Software Alternatives & Startups

Liquidweb VS CloudLinux

Compare Liquidweb VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Liquidweb

Managed Dedicated Server Hosting, VPS Hosting, Web Hosting & Cloud Servers with Linux or Windows backed by Liquid Web Inc's Heroic Support.

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

Base details

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

Liquidweb
CloudLinux
Website liquidweb.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Liquidweb 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Performance
    LiquidWeb is renowned for high-performance hosting solutions, ensuring fast load times and optimal server reliability.
  • Support
    LiquidWeb offers 24/7/365 support with fast response times. The company boasts a team of highly knowledgeable and responsive support staff.
  • Scalability
    The hosting service provides highly scalable solutions that can be customized to fit businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.
  • Security
    LiquidWeb prioritizes security with features such as DDoS protection, firewall management, and constant monitoring, providing robust protection for websites.
  • Managed Hosting
    The provider offers various managed hosting services including Managed WordPress Hosting, Managed WooCommerce Hosting, and Managed Cloud Hosting, helping users focus on their business rather than server management.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    LiquidWeb’s hosting plans are generally more expensive compared to other hosting providers, making it less ideal for budget-conscious customers.
  • Complexity
    Due to the wide range of advanced features and services, LiquidWeb may have a steeper learning curve for beginners or non-technical users.
  • Limited Entry-Level Options
    LiquidWeb does not offer traditional shared hosting plans, which are often more affordable and suitable for small websites or individual projects.
  • Add-On Costs
    Many advanced features and additional services come with extra costs, which can add up quickly and increase the overall expense.
  • Regional Data Center Limitations
    Most of LiquidWeb’s data centers are located in the US, which might not be ideal for international clients seeking local servers for better latency.
  • 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.

Liquidweb
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Liquid Web is generally considered a good option for robust and managed hosting solutions. It consistently receives positive reviews for its performance and customer support.

Why this product is good

  • Liquid Web is praised for its high-performance hosting solutions, dedicated servers, and managed services that allow businesses to focus more on their operations rather than IT issues. The company provides excellent customer support, which is available 24/7/365, and is known for its reliability and uptime guarantees.

Recommended for

  • Businesses requiring reliable and robust hosting with excellent uptime guarantees.
  • Web developers and agencies needing managed hosting solutions with high-performance capabilities.
  • Enterprises looking for scalable hosting options with dedicated account management and support.
  • Online stores or ecommerce websites needing fast and secure hosting for optimal performance.

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.

Liquidweb 0 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

No Liquidweb videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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
Liquidweb
CloudLinux
94% 94%
6% 6%
92% 92%
8% 8%
92% 92%
8% 8%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

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Reviews and articles

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

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