Choose a control panel for your VPS
A control panel is software that lets you manage a server through web pages instead of typing commands: creating websites, databases, email accounts and SSL certificates with a few clicks. This guide is for VPS and cloud server owners. It helps you decide whether you need a panel at all, introduces the main options, and explains how to install one safely.
If you use DomainPilot web hosting, you don't need to install a control panel: DomainPilot runs and maintains the hosting servers for you. The panels below are for servers where you manage the operating system yourself.
Do you need a control panel?
A panel is not required. Many servers run without one, configured over SSH.
A panel suits you if:
- you host several websites or clients and want to manage them in one place
- you want to host email, DNS and websites together without configuring each service by hand
- you prefer a visual interface, or other people will manage sites on the server
You may not need one if:
- the server runs a single app, such as one website, an API or a container setup
- you are comfortable with the command line and want full control over each service
- you want the server's memory and CPU to go to your apps rather than to the panel
A panel also changes how you work. It manages configuration files itself, so changes you make by hand can be overwritten. Once you install one, make changes through the panel where possible.
The main options
These panels can be installed on a VPS. Each supports only certain operating systems and versions, so check the vendor's requirements before you start.
| Panel | In brief | Licence |
|---|---|---|
| cPanel & WHM | A commercial hosting panel. WHM manages the server and hosting accounts; cPanel is the interface for each account. Includes web, email, DNS and databases. | Paid |
| Plesk | A commercial hosting panel for websites, email, DNS and databases, available for Linux and Windows Server. | Paid |
| CyberPanel | A hosting panel built around the OpenLiteSpeed web server, with email, DNS and databases. | Free and open source |
| CentOS Web Panel (Control Web Panel) | A hosting panel for Red Hat-compatible Linux systems, such as AlmaLinux, with web, email, DNS and databases. | Free edition available |
| CloudPanel | A lightweight panel focused on hosting PHP, Node.js, Python and static sites with nginx. It does not include an email server. | Free |
| ISPConfig | An open-source hosting panel for web, email, DNS and databases that can manage one server or several. | Free and open source |
| HestiaCP | An open-source hosting panel for web, email, DNS and databases on Debian and Ubuntu. | Free and open source |
| Webmin | A general system administration tool for managing Linux services, users and settings through a browser. It is not a hosting panel in itself, but suits people who want a web interface for the server. | Free and open source |
How to choose
Weigh these points against how you plan to use the server.
- Cost. Paid panels add a licence fee to the cost of the server, often based on the number of accounts or sites.
- Email hosting. If the server will host email, choose a panel that includes a mail server. Running email well also means managing spam filtering and SPF, DKIM and DMARC records, see SPF, DKIM and DMARC. If your email is hosted elsewhere, a lighter panel without email may be enough.
- Number of sites and users. Hosting many sites or clients, each with their own login, favors panels designed for multiple accounts. For one or two sites of your own, a simpler panel may be easier.
- Familiarity. A panel you or your team already know is quicker to work with and less likely to be misconfigured. If you plan to move existing sites, check whether the panel offers import tools for your current setup.
- Resource use. Every panel uses some memory, CPU and disk space for itself, and some use more than others. Check each vendor's minimum requirements and make sure your server has room for both the panel and your sites.
- Operating system. Each panel supports a specific list of Linux distributions and versions. Pick the panel first, then the operating system it supports.
Install on a fresh server
Install a control panel on a newly created server, not one that already runs websites or services. Panels expect to configure the web server, mail server and firewall themselves, and can conflict with or overwrite existing settings. Removing a panel later usually means reinstalling the server.
- Choose the panel, then create the server with an operating system the panel supports, or start from a ready-made panel image if your provider offers one.
- Take a snapshot of the fresh server before installing, so you can start again if needed.
- Follow the vendor's official installation guide for your operating system.
- Sign in to the panel over HTTPS, set a strong, unique password, and turn on two-step sign-in if the panel supports it. The panel login gives full control of the server.
- Install updates and keep the panel up to date, since it has full control of the server.
- Check that the firewall only allows the ports the panel and your services need. See Secure a new Linux server for the general approach, and the panel's documentation for its own ports.
DomainPilot VPS plans offer ready images with cPanel, Plesk, CyberPanel, CentOS Web Panel, CloudPanel, ISPConfig and HestiaCP, as well as Webmin and Docker images. cPanel and Plesk licences are billed on top of the server price. VPS is self-managed, so you look after the panel and the operating system.