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Published 6 months

VPS hosting has gained popularity among businesses and individuals who want a flexible, scalable, and cost-effective hosting solution. But more importantly, part of VPS management is the choice of the right control panel software. VPS control panel software enables a user to manage their server with ease without having to have advanced technical information. There are many VPS control panel software applications available, with their own sets of features, pros, and cons. In this article, we introduce you to some of the best VPS control panel software applications available on the market these days.

1. cPanel/WHM: This is perhaps the most popular control panel available on the market today, which you may consider for VPS hosting. This software is one of the easiest tools to use; the cPanel and Web Host Manager (WHM) combination makes server management on a VPS child's play. cPanel too provides a user-friendly interface that makes server management quite easy, even for beginners. Among its extensive features are domain, email account, and DNS management, as well as easy application installations, like WordPress. On the other hand, WHM is for server administrators, and with it comes many advanced features, such as server monitoring, security settings, and resource management. In brief, cPanel and WHM are an all-in-one solution for all things related to VPS management. Do remember that it is a paid solution and may not be suitable for someone working on a tight budget.

2. Plesk: It is another popular control panel that runs on a number of operating systems, such as Linux and Windows. Plesk has a neat and clean interface, which is intuitive and is feature-rich; this makes it an excellent option for both beginners and advanced users. In simple words, Plesk enables a user to manage their websites, mail servers, databases, etc. The standout feature of Plesk is that it integrates with numerous content management systems (CMSs), like WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. Plesk is fully compatible with Docker, Git, and other tools that developers use. Plesk comes in different but appropriate plans, very similar to cPanel.

3. DirectAdmin: DirectAdmin is a lightweight, inexpensive control panel that still carries all the functionality needed to manage a VPS. Not all the more overhead of fancy looks, it is appealing to those looking for a nice and plain and good user interface. However, this seeming simplicity is not a trade-off for functionality; it supports up to a multitude of features, ranging from site and email management to the DNS administration. DirectAdmin also supports a lot of languages, thus being fairly flexible for users around the world. Though, DirectAdmin is not free, but it, in general, is lower cost if compared to what a cPanel license would amount to.

4. Webmin: Webmin is a free open-source control panel that gives a wide range of functions to manage your VPS. This includes user accounts, disk quotas, software packages, and a huge lot of another server management. One of the main points that stands here about Webmin is its flexibility and extensibility. To it, many modules can be added, thus extending its functions. Working with Webmin is pleasant enough, but the interface is not as friendly as most paid-in-control panels, and that is why users with technical expertise may find it a better fit.

5. ISPConfig: Being free and open source in its base, ISPConfig came out with the primary purpose to offer a free control panel, that would be able to manage many servers from a single interface. It includes a lot of features, from the web server management, mail server management, and DNS management, to name but a few. ISPConfig is very customizable and can have diverse configurations according to your hosting environment. Its multi-server management capability is particularly useful for businesses managing several VPS instances. Although free, ISPConfig requires a bit more know-how to set up and handle compared to most of the other options on this list.

6. VestaCP: Vesta Control Panel, known as VestaCP, is yet another free, open-source web hosting control panel that is lightweight and quick. VestaCP boasts a clean and simple interface to manage websites, email accounts, DNS settings, and databases. It features built-in tools used to monitor the server, providing real-time statistics on the server's performance—helping the user to keep track of server load, memory usage, and other critical metrics. VestaCP is reported to have a number of paid support plans, though the actual panel is free to use.

The best VPS control panel software for you will be the one that best aligns with your degree of technical acumen, budget, and specific needs. cPanel/WHM and Plesk are great options for those who seek full-scale, user-friendly solutions, albeit not for free. DirectAdmin does a great job of providing a more budget-friendly option with the primary basics under its belt. Finally, Webmin, ISPConfig, and VestaCP are all great, open-source solutions for those who want something free of charge. Each control panel has its unique strengths and is suited for different user requirements. Evaluating your needs and trying out several options can help you find the best control panel to manage your VPS effectively.