Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

i-MSCP VS cPanel

Compare i-MSCP VS cPanel and see what are their differences

i-MSCP logo i-MSCP

World-Wide Free Hosting Control Panel Since 2010

cPanel logo cPanel

With its first-class support and rich feature set, cPanel & WHM has been the web hosting industry's most reliable, intuitive control panel since 1997.
  • i-MSCP Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-30
  • cPanel Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-18

i-MSCP features and specs

  • Open Source
    i-MSCP is open source, meaning it is free to use, modify, and distribute, providing flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The control panel offers a user-friendly and intuitive interface, making it easy for administrators and users to manage their hosting accounts.
  • Extensibility
    i-MSCP supports plugins and modules, allowing for customization and the addition of new features as needed.
  • Multi-Level Administration
    The platform provides different levels of administration access, including admin, reseller, and end-users, facilitating efficient management.
  • Security Features
    i-MSCP includes several security features out of the box, such as SSL support, to help protect hosting environments.

Possible disadvantages of i-MSCP

  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to other control panels, i-MSCP may have a smaller community, potentially leading to longer response times for support and fewer available resources.
  • Documentation
    The documentation for i-MSCP might not be as comprehensive or regularly updated as that of more popular platforms, posing a challenge to new users.
  • Update Frequency
    i-MSCP might not receive updates as frequently as other control panels, potentially delaying access to new features or fixes.
  • Compatibility Issues
    There could be compatibility challenges with certain third-party applications or services, requiring additional configuration or workarounds.

cPanel features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    cPanel offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate graphical user interface (GUI) that is accessible even to those with limited technical expertise, making server management simpler.
  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    The platform includes a wide range of functionality such as email management, domain management, database management, file management, and security tools, which cover most needs of web administrators.
  • Wide Adoption and Support
    cPanel is widely used across the web hosting industry, ensuring plenty of community support, tutorials, and troubleshooting resources available online.
  • Compatibility
    cPanel is highly compatible with a variety of third-party applications and services, facilitating seamless integration with popular software solutions.
  • Automated Updates and Backups
    The platform supports automated updates and backups, enhancing server reliability and data security without requiring constant manual intervention.
  • Built-in Security Features
    cPanel includes robust security features such as automatic SSL installation, firewalls, and protection against brute-force attacks, aiding data protection and server defense.

Possible disadvantages of cPanel

  • Cost
    cPanel licenses can be pricey, especially for small businesses or individual users. This makes it a less attractive option for those looking to minimize their hosting expenses.
  • Resource Intensive
    The platform can consume considerable server resources, which might not be ideal for websites running on limited resources or shared hosting environments.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, more advanced functionalities might have a steep learning curve, requiring users to spend additional time gaining proficiency.
  • Limited Customizability
    Users with specific needs may find cPanel somewhat restrictive as it does not offer the same level of customizability as some other control panel solutions.
  • Dependency on cPanel Support
    In case of any issues or requirements for updates, users are often dependent on cPanel’s support and update cycle, which might not always be timely.
  • Security Vulnerabilities
    As cPanel is widely used, it becomes a more attractive target for hackers. Despite built-in security features, this widespread adoption can lead to potential security vulnerabilities.

Analysis of cPanel

Overall verdict

  • Overall, cPanel is a strong choice for web hosting management, particularly for those who seek ease of use and a plethora of features. It is suitable for both beginners and experienced users, providing tools that cater to a wide range of needs. However, it might be overkill for very simple or single-site applications and it comes with licensing costs that should be considered.

Why this product is good

  • cPanel is a widely used web hosting control panel that offers a user-friendly interface, making it easy for users to manage their websites, emails, and server settings. It provides a comprehensive suite of tools that simplify the process of hosting management, including file management, domain management, and application installation. The ease of use, reliability, and wide range of features make it a popular choice for many web hosting providers and website owners.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized businesses seeking a reliable web hosting management solution.
  • Individuals and businesses running multiple websites who benefit from centralized administration.
  • Web hosting providers looking for a robust platform to offer their customers.
  • Users wanting to manage emails, domains, and other hosting aspects through a single interface.

i-MSCP videos

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cPanel videos

Web Hosting & CPanel Guide - How To Easily Upload Your Website

More videos:

  • Review - cPanel Alternative AaPanel Features & Review Free Hosting Panel [Official]
  • Review - WHM/cPanel Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to i-MSCP and cPanel)
Control Panels
10 10%
90% 90
Hosting
5 5%
95% 95
Server Management
8 8%
92% 92
System Administration
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare i-MSCP and cPanel

i-MSCP Reviews

Explore Top VestaCP Alternative: Find the Perfect Control Panel for Your Hosting Needs
i-MSCP has been strategically designed to transform the complexities involved in managing multiple servers and web hosting services. This groundbreaking platform is tailored to address the specific requirements of administrators and hosting providers, providing them with a simplified method to create, configure, and proficiently manage the intricate elements of their hosting...
Source: cyberpanel.net
2020's Ultimate Guide to Web Panels: cPanel vs. Plesk vs. Webmin vs. Other Popular Hosting Management Tools
i-MSCP is open-sourced and aims to be a good multi-server control panel for both personal and professional (i.e., hosting providers) usage. There is no one particularly outstanding facet of this web panel, but there is an active community around it.

cPanel Reviews

  1. Best Reviews
    · Working at Best Reviews ·
    SPanel vs cPanel Comparison

    Both SPanel and cPanel have their unique strengths. SPanel excels in simplicity, speed, and affordability, making it ideal for VPS users seeking a lightweight and efficient control panel without breaking the bank. However, since it’s slightly younger on the market, it’s not yet compatible with many hosting providers.

    🏁 Competitors: SPanel

SPanel vs cPanel Comparison
cPanel supports a wide range of hosting environments, from shared to dedicated. Its control panel allows users to easily manage multiple websites, email accounts, databases, and more. Whether users are small businesses using shared hosting or enterprises running dedicated servers, cPanel provides the flexibility and scalability to match any hosting setup.
Source: bestreviews.net
Top 12 Best VPS Control Panels for 2025
cPanel and DirectAdmin are two of the most popular hosting control panels. The latter offers a user-friendly interface and the ability to manage your website’s administrative functions. It also provides access to a number of online resources. However, cPanel has a much larger feature set, making it the obvious choice for those looking for a control panel to manage their...
Forget cPanel! 5 Free cPanel Alternatives That Will Manage Your Web Apps
Choosing the right free cPanel alternative requires careful consideration of your specific needs and preferences. By assessing your requirements, considering ease of use, compatibility, community support, performance, security features, customization options, and gathering feedback from other users, you can make an informed decision.
Source: webshanks.com
Explore Top VestaCP Alternative: Find the Perfect Control Panel for Your Hosting Needs
cPanel SoloAdminProPremier$15/mo$27/mo$39/mo$59/moSuited for small businesses, freelancers, or anyone needing just one hosting account.Created for small to mid-level agencies and businesses, application developers, and web designers only needing a few accounts.Optimal for mid-level businesses and large agencies that are growing. Allows for scalability.Created for data...
Source: cyberpanel.net
10 Best cPanel Alternatives and Competitors in 2022 and Beyond
We all know the popularity of cPanel. The simplicity that cPanel offers is the reason why most of the web hosts prefer it. But you should know that there are several other cPanel alternatives and competitors that offer the same functions.
Source: macpost.net

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, cPanel seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 20 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

i-MSCP mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of i-MSCP yet. Tracking of i-MSCP recommendations started around Mar 2021.

cPanel mentions (20)

  • How to create a Node.js web server with cPanel
    Welcome to this article, where I guide you on creating your own Node.js Express web server with cPanel. This guide will apply for most domain registrars which offer hosting services with cPanel, such as Namecheap or Hostgator, but for this tutorial, we will be using Spaceship Shared Hosting. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • The 2024 Web Hosting Report
    This category dates back to the “control panel” era of tools that are still used on shared VM hosts, such as cPanel. These tools automate common functions such as managing authentication, deployment of databases, etc. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • A few general questions about starting out.
    Most Likely scenario is that your client is using a service with something like cPanel setup. This is where they would get or set-up access credentials for you to then transfer the files via sftp. Essentially the same as copying files onto another hard drive, but over the internet. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Cloud VPS cPanel/WHM
    There is a way. Go to cpanel.net and buy a cPanel Pro for 30 accounts or an admin for 5 accounts or a solo for 1 account only. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What according to u is Easy Linux distribution for hosting sites?
    If you aren't in this to learn a lot, you may want to also consider a web hosting control panel like cPanel (not free), DirectAdmin(not free), webmin + virtualmin (free for multiple sites, virtualmin Pro is not free), Centos webpanel (not FOSS but free for non-Pro), Hestia control panel (FOSS), Plesk Obsidian (not free). Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing i-MSCP and cPanel, you can also consider the following products

Vesta Control Panel - – What I love about Vesta is that it's fast and easy to use

Plesk - Plesk puts all the automation, security, and technical tools an IT professional needs in one simple and easy to use dashboard.

Froxlor - Froxlor: The server administration software for your needs.

Webmin - Webmin is a web-based interface for system administration for Unix.

Sentora - Sentora is an open-source web hosting control panel built specifically to work on a variety of Linux distributions. Sentora is licensed under the GPL and is a separately maintained fork of the original ZPanel project.

Hostwinds - Hostwinds offers web hosting services and solutions.