. Extending the list of the OS: cPanel supports some of the Linux distros: CentOS, CloudLinux, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, e.g., RHEL 7, Amazon Linux. Similarly, Plesk supports Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, RHEL, CloudLinux, Amazon Linux, Virtuozzo Linux, Windows Server 2008 R2, and 2012 R2.
Popularity Plesk Vs cPanel.
When it comes to popularity for Plesk vs cPanel, cPanel is more popular than Plesk. Also, cPanel is pretty older in the control panel license market than Plesk. But interestingly, the Plesk is in a league of its own for Windows bracket for its support.
To be more precise, both exist as rivals to each other.
Despite Plesk’s usability for both Windows and Linux configurations, however, cPanel, with Linux only, alone ace the race. The possible reasons include the features and the increased number of Linux users.
Furthermore, it is also said that Plesk is concentrating on adapting to several operating systems. However, when it breaks, it falls to bits leading to the difficulty of handling. On the other side, cPanel targets only Linux and its distributions. In fact, not even all the distributions. But whatever it focuses on, it brilliantly conquers it.
Ease of Use & Interface
Next in Plesk vs cPanel correlation is the usability and interface. Well, these attributes have different interpretations.
When we only talk about the interface, you can say that Plesk is cleaner, easy to navigate, and use. In recent years, Plesk has its user interface (UI) redesigned concerning the user experience (UX) with modern JavaScript technology.
But it has only one interface for both users and server-side tasks that might sometimes lead to accidental button or link pressing, deletion, etc., for the wrong side—eventually resulting in complexities, especially for the server-side.
In contrast, cPanel also has a graphical user interface that might not be as graphically modern as Plesk, but it is still arranged and cleaner. Besides, the cPanel interface also has gone through customizations over the years. So it is high-level customized per hosting providers, users, and resellers’ preferences. In fact, cPanel has two interfaces, a user interface and a server management interface. So it bestows its users a free hand to navigate wherever and however they like, getting ahead of Plesk in this aspect.
So now it’s the user’s choice whether fancy a single interface for both or prefer two different interfaces for separate working.
Both are easy as far as ease of use of control panels is concerned. For the most part, it does not matter when you get used to the control panel over time.
Basic Features
In the primary features category for cPanel vs Plesk, both control panels are equal. The basic features list includes all that you might have already heard or be executing for your servers and is not limited to.
- Email accounts creation, modification, passwords, mailbox quotas, etc.
- Configuring the Domain Name System (DNS), new domains, parked domains, subdomains, setups to redirects.
- Creating and managing FTP accounts
- Backups
- Database creation, remote access to MySQL, phpMyAdmin,
- One-click installation of essential features.
When you buy cPanel license and Plesk license, you can grab more features and maintain your servers per your demands.
Advanced integration Ease
As a matter of fact, Plesk appears to be ideal for advanced integrations instead of cPanel. Navigating through the same interface of Plesk, you can integrate all latest and complex integrations.
On reading that Plesk outweighs the cPanel in advanced integrations, you might think cPanel does not support them. However, it isn’t the thing. It’s just that users will have to do extra work, e.g., workarounds with the command line. So, technical expertise will be indispensable. Therefore, advanced integrations are kind of tricky when it comes to cPanel.
Security
Both control panels ensure high-level security and support plenty of security extensions, so there isn’t much cPanel vs Plesk comparison. For instance, cPanel offers automatic SSL certificate installation, multi-factor authentication, IP address approvals & denials, built-in support of CSF/LFD, and password-protected directories.
On the other side, Plesk eases domain security with DNS/ DNSSEC configuration, SSL, Plesk Firewall, support for Immunity 360, Fail2ban intrusion prevention, and more.
Mobile Accessibility
Mobile Accessibility has become a must-have feature of any web-related technology if it intends to reach a broader range of users. In this phase, too, Plesk is one step ahead with a mobile app supportive of both iOS and Android systems. In contrast, cPanel has no mobile app for the users.
Language Support
cPanel and Plesk support a broad array of scripting languages.
As Plesk braces two configurations Windows and Linux, its supported languages include ASP, Microsoft ASP.NET, and Server Side include PHP, CGI, and FastCGI, Perl, Python.
Likewise, cPanel offers support for Perl, PHP, Ruby on Rails, CGI, XML/XSLT, JSP with help from Tomcat, and Python.
Admin Panels – Login for Accounts
Here again, two control panels have disparity. Plesk offers the same login for end-users and server administration.
However, cPanel offers separate logins for users and administrators following the access level. That means cPanel for user facet like website management while WHM (WebHost Manager) for server-side administrative access.
Backups
cPanel vs Plesk both are a more or less parallel match concerning backups. With Plesk, you can have incremental and complete backups and scheduling, backing up the individual user accounts to the entire server. The former ‘incremental’ refers to backing up the new data changes from the last time, while the latter ‘complete’ implies all data without the time restriction.
Also, the backup solutions include Dropbox, Acronis, Google Drive, AWS S3. In addition, Plesk backups now have a password protection feature to safeguard sensitive data in your backups.
Similarly, with cPanel, backup options include compressed (information in a compressed format), uncompressed, and incremental backups on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. Moreover, cPanel deposits the data in the local backup directory of the server and calls for manual backups.
Licensing
To enable these control panels for your server, you need a license, Plesk license, and cPanel license. So another worth mentioning point is that both cPanel and Plesk offer partnerships. So on purchasing from the certified partners, you get extra benefits like authorized software and licenses. That means not only the null-free version cPanel license but also the discounted pricing.
However, beware of the Plesk licenseand cPanel license prices if they are too low, or else you might be getting the cracked licenses and the provider aren’t authorized.
Trial Option
cPanel provides a 15-day trial license, and Plesk offers a 14-day trial license. This trial period is solely dedicated to helping the users test the features and have a clear image of what the respective products can do.
Pricing
Pricing is really the decision-influencer factor, and for cPanel vs Plesk, there are two scenarios.
- When you are to purchase them directly from the owner company, Plesk is the winner of this price battle here. Also, cPanel prices have increased recently. That makes the Plesk more cost-effective than cPanel.
| cPanel Accounts & Pricing | Plesk Editions & Pricing |
| Solo = $15.99/ month – One hosting account | Web Admin Edition – 10 domains = $12/ month
(VPS, Dedicated) |
| Admin = $24.99/ month – Up to 5 accounts | Web Pro Edition – 30 domains = $18.50/ month
(VPS, Dedicated) |
| Pro = $35.99/ month – Up to 30 accounts | Web Host Edition – unlimited domains = $30.50/ month for VPS and $54.50/ month for dedicated |
| Premier = $53.99/ month – Up to 100 accounts. | Partners = $250/ month
(VPS, Dedicated) |
- However, when you acquire them from a web hosting company within a hosting plan, cPanel clean sweep the Plesk. For instance, cPanel hosting average pricing starts at less than or up to $5, while Plesk hosting starts at $5, and average pricing prices fall at around $10.
So many users opt for cheap Linux Hosting with cPanel and streamline not only the hosting but also get an excellent control panel.
Dedicated Customer Support
Support availability and its quality hold power to make or break a service. Typically, the users that have managed web hosting services often do not or seldom need the support. However, the users with self-managed services have to rack their brains for everything from setup to monitoring. Thus, getting trapped and calling becomes inevitable.
Fortunately, both come with perfect-professional support and guaranteed solution for whatever you need assistance with. However, here cPanel vs Plesk, the difference again is pretty significant. How?
For cPanel emergency support via phone 24/7, you have to pay $65 for one-time. If it isn’t, you can submit a support ticket or read the extensive knowledge base that most of the time readily resolves the issue.
For Plesk, customer support is free and is available 24/ 7/ 365 whether you call or chat. Also, this help is accessible for any Plesk account and for any user without the restriction of partnership.
Wrapping Up!
It’s just that whichever you decide will undoubtedly influence your hosting endeavors, as the control panel will be your way to handle the hosting. Therefore, it is always better to have an in-depth look at the cPanel vs Plesk comparison and point out the fundamental differences between cPanel and Plesk.
Without being biased, both cPanel and Plesk have perfect features. Selecting one from these choices in 2022 all boils down to the OS choice and, secondly, the user preferences.
In short, if you are using the Windows OS, then you can’t use the cPanel. While for Linux, you have an open choice from cPanel and Plesk. Also, where both work, you can consider the above factors like features and tools, security, pricing, support, etc., to make a decision.
