Software Alternatives & Startups

Dreamhost VS CloudLinux

Compare Dreamhost VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Dreamhost

DreamHost is the leader in shared web hosting, vps hosting, dedicated hosting, WordPress hosting, cloud storage and cloud computing. Try us today.

Rating
0 reviews
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Dreamhost seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 8 times since March 2021.

social mentions
8 vs 0
Web Hosting popularity
98% vs 2%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Dreamhost
CloudLinux
Website dreamhost.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Dreamhost 6 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Uptime
    DreamHost offers a 100% uptime guarantee, which is essential for maintaining the availability of your website.
  • Ease of Use
    The platform's interface is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy even for beginners to set up and manage websites.
  • Customer Support
    DreamHost provides 24/7 customer support through live chat and ticket-based systems, ensuring assistance is always available.
  • Unlimited Traffic
    DreamHost offers plans without bandwidth caps, meaning your website can handle a large number of visitors without incurring additional costs.
  • Storage Space
    The hosting plans come with a generous amount of SSD storage, which improves website speed and performance.
  • Free Domain
    DreamHost includes a free domain registration with some of their hosting plans, saving you money on initial setup costs.

Possible disadvantages

  • No cPanel
    DreamHost uses its own custom control panel instead of the widely popular cPanel, which can have a learning curve for those accustomed to cPanel.
  • Live Chat Support Limitations
    While customer support is 24/7, live chat support is not available 24/7, which might be inconvenient for some users.
  • Price
    DreamHost's pricing is somewhat higher compared to some other hosting providers, which may not be ideal for users with a limited budget.
  • Managed WordPress Limited Features
    The managed WordPress hosting plans may lack some advanced features and optimizations available from other specialized WordPress hosts.
  • No Email Support
    DreamHost does not offer email hosting with its shared starter plan, which can be a drawback for business users who need professional email services.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Dreamhost
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • DreamHost is generally considered a good web hosting provider, especially for users looking for a straightforward, reliable hosting solution with a strong focus on privacy and customer support. Its range of hosting plans and solid uptime make it a viable choice for both beginners and more experienced users.

Why this product is good

  • DreamHost is well-regarded for its reliability, excellent customer service, and strong commitment to privacy. It offers a wide range of hosting options, including shared, VPS, and dedicated hosting, which cater to different types of users. The company also provides a user-friendly control panel and a 97-day money-back guarantee, allowing users to test the service with minimal risk. Additionally, DreamHost emphasizes environmental consciousness by using energy-efficient facilities and hardware.

Recommended for

    DreamHost is recommended for bloggers, small to medium-sized businesses, and anyone looking to host a WordPress site, given its easy integration with the WordPress platform. It is also a good option for developers who want more control and flexibility, as well as for environmentally conscious users who value green hosting practices.

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Dreamhost 3 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Dreamhost Review: Is DreamHost a Good Choice For You? [2020]

More videos

  • - DreamHost Review (2019) Pros and Cons of DreamHost Web Hosting [HONEST REVIEW]
  • - DREAMHOST REVIEW APRIL 2020πŸ’Ž Know Where To Start!!!!

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Dreamhost
CloudLinux
98% 98%
2% 2%
98% 98%
2% 2%
97% 97%
3% 3%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using Dreamhost and CloudLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

Dreamhost no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet

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We have no reviews of CloudLinux yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Dreamhost 8 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Dreamhost and CloudLinux

When comparing Dreamhost and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.