DirectAdmin vs cPanel: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Your overall web hosting experience depends on the control panel features and usability, so you must choose it carefully. When it comes to web hosting, cPanel and DirectAdmin are the most popular and versatile control panel options out there.

However, choosing between these two panels might be tricky, and you might get into the tiniest details. As we know, the fee for web hosting is continuously increasing, regardless of the higher competition and variety of alternatives available.

Well, selecting the perfect web hosting control panel requires you to understand the functionalities, performance, accessibility, and features of different alternatives available. This post will have a detailed discussion on DirectAdmin vs cPanel hosting that discusses the differences and similarities between both control panels. So, let’s get right into it.

What is cPanel?

It is a UNIX-based web hosting control panel used by one of the biggest hosting companies. Using this control panel, the user can easily handle the management function effortlessly. The best thing about this control panel is that it is very easy to work on, regardless of your technical abilities.

It is used for both small and large-scale hosting projects that allow you to manage the cloud packages of your server. This control panel has made website administration super easy through automation and an intuitive interface. The user can effectively perform tasks using its point-and-click graphical user interface.

It allows the customers to see the web stats through cPanel server management. So, you can even access your cPanel components using any browser.

What is DirectAdmin?

This control panel goes very well with all sorts of hosting accounts. It offers a lot of administrative options for effective management. It is a web-based panel that is known for its speed and use. It has a graphical user interface designed for browser-based web hosting management that comes with a dedicated computer for higher convenience.

It allows the admin to add or remove information from the DA server and modify the MX setting. Clients can also develop, remove, or acquire sub-domain information. It can be used as an alternative to a file transfer protocol that is easy to use and fast.

It is an ideal option to keep website development and maintenance more convenient and faster. Using this control panel, you can quickly develop, change, and uninstall MySQL conveniently.

Features

cPanel’s features

cPanel is rich in features that cater to various user needs.

It offers an extensive range of functionalities including email management, file management, domain management, and database management among others.

cPanel also supports a plethora of plugins and add-ons, expanding its capabilities further.

Pros

• Simple installation and ease of use.
• High performance and robust email management functionalities.
• Huge community and excellent support.
• Regular updates ensuring access to the latest features.
• Easy WordPress website management.

Cons

• Can be overwhelming for beginners due to the extensive feature set.
• Somewhat resource-intensive, which may not suit smaller hosting setups.
• Proprietary software, thus lacks the flexibility of open-source solutions.
• Higher cost, especially for managing multiple websites (with multiple accounts).
• No built in account/file isolation.

DirectAdmin’s features

DirectAdmin provides a solid core of essential features necessary for server and website management.

While it might not have as extensive a range of features as cPanel, it covers the basics well.

It also supports various plugins, although the ecosystem is not as vast as cPanel’s.

Luckily with recent updates, DirectAdmin has added a lot of new usability (pro pack) including built in user isolation, meaning if one users account gets compromised, the whole server doesn’t get compromised. That’s a very big benefit. With cPanel, you would have to pay for CloudLinux separately.

They’ve also recently improved their built in auto-installer and WordPress management possibilities, so there are some significant improvements happening over at DirectAdmin.

Pros:

• Easy to use, especially for beginners.
• Light on resources, ensuring smooth operation even on smaller servers.
• Regular updates, ensuring a stable and up-to-date user experience.
• Affordable pricing with a straightforward feature set.
• Built in user isolation.
• Easy WordPress website management.

Cons:

• Limited feature set compared to cPanel, requiring command line for some configurations.
• Smaller community and less popularity may lead to fewer resources for troubleshooting.
• Navigation can be harder compared to cPanel.

Major DirectAdmin vs cPanel Hosting Differences

DirectAdmin and cPanel are both web hosting control panels, but they have some differences in terms of user interface, features, licensing, and system requirements. Here are some major differences between DirectAdmin and cPanel:

1. User Interface:
   • DirectAdmin: Known for its simplicity, DirectAdmin has a clean and straightforward interface. It may be considered less feature-rich compared to cPanel, but some users appreciate its ease of use.
   • cPanel: cPanel has a more extensive and visually appealing interface. It provides a wide range of features and tools, making it suitable for both beginners and advanced users.
2. Features:
   • DirectAdmin: While DirectAdmin offers essential features for website management, it may have fewer built-in applications and integrations compared to cPanel.
   • cPanel: cPanel is known for its rich feature set, including a wide variety of tools for file management, email, databases, security, and more. It also provides a marketplace for additional third-party applications.
3. Licensing:
   • DirectAdmin: DirectAdmin typically has a lower licensing cost compared to cPanel. Some hosting providers may choose DirectAdmin for its cost-effectiveness.
   • cPanel: Historically, cPanel had a pricing structure based on a per-account model, which caused some controversy. However, they later introduced a more transparent and scalable pricing model.
4. Resource Usage:
   • DirectAdmin: Generally considered to be lighter on system resources, DirectAdmin may be a preferred choice for users looking for a control panel that has a lower impact on server performance.
   • cPanel: cPanel has traditionally been considered resource-intensive, which could be a factor for users on servers with limited resources. However, advancements have been made to optimize performance.
5. Customization:
   • DirectAdmin: While DirectAdmin is customizable to some extent, it may have fewer customization options compared to cPanel.
   • cPanel: cPanel provides a higher degree of customization, allowing users and hosting providers to brand the control panel with their own logos and themes.
6. Community and Support:
   • DirectAdmin: DirectAdmin has a user community and support system, but it may not be as extensive as cPanel’s due to cPanel’s widespread popularity.
   • cPanel: cPanel has a large user community, extensive documentation, and a wide range of third-party tutorials and support resources.

Which one is better- DirectAdmin or cPanel

We cannot really determine between these two panels for being better. It all depends on your hosting needs. Both the panels are user-friendly and can be used easily with little learning about them.

All you need to know is that in the performance and user interface area, we can say that DirectAdmin tops other control panels. But when it comes to supporting and security, you can totally depend on cPanel for these services.

But overall, both the panels lack as well as are advantageous in some places, so it becomes equal.

Hence, all you need to do is sort your hosting requirements and choose the one which suits them better.