Software Alternatives & Startups

PM2 VS CloudLinux

Compare PM2 VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

PM2

Advanced, production process manager for Node.js

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
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.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, PM2 seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 61 times since March 2021.

social mentions
61 vs 0
Monitoring Tools popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

PM2
CloudLinux
Website pm2.keymetrics.io cloudlinux.com
Pricing —
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

PM2 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Process Management
    PM2 provides efficient process management, allowing you to easily start, stop, and restart applications. It handles the daemonization of processes and ensures that all your services run continuously.
  • Monitoring & Logging
    PM2 offers robust monitoring and logging features, providing real-time metrics on CPU and memory usage, along with comprehensive logging to help debug issues and monitor application performance.
  • Cluster Mode
    PM2 supports cluster mode, enabling you to run multiple instances of your application to utilize multi-core systems effectively, thereby improving performance and handling more traffic.
  • Easy Deployment
    With PM2, deployment is simplified through built-in functionalities like management of environment variables and automatic startup scripts, making it easier to deploy applications across environments.
  • Platform Agnostic
    PM2 is platform-agnostic and can be used with diverse environments and languages, though it is optimized for Node.js applications, offering flexibility to manage various types of applications.

Possible disadvantages

  • Overhead
    While PM2 is lightweight, it can add some overhead, particularly in smaller or simpler applications where its full range of features may not be necessary.
  • Configuration Complexity
    For new users or simple applications, PM2's configuration options may seem complex, with a steep learning curve to understand and leverage all available features effectively.
  • Memory Usage
    PM2's memory usage can be higher compared to more minimal solutions, which might be a concern for resource-constrained environments or small-scale projects.
  • Limited to JavaScript by Default
    Although you can manage other types of applications, PM2 is primarily designed for Node.js, so managing non-JavaScript applications could require additional effort or wrappers.
  • Potential Issues with Large Projects
    In some cases, PM2 may face challenges scaling very large projects due to its process management design, requiring more thorough testing and configuration tuning.
  • 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.

PM2
CloudLinux

No analysis of PM2 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.

PM2 3 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

The Spyderco Paramilitary 2 (PM2) Pocketknife: The Full Nick Shabazz Review

More videos

  • - Cut or Carry: Spyderco PM2 ParaMilitary 2 Review
  • - Spyderco Paramilitary 2 S110V Long-Term Review (Best value PM2?)

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
PM2
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using PM2 and CloudLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

PM2 61 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • Build a Discord bot with discord.js v14: app setup, your first slash command and keeping it online
    A VPS or home server with a process manager. Pm2 is a popular choice for Node:. - Source: dev.to / 15 days ago
  • The hosting setup nobody talks about anymore
    At this point we have a few options to handle our Nuxt site. We could just copy the dist folder over, install node, and use something like pm2 to manage the node process. While this works, I find it a little brittle. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago
  • JavaScript Awesome Package
    PM2 - PM2 is a daemon process manager that will help you manage and keep your application online 24/7. - Source: dev.to / 9 months ago

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to PM2 and CloudLinux

When comparing PM2 and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.