cPanel vs OpenPanel

cPanel9.2Visit OpenPanel7.3Visit

Higher score cPanel #2 in Web Hosting Control Panels 9.2/10 15-day trial Free trial✓ 4 of 5 features Visit cPanel

vs

OpenPanel #16 in Web Hosting Control Panels 7.3/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 5 of 5 features Visit OpenPanel

• cPanel fits best

  Established providers prioritizing familiarity

• OpenPanel fits best

  Free users needing modern app hosting

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Side by side

Feature	cPanel 9.2/10 Visit ↗	OpenPanel 7.3/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	7.3
Ranking	#2 in Web Hosting Control Panels	#16 in Web Hosting Control Panels
Best for	Established providers prioritizing familiarity	Free users needing modern app hosting
Pricing model	Paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	$27.46/mo	€149.50/yr
Free plan	—	✓ (best)
Free trial	15 days	30 days
Free trial length	15 days · no card needed	30 days · no card needed
Deployment	Self-hosted, Cloud	Self-hosted, Cloud
Platforms	Web, Linux	Web, Linux
Support	Email, Live chat, Phone, Tickets, Docs, Community · 24/7	Tickets, Community
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features cPanel 4/5 · OpenPanel 5/5
Email management	✓	✓
DNS management	✓	✓
Database management	✓	✓
Backup tools	✓	✓
App installer	Not checked yet	✓ (best)
Specs
OS support	Linux	Linux
Account limit	1 accounts	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Manages domains, email, DNS, databases, files, backups, and SSL Includes WordPress management and Sitejet Builder integrations Supports Cloud/VPS and Metal/Dedicated licensing with WHM administration	Free Community plan supports up to 50 domains and 3 users Containerized Node.js and Python hosting alongside PHP Domains, email, DNS, databases, backups, and WordPress in one panel
Cons	No perpetual free plan; the trial lasts 15 days Starting price is $27.46 per month on annual billing Runs on supported Linux distributions rather than broader operating systems	Community is limited to private or personal use Enterprise is required for unlimited users and domains Self-hosted deployment requires a VPS or dedicated server
Our verdict	cPanel is a web hosting automation and control panel for hosting providers, administrators, developers, agencies, and website owners. Its interface covers domains, website content, hosted email, SQL databases, DNS records, DNSSEC settings,… Read the review →	OpenPanel is a self-hosted, multi-user web hosting control panel for VPS and dedicated servers. It is aimed at people managing their own hosting environment, from personal projects to broader hosting operations. The web interfaces cover… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• cPanel — where it wins

  • Manages domains, email, DNS, databases, files, backups, and SSL
  • Includes WordPress management and Sitejet Builder integrations
  • Supports Cloud/VPS and Metal/Dedicated licensing with WHM administration

  Where it doesn't

  • No perpetual free plan; the trial lasts 15 days
  • Starting price is $27.46 per month on annual billing
  • Runs on supported Linux distributions rather than broader operating systems

• OpenPanel — where it wins

  • Free Community plan supports up to 50 domains and 3 users
  • Containerized Node.js and Python hosting alongside PHP
  • Domains, email, DNS, databases, backups, and WordPress in one panel

  Where it doesn't

  • Community is limited to private or personal use
  • Enterprise is required for unlimited users and domains
  • Self-hosted deployment requires a VPS or dedicated server

• cPanel9.2/10 · 15-day trial

  A familiar Linux control panel with broad hosting tools, but no perpetual free plan.

  Visit cPanelFull verdict →
• OpenPanel7.3/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A capable free control panel for personal hosting and modern app deployments.

  Visit OpenPanelFull verdict →