Head-to-head · Web Hosting Control Panels
Plesk vs CloudPanel
Plesk leads on 1 check, CloudPanel on 1, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scorePlesk · 9.4/10
- Free planonly CloudPanel
- Free trialonly Plesk
- Most featuresPlesk · 5 of 5
Plesk scores higher on our rubric for web hosting control panels: 9.4 against 5.7 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #32.
CloudPanel offers free plan; Plesk doesn't. On os support, Plesk gives you Both where CloudPanel offers Linux. Plesk offers email management; CloudPanel doesn't.
Plesk is the better fit for mature all-in-one hosting operations. CloudPanel is the better fit for free cloud-focused PHP and app hosting.
- Plesk fits best
Mature all-in-one hosting operations
- CloudPanel fits best
Free cloud-focused PHP and app hosting
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Side by side
| Feature | Plesk 9.4/10 Visit ↗ | CloudPanel 5.7/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.4 | 5.7 |
| Ranking | #1 in Web Hosting Control Panels | #32 in Web Hosting Control Panels |
| Best for | Mature all-in-one hosting operations | Free cloud-focused PHP and app hosting |
| Pricing model | Paid | Free |
| Starting price | €12.04/mo | Free |
| Free plan | — | ✓ (best) |
| Free trial | 14 days | — |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Mobile | Cloud, Self-hosted, Browser extension |
| Platforms | Web, Linux, Windows, iOS, Android | Web, Linux |
| Support | Docs, Community · 24/7 | Docs, Community, Tickets |
| Compliance | PCI DSS | 2FA |
| Integrations | 4 integrations | 7 integrations |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise | Solo, Small business, Mid-market |
| Features Plesk 5/5 · CloudPanel 3/5 | ||
| Email management | ✓ (best) | — |
| DNS management | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Database management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Backup tools | ✓ | ✓ |
| App installer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| OS support | Both | Linux |
| Account limit | 10 accounts | Not checked yet |
| Our review | ||
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| Our verdict | Plesk is a web hosting control panel for hosting providers, developers, IT administrators, agencies, and web professionals. Its centralized dashboard brings together website, domain, DNS, email, database, application, user, subscription,… Read the review → |
CloudPanel is a free server control panel for configuring and managing dedicated or cloud servers. It suits developers, IT administrators, agencies, infrastructure providers, and hosting users who need to manage PHP, Node.js, Python,… Read the review → |
Strengths and trade-offs
Plesk — where it wins
- Manages websites, domains, DNS, email, databases, backups, and security
- Supports Linux and Windows servers with web, API, and self-hosted access
- Connects with AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Docker, Git, and NGINX
Where it doesn't
- No permanent free plan
- Listed prices require annual billing
- Entry plan supports up to 10 domains
CloudPanel — where it wins
- Supports PHP, Node.js, Python, static sites, reverse proxies, and WordPress
- Includes backups, monitoring, firewall controls, roles, and SSL automation
- Integrates with major cloud providers plus Cloudflare and phpMyAdmin
Where it doesn't
- Email management is not provided
- DNS is handled through external providers rather than natively
- Premium and Enterprise editions are coming soon
- Plesk9.4/10 · 14-day trial
A mature control panel covering hosting operations from websites and DNS to backups and security.
Visit PleskFull verdict → - CloudPanel5.7/10 · Free plan
A free, cloud-focused Linux panel with broad app support but no native email or DNS management.
Visit CloudPanelFull verdict →
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All web hosting control panels comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update