Software Alternatives & Startups

Untangle VS CloudLinux

Compare Untangle VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Untangle

Untangle is a platform for deploying network based applications.

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, Untangle seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 4 times since March 2021.

social mentions
4 vs 0
Perimeter Security And Firewalls popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

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

Untangle
CloudLinux
Website untangle.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Open source
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Untangle 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Comprehensive Network Security
    Untangle offers a wide range of security features including firewall, VPN, web filtering, and intrusion prevention, which provide robust protection against various cyber threats.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Untangle's dashboard is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users without extensive technical expertise to manage and monitor network activity.
  • Scalability
    Untangle can be scaled to accommodate both small and large networks, making it a flexible option for businesses of varying sizes.
  • Customizable Apps
    Users can tailor Untangle's functionality to their specific needs by adding or removing apps from the Untangle App Center, allowing for a more customized security approach.
  • Detailed Reporting
    The platform offers detailed reporting and insights into network traffic and security incidents, helping administrators make informed decisions.

Possible disadvantages

  • Cost
    While Untangle offers a free version, some advanced features require a subscription, which can be costly for small businesses or individuals.
  • Hardware Requirements
    Running Untangle effectively may require dedicated hardware with sufficient resources, which can be an additional expense for some users.
  • Complexity of Advanced Features
    Some of Untangle's more advanced features can be complex to configure and manage, potentially requiring more technical expertise.
  • Limited Free Version
    The free version of Untangle has limitations in terms of features and support, which may not be suitable for those needing comprehensive protection.
  • Potential Learning Curve
    New users might experience a learning curve when first installing and configuring the software, especially if they are not familiar with network security concepts.
  • 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.

Untangle
CloudLinux

No analysis of Untangle 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.

Untangle 3 videos + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Untangle Firewall Review

More videos

  • - Firewall Comparison, Which Ones We Use and Why We Use Them: Untangle / pfsense / Ubiquiti
  • - How I use Untangle to Secure my Home Environment Pt.1

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
Untangle
CloudLinux
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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

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Reviews and articles

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

Untangle no reviews yet
CloudLinux no reviews yet

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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.

Untangle 4 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • What happened to Untangle
    I logged into untangle.com for the first time in a LONG time to see if there were any updates to reporting and was curious why it is now the Arista "Edge threat management" page! Did I miss something?? I don't recall any emails, etc... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Untangle NGFW site down
    Anyone else having this issue? untangle.com. Source: about 4 years ago
  • "Sign in with Google" is broken
    Not a valid origin for the client: https://untangle.com has not been registered for client ID 1091873417511-s8mjl92mst5n2i6ku8je0nekj3eqsroi.apps.googleusercontent.com. Please go to https://console.developers.google.com/ and register... Source: almost 5 years ago

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Untangle and CloudLinux

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