Software Alternatives & Startups

PloudOS VS CloudLinux

Compare PloudOS VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

PloudOS

Why buy a server if you can get one for free? Get your own Minecraft Server for free today!

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, PloudOS seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 5 times since March 2021.

social mentions
5 vs 0
Hosting popularity
80% vs 20%

Base details

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

PloudOS
CloudLinux
Website ploudos.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

PloudOS 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • User-Friendly Interface
    PloudOS offers an easy-to-use interface, making it accessible for users without extensive technical knowledge to set up and manage their Minecraft servers.
  • Free Plan Availability
    The platform provides a free tier, allowing users to host a Minecraft server without any initial financial investment, making it an attractive option for beginners or casual players.
  • Customizability
    Users can customize their server settings and choose from multiple plugins and mods, enhancing the gaming experience according to their preferences.
  • Automated Updates
    PloudOS handles software updates automatically, ensuring that servers are running the latest versions without requiring manual intervention.
  • Community Support
    The platform has an active user community and resources that can provide support and guidance for troubleshooting and optimizing the server experience.

Possible disadvantages

  • Performance Limits on Free Plan
    The free tier of PloudOS may come with limitations on performance resources such as RAM and CPU, potentially affecting server stability and player experience.
  • Advertisements
    Free plans might include advertisements, which can be intrusive and detract from the overall server management experience for users hosting with no cost.
  • Limited Control
    Advanced users may find PloudOS lacking in the level of control over server configurations compared to more robust paid hosting solutions.
  • Reliability Concerns
    As a free service, there might be concerns about server uptime and reliability, especially during high traffic periods when server loads can increase.
  • Support Response Time
    Users on the free tier may experience slower response times from customer support, which can be frustrating if urgent assistance is required.
  • 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.

PloudOS
CloudLinux

No analysis of PloudOS yet.

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.

PloudOS 3 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

KOSTENLOS Minecraft Server MIETEN! (mit Mods/Plugins) - PloudOS Tutorial

More videos

  • - Como crear un servidor de Minecraft con PloudOS | Tutorial | Servidor Minecraft |
  • - "PloudOS" - Black.

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
PloudOS
CloudLinux
80% 80%
20% 20%
76% 76%
24% 24%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

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

Log in or Post with

Reviews and articles

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

PloudOS 5.0 · 3 reviews
CloudLinux no reviews yet
  • Best free server hoster
    SaaSHub review
    · May 2023

    I used multiple free hosters in the last few months and thats the best one i found so far.

  • 16 Multicraft Alternatives

    PloudOS is a web-based program that can offer its users the Minecraft service without taking any cost from them so they can enjoy it better than before. This platform can let its clients get the complete compatibility...

  • great server creator
    SaaSHub review
    · Nov 2021

    very simple to use. and if you're having trouble you can go to their discord and they will help you out. Much better than forge, more mod viarity and you can even reccomend mods on their discord.

View more

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.

PloudOS 5 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • I got my Oracle Cloud Account terminated, alternatives?
    Ploud is probably gonna be your bet bet for a free server; other then hosting it locally. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • What is a free server hosting service that supports all curseforge packs?
    I have also heard good things about PloudOS so you could try that, but keep in mind that most free hosting services like this or aternos will not perform well even on vanilla. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Minecraft Hamachi issue Internal Exception: java.net.SocketException: Connection reset
    PloudOS does have a hardcore setting, a seed input, and it's free. Https://ploudos.com/en/. Source: over 4 years ago

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to PloudOS and CloudLinux

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