Struggling to choose a web hosting control panel for your business? This guide will give you the necessary knowledge to make an informed decision
We live in a world that is dominated by virtual entities and how they portray themselves. Today, having a website or an application is not a luxury, but a necessity for doing business. Most businesses will develop their online presence well before starting their brick-and-mortar shops. However, just having a website is not enough, after getting one you need to effectively manage it and this is where control panels come in. Such user-friendly interfaces contain all the tools you may need to manage your website, domain, email addresses, servers, and so much more from a centralized source.
However, there are currently hundreds if not thousands of web hosting control panels in the market. Choosing the right fit can be stressful, given the fact that you need to look for software that perfectly aligns with your business needs. But have no fear, to help you is why I am here. Today, this guide will give you the necessary knowledge to make an informed decision. We will talk about important considerations to make when exploring web hosting control panels while offering some helpful tips.
Web Hosting Control Panel Functions: A comprehensive Overview
In lamen terms, a web hosting control panel is a graphic interface that makes website and application management all the more easier. Try to picture a central dashboard, that you can use to do various tasks for your website, without needing to write any form of code or interact with servers.
Here are some common functionalities of a web hosting control panel:
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Domain Management:
Add, remove, and manage your domain names.
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File Management:
Upload, edit, and organize website files using a file manager.
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Email Management:
Create and manage email accounts for your business.
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Database Management:
Create and manage databases used by your website applications.
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Security Features:
Implement security measures to protect your website from malware and unauthorized access.
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Software Installation:
Install popular applications like WordPress or Joomla with a few clicks.
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Performance Monitoring:
Track website traffic and performance metrics.
These are just some examples and features that a control panel may offer. Most have plenty more to offer.
What to Consider When Choosing a Web Hosting Control Panel
Now that we have covered the main functions of control panels, let us dive into the key factors one needs to consider while choosing the best web hosting control panel for their needs:
Ease of Use
If you are new to managing websites and applications through a control panel, then look for a user-friendly UI with clear navigation. Look for online materials such as documentation, tutorials, customer support availability, and its community.
Features
See what features the control panel offers and match them with your website requirements. For instance, if you plan to run an e-commerce store, then features such as shopping cart integration would be useful.
Security
Never make a compromise on security. Look for control panels that have regular updates, user control access features, firewalls, and responsive customer service. For open source control panels, look for active community members.
Scalability
Ideally, your business will grow with time and so will your website. Hence, choose a control panel that can be scaled to accommodate the increased demands and functionality.
Cost
Your budgeting is important, it ensures that your business functions properly. With web hosting control panels, you will find multiple payment plans. Moreover, you will also come across many free open-source options as well.
Compatibility
Many control panels are specifically built for Linux systems. Hence be careful when doing your research. Make sure that the control panel you choose is compatible with your web hosting infrastructure and your operating system.
Community Support
An active online community can be a god sent in certain hours of need. You can get valuable insights, especially for open source solutions that have no customer support. It is also a valuable source for troubleshooting issues. Look for control panels that have active forums and an updated knowledge base.
Mobile Compatability
Today’s world is completely dominated by mobile devices. So look for a control panel that can also be used on mobile devices, so you can handle your websites and servers on the go.k
Third-Party Integration
Does the software have integration options for other software such as marketing tools, CRM systems, and analytics? Consider what software you want to integrate and look for options that are compatible.
Some Popular Web Hosting Control Panels:
Here is a list of some of the more popular web hosting panels in 2024
CyberPanel
Another industry leader that offers various types of plans to suit various needs. What users like most about this control panel is the scalability it offers and its 24/7 fast support. Moreover, it can be used on various platforms including Windows and Linux systems.
cPanel
An industry leader that is famous for its user-friendly interface and its various features. Offering a wide range of add-on options, it is a popular choice for beginners.
Plesk
Another popular company, that is known for its robust scalability and functionality. Plesk is mostly used by agencies that handle various websites simultaneously.
DirectAdmin
A free web hosting control panel for small scale businesses and websites that have low traffic. It is a cost effective option, especially for new comers.
Virtualmin
Another open source control panel that offers users the ability to customize the code according to their needs. But this one is not for the amateurs, it requires some level of server administration experience.
Interworx
Formerly known as CentOS Web Panel, this free open source software offers loads of features, but it is only compatible with Linux servers.
Additional Options
There are several control panels that are specifically designed to cater to specific needs such as Ashay for cloud hosting and ISPmanager for Linux based users. Do your research if your aim is to improve one specific area of your website or applications.
FYI: This is by no means exhaustive, these are mere examples, there are hundreds of control panels out there.
Final Thoughts
I will leave you guys with some more additional advice as we close this chapter. Once you are familiar with what a control panel is and what functionalities are required for your business. It is high time to make a decision. You will be surprised by how useful reading online reviews can be and how many users happily share their experiences with what they liked and what they did not. Another thing to consider is availing of the free trial, if things go fine and dandy during the trial invest in the control panel, if not then not. But only do this when you have the room to work with, as downtime of servers can often last hours.
