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Plain VS CloudLinux

Compare Plain VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Plain

Fast, modern and flexible customer support for the companies defining the next decade. Instant setup, seamless to integrate, and built API-first.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium Free trial $89 / Monthly ("For 150 active customers")
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Alternatives Is it good?
CloudLinux

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

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
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SetMe
Remote support software that just works. Securely access attended or unattended computers from anywhere. sponsored
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.

Plain
CloudLinux
Website plain.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Freemium Free trial $89 / Monthly ("For 150 active customers") Official pricing
Open source
Company 10 - 19 employees · 2022 —
Listed in
Customer Support Customer Service Developer Tools Help Desk +1
Hosting Web Hosting Cloud Hosting VPS Hosting +1

About Plain and CloudLinux

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Plain
CloudLinux

Plain is an API-first customer service platform for modern tools. We want to bring engineering and customer service teams together by creating a modern opinionated platform that's built to be built with.

Read more about Plain

No description of CloudLinux yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Plain 0 features
CloudLinux 5 features

No features have been listed yet.

  • 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.

Plain
CloudLinux

Overall verdict

  • Plain is a solid, modern customer support platform that stands out for its developer-friendly approach, clean interface, and deep integrations with tools engineering-focused teams already use, making it a strong choice for B2B and technical companies.

Why this product is good

  • Developer-first design with a powerful API and SDKs for deep customization
  • Clean, fast, and modern interface that reduces clutter compared to legacy help desks
  • Native integrations with tools like Slack, Linear, and other engineering workflows
  • Unified customer context that pulls in data from your own systems
  • Built for B2B support with features tailored to account and company-level views
  • Strong focus on speed and keyboard-driven workflows for support agents

Recommended for

  • B2B SaaS companies with technical customers
  • Engineering-led and product-focused teams
  • Startups and scale-ups wanting a modern alternative to legacy help desks
  • Companies that want deep API-based customization and integrations
  • Support teams that live in tools like Slack and Linear

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.

Plain 3 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Plain Jane Hemp Review

More videos

  • - The Burning Plain Review
  • - Plain Jane Review!

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
Plain
CloudLinux
100% 100%
Customer Support
0% 0%
0% 0%
Hosting
100% 100%
100% 100%
Help Desk
0% 0%
0% 0%
VPS Hosting
100% 100%

User comments

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