Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Virtualmin VS cPanel

Compare Virtualmin VS cPanel and see what are their differences

Virtualmin logo Virtualmin

It includes numerous features not in the GPL version (like script installers, resellers, HTML editor, an improved UI, mobile access, spam and virus filtering).

cPanel logo cPanel

With its first-class support and rich feature set, cPanel & WHM has been the web hosting industry's most reliable, intuitive control panel since 1997.
  • Virtualmin Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-08-06
  • cPanel Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-18

Virtualmin features and specs

  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    Virtualmin offers a wide range of features including domain management, email management, backups, and server monitoring, making it a comprehensive solution for web hosting needs.
  • Open Source
    As an open-source platform, Virtualmin allows users to customize and modify the code to fit their needs, fostering a community-driven development model.
  • Integration with Webmin
    Virtualmin integrates seamlessly with Webmin, an advanced web-based interface for system administration, enhancing the overall capabilities and user experience.
  • Cost-Effective
    There is a free version available (Virtualmin GPL), making it a cost-effective solution for individuals and small businesses.
  • Security Features
    Virtualmin includes robust security features such as SSL support, user access controls, and regular security updates, ensuring safe server management.
  • Multi-Platform Support
    It supports multiple operating systems including various distributions of Linux, making it a flexible option for different server environments.

Possible disadvantages of Virtualmin

  • Complexity
    The extensive feature set can be overwhelming for new users or those without extensive technical knowledge, leading to a steep learning curve.
  • Performance Overhead
    Running Virtualmin, especially on low-resource servers, can result in performance overhead, affecting the overall speed and efficiency of the server.
  • Limited Community Support
    Compared to more popular alternatives like cPanel, the community around Virtualmin is smaller, which can make finding help and resources more challenging.
  • Paid Version Limitations
    Some advanced features and professional support are only available in the paid version, which might not be feasible for all users.
  • UI and UX
    The user interface and user experience of Virtualmin may not be as polished or intuitive as some of its commercial counterparts.
  • Dependency on Webmin
    Its reliance on Webmin can be a disadvantage if updates or bugs within Webmin negatively impact Virtualmin’s performance.

cPanel features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    cPanel offers an intuitive and easy-to-navigate graphical user interface (GUI) that is accessible even to those with limited technical expertise, making server management simpler.
  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    The platform includes a wide range of functionality such as email management, domain management, database management, file management, and security tools, which cover most needs of web administrators.
  • Wide Adoption and Support
    cPanel is widely used across the web hosting industry, ensuring plenty of community support, tutorials, and troubleshooting resources available online.
  • Compatibility
    cPanel is highly compatible with a variety of third-party applications and services, facilitating seamless integration with popular software solutions.
  • Automated Updates and Backups
    The platform supports automated updates and backups, enhancing server reliability and data security without requiring constant manual intervention.
  • Built-in Security Features
    cPanel includes robust security features such as automatic SSL installation, firewalls, and protection against brute-force attacks, aiding data protection and server defense.

Possible disadvantages of cPanel

  • Cost
    cPanel licenses can be pricey, especially for small businesses or individual users. This makes it a less attractive option for those looking to minimize their hosting expenses.
  • Resource Intensive
    The platform can consume considerable server resources, which might not be ideal for websites running on limited resources or shared hosting environments.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    While the basic features are user-friendly, more advanced functionalities might have a steep learning curve, requiring users to spend additional time gaining proficiency.
  • Limited Customizability
    Users with specific needs may find cPanel somewhat restrictive as it does not offer the same level of customizability as some other control panel solutions.
  • Dependency on cPanel Support
    In case of any issues or requirements for updates, users are often dependent on cPanel’s support and update cycle, which might not always be timely.
  • Security Vulnerabilities
    As cPanel is widely used, it becomes a more attractive target for hackers. Despite built-in security features, this widespread adoption can lead to potential security vulnerabilities.

Virtualmin videos

Virtualmin Introduction

More videos:

  • Review - Virtualmin Installation and Configuration with CentOS 7 on Vultr

cPanel videos

Web Hosting & CPanel Guide - How To Easily Upload Your Website

More videos:

  • Review - cPanel Alternative AaPanel Features & Review Free Hosting Panel [Official]
  • Review - WHM/cPanel Review

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Virtualmin and cPanel)
Hosting
14 14%
86% 86
Control Panels
21 21%
79% 79
Server Management
21 21%
79% 79
Cloud Computing
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Virtualmin and cPanel

Virtualmin Reviews

6 cPanel Alternatives
System administrators needing to separate a system into virtual machines (VMs) can install Virtualmin to manage partitioned Webmin accounts.
The Best cPanel Alternatives In 2021
Virtualmin is an extension of Webmin, which is a very popular system admin interface for Linux systems. It’s also one of the few free and open-source options on this list, although paid plans are also available in case you need more features.
Top 11 cPanel Alternatives to Help Manage Your Websites
You’re also able to extend Virtualmin using several applications and scripts for around 100 different products. That said, integration with the cloud is already included out of the box so that you can set up cloud storage with Amazon S3, Dropbox, Google Cloud, Rackspace, and more.
Source: kinsta.com
2020's Ultimate Guide to Web Panels: cPanel vs. Plesk vs. Webmin vs. Other Popular Hosting Management Tools
Virtualmin GPL is the core web control panel software with a solid feature set and a pleasant user interface. This product is also available in Webmin module form. Virtualmin offers four methods for managing your server: from the Web, mobile, command line, and through a remote HTTP API.

cPanel Reviews

  1. Best Reviews
    · Working at Best Reviews ·
    SPanel vs cPanel Comparison

    Both SPanel and cPanel have their unique strengths. SPanel excels in simplicity, speed, and affordability, making it ideal for VPS users seeking a lightweight and efficient control panel without breaking the bank. However, since it’s slightly younger on the market, it’s not yet compatible with many hosting providers.

    🏁 Competitors: SPanel

SPanel vs cPanel Comparison
cPanel supports a wide range of hosting environments, from shared to dedicated. Its control panel allows users to easily manage multiple websites, email accounts, databases, and more. Whether users are small businesses using shared hosting or enterprises running dedicated servers, cPanel provides the flexibility and scalability to match any hosting setup.
Source: bestreviews.net
Top 12 Best VPS Control Panels for 2025
cPanel and DirectAdmin are two of the most popular hosting control panels. The latter offers a user-friendly interface and the ability to manage your website’s administrative functions. It also provides access to a number of online resources. However, cPanel has a much larger feature set, making it the obvious choice for those looking for a control panel to manage their...
Forget cPanel! 5 Free cPanel Alternatives That Will Manage Your Web Apps
Choosing the right free cPanel alternative requires careful consideration of your specific needs and preferences. By assessing your requirements, considering ease of use, compatibility, community support, performance, security features, customization options, and gathering feedback from other users, you can make an informed decision.
Source: webshanks.com
Explore Top VestaCP Alternative: Find the Perfect Control Panel for Your Hosting Needs
cPanel SoloAdminProPremier$15/mo$27/mo$39/mo$59/moSuited for small businesses, freelancers, or anyone needing just one hosting account.Created for small to mid-level agencies and businesses, application developers, and web designers only needing a few accounts.Optimal for mid-level businesses and large agencies that are growing. Allows for scalability.Created for data...
Source: cyberpanel.net
10 Best cPanel Alternatives and Competitors in 2022 and Beyond
We all know the popularity of cPanel. The simplicity that cPanel offers is the reason why most of the web hosts prefer it. But you should know that there are several other cPanel alternatives and competitors that offer the same functions.
Source: macpost.net

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, cPanel seems to be a lot more popular than Virtualmin. While we know about 20 links to cPanel, we've tracked only 1 mention of Virtualmin. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Virtualmin mentions (1)

  • What is the best way to manage a large number of dev environments?
    If you want to keep the learning curve flat have a look at virtualmin. Source: over 3 years ago

cPanel mentions (20)

  • How to create a Node.js web server with cPanel
    Welcome to this article, where I guide you on creating your own Node.js Express web server with cPanel. This guide will apply for most domain registrars which offer hosting services with cPanel, such as Namecheap or Hostgator, but for this tutorial, we will be using Spaceship Shared Hosting. - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • The 2024 Web Hosting Report
    This category dates back to the “control panel” era of tools that are still used on shared VM hosts, such as cPanel. These tools automate common functions such as managing authentication, deployment of databases, etc. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • A few general questions about starting out.
    Most Likely scenario is that your client is using a service with something like cPanel setup. This is where they would get or set-up access credentials for you to then transfer the files via sftp. Essentially the same as copying files onto another hard drive, but over the internet. Source: almost 2 years ago
  • Cloud VPS cPanel/WHM
    There is a way. Go to cpanel.net and buy a cPanel Pro for 30 accounts or an admin for 5 accounts or a solo for 1 account only. Source: over 2 years ago
  • What according to u is Easy Linux distribution for hosting sites?
    If you aren't in this to learn a lot, you may want to also consider a web hosting control panel like cPanel (not free), DirectAdmin(not free), webmin + virtualmin (free for multiple sites, virtualmin Pro is not free), Centos webpanel (not FOSS but free for non-Pro), Hestia control panel (FOSS), Plesk Obsidian (not free). Source: over 2 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Virtualmin and cPanel, you can also consider the following products

Webmin - Webmin is a web-based interface for system administration for Unix.

Plesk - Plesk puts all the automation, security, and technical tools an IT professional needs in one simple and easy to use dashboard.

Vesta Control Panel - – What I love about Vesta is that it's fast and easy to use

Control Web Panel - (Former CentOS Web Panel) Free & PRO Linux Web Hosting Control Panel

Hostwinds - Hostwinds offers web hosting services and solutions.

CyberPanel - CyberPanel is web hosting control which is based on OpenLiteSpeed.