Software Alternatives & Startups

Kevel VS CloudLinux

Compare Kevel VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Kevel

Kevel's APIs make it easy for engineers and PMs to quickly launch a fully-customized, white-labeled, server-side ad server.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Paid Free trial $5,000 / Monthly
CloudLinux

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

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Base details

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

Kevel
CloudLinux
Website kevel.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Paid Free trial $5,000 / Monthly Official pricing
Open source
Company 2010 —
Listed in

About Kevel and CloudLinux

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Kevel
CloudLinux

Kevel's APIs make it easy for engineers and PMs to build their own server-side, fully-customized ad server. Top e-retailers and user communities use Kevel to build innovative ad servers to promote anything from native ads to internal content to sponsored listings. Engineers reliably see a 90%+...

Read more about Kevel

No description of CloudLinux yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Kevel 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Customizable Ad Infrastructure
    Kevel allows businesses to build and control their ad serving platforms, giving them the flexibility to design a system tailored to their specific needs.
  • API-First Approach
    Kevel provides robust APIs that make it easy to integrate with existing systems and applications, facilitating seamless ad management and delivery.
  • Rapid Implementation
    With Kevel, businesses can quickly set up and start serving ads, thanks to its user-friendly interface and comprehensive developer documentation.
  • Scalability
    Kevel handles high traffic volumes and can scale with the growing needs of a business, ensuring consistent performance without disruption.
  • Advanced Targeting and Reporting
    Kevel offers sophisticated targeting options and detailed reporting, enabling businesses to optimize their ad campaigns for better ROI.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    Kevel's advanced features and customization capabilities come at a higher price point, which might not be suitable for smaller businesses or startups with limited budgets.
  • Complexity for Non-Technical Users
    The platform's rich feature set and API-driven design can be overwhelming for users without technical expertise, potentially requiring additional training or support.
  • Integration Challenges
    While Kevel offers strong API support, integrating it into a complex, existing infrastructure may still pose challenges and require dedicated development resources.
  • Limited Ready-Made Solutions
    Unlike some other ad-serving platforms, Kevel focuses on customizability over ready-made solutions, which means businesses need to invest time in building and fine-tuning their ad infrastructure.
  • Dependence on Technical Resources
    The high degree of customization and flexibility may necessitate ongoing support from developers or engineers, which could be a limitation for companies with constrained technical resources.
  • 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.

Kevel
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Kevel is a solid choice for businesses seeking flexibility and control over their advertising technology stack. It's particularly effective for companies that need custom solutions rather than one-size-fits-all ad products.

Why this product is good

  • Kevel is recognized for its comprehensive suite of APIs that enable companies to quickly and easily build custom ad platforms. The platform provides robust support for ad serving, user targeting, and analytics, making it a suitable choice for businesses looking to implement personalized advertising experiences. Moreover, it emphasizes privacy and compliance, which is increasingly important in today's digital landscape.

Recommended for

  • Companies developing custom ad platforms
  • Businesses prioritizing privacy and compliance in advertising
  • Organizations requiring robust API support for ad serving
  • Teams that prefer flexible ad solutions over packaged products

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.

Kevel 1 video + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Overview of Kevel

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
Kevel
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

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

Kevel no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet

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Alternatives to Kevel and CloudLinux

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