Should You Choose cPanel or Plesk? Detailed Review and Comparison

Should You Choose cPanel or Plesk? Detailed Review and Comparison

cPanel and Plesk, the two most popular options among web hosting control panels, offer powerful and effective tools for those who want to manage websites. However, which control panel you should choose may vary depending on your needs and budget. In this article, by comparing cPanel and Plesk control panels in detail, we will examine their pros, cons, price-performance analysis, and for which users they are more suitable.

What is cPanel?

cPanel is a Linux-based web hosting control panel and works specifically compatible with CentOS, CloudLinux, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux operating systems. With its user-friendly interface and wide range of features, it is popular among website owners, developers, and hosting providers.

What is Plesk?

Plesk is a versatile web hosting control panel capable of running on both Linux and Windows-based servers. This feature offers more flexible usage and is an ideal choice especially for those developing ASP.NET and MS SQL-based applications.

cPanel and Plesk Comparison: Pros and Cons

1. User Interface and Ease of Use

• cPanel:
  • Pros: Has a very user-friendly and intuitive interface. Ideal especially for beginner-level users. Menus are clear and understandable.
  • Cons: May seem complex at first glance, but it is possible to get used to it in a short time. Since it only works on Linux-based servers, it is not suitable for Windows users.
• Plesk:
  • Pros: Has a more modern and clean interface and can run on both Linux and Windows servers. Includes tools optimized especially for WordPress users.
  • Cons: Since it contains more menus and settings compared to cPanel, it can be confusing for beginners.

2. Features and Functionality

• cPanel:
  • Pros:
    • Offers advanced management and customization options with WHM (Web Host Manager).
    • Has powerful email management, database management (MySQL and PostgreSQL), and backup features.
    • Allows easy installation of over 400 scripts and applications with Softaculous integration.
  • Cons:
    • Not compatible with Windows-based applications as it lacks ASP.NET and MS SQL support.
    • Backup processes may be slower compared to Plesk.
• Plesk:
  • Pros:
    • Perfect for Windows-based applications with ASP.NET, MS SQL, and IIS support.
    • Offers a more flexible working environment for developers with Docker and Git integrations.
    • Managing WordPress sites, tracking updates, and ensuring security is easier with WordPress Toolkit.
  • Cons: Extra licensing may be required for some advanced features.

3. Security and Updates

• cPanel:
  • Pros: Offers advanced security options with CSF (ConfigServer Security & Firewall) and cPHulk. Also automatically renews free SSL certificates with the AutoSSL feature.
  • Cons: Enabling and configuring security features may require some technical knowledge.
• Plesk:
  • Pros: Offers strong security measures with ModSecurity Web Application Firewall, Fail2Ban, and SSL It! extensions.
  • Cons: Some security features come disabled by default and must be enabled manually.

4. Performance and Speed

• cPanel:
  • Pros: Provides high performance by working integrated with LiteSpeed and CloudLinux. Fast especially in MySQL database management.
  • Cons: Performance may drop when too many plugins are used.
• Plesk:
  • Pros: Offers high performance by working compatible with Nginx and Apache web servers. Faster in caching with Redis and Memcached support.
  • Cons: Performance loss may occur under heavy load, especially on Windows servers.

5. Pricing and Licensing

• cPanel:
  • Price: Licensing is charged per account. A 5-account license is around $15-20/month, while a 100-account license is around $45-50/month.
  • Advantage: More affordable for small businesses and individual users.
  • Disadvantage: Can be costly for hosting companies managing a large number of accounts.
• Plesk:
  • Price: Offers more flexible license options. Web Admin (10 domains) license is around $10/month, Web Pro (30 domains) license is $15/month, and Web Host (unlimited domains) license is around $35/month.
  • Advantage: More affordable especially for agencies and developers managing a large number of domains.
  • Disadvantage: Extra licensing may be required for additional features.

Who is it More Suitable For?

• Those Who Should Choose cPanel:
  • Those who will only use Linux-based hosting.
  • Beginner-level users wanting a simple and user-friendly interface.
  • Small businesses and individual website owners.
• Those Who Should Choose Plesk:
  • Those who want to manage Windows and Linux servers together.
  • Those who will use advanced features like ASP.NET, MS SQL, or Docker.
  • WordPress managers and agencies.

Conclusion: Is cPanel or Plesk Better?

• cPanel: Ideal for Linux users with its simplicity and user-friendly interface.
• Plesk: More suitable for agencies managing WordPress and those wanting to use Windows and Linux platforms together.

In summary, cPanel for Linux users and those wanting a simple interface, and Plesk for those wanting more flexible features and Windows support would be a better choice.