Navigating the cPanel Price Surge: Your Options
As a long-standing cPanel Partner, we’ve been using cPanel for over a decade. However, when Oakley Resources acquired cPanel last year, we anticipated changes. Although a price increase was expected,
As a long-standing cPanel Partner, we’ve been using cPanel for over a decade. However, when Oakley Resources acquired cPanel last year, we anticipated changes. Although a price increase was expected, the extent of the recent announcement was surprising.
Understanding the cPanel Price Increase
On June 27, 2019, cPanel announced a significant price hike and a shift in their billing structure by introducing account-based billing. While we anticipated a slight increase, similar to Microsoft’s periodic 10-15% hikes, the average rise of close to 100% across our user base caught everyone off guard. In some cases, customers are facing up to a 20-fold increase, forcing them to rethink their business models. With just two months to adapt before the new pricing takes effect on September 1, time is of the essence. Here’s a guide to help you navigate these changes.
Consider this real-world example: Previously, a company paid $200 annually for unlimited accounts on a virtual cloud instance. Under the new model, cPanel charges $45 per month for the base license limited to 100 accounts, with each additional account costing $0.20 monthly. For a company managing 1,400 accounts, this translates to a new monthly fee of $305, skyrocketing their annual cost from $200 to $3,660—a staggering 1730% increase. Many businesses can’t absorb such costs and must explore alternatives.
Exploring Alternatives to Manage the cPanel Price Increase
Switch to a Different Control Panel
Partner with a cPanel NOC for Discounts
Adapt to the Price Increase by Revising Business Models
While the third option depends heavily on individual business circumstances, we’ll focus on the first two alternatives.
Transitioning to a cPanel Alternative
Switching control panels might seem daunting, but it can be simpler than expected with the right choice. The market offers four main options: cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, and Interworx. Each has its merits and drawbacks in this context.
Plesk
We advise against switching to Plesk because it is also owned by Oakley Resources, the same entity behind cPanel’s price changes. If you’re leaving cPanel due to Oakley’s business practices, Plesk might not be a better alternative.
DirectAdmin
DirectAdmin offers several advantages over cPanel, including a straightforward pricing model of $29 monthly or $200 annually, supporting unlimited domains and accounts. DirectAdmin also promises protection against price increases and is generally lighter and simpler. However, it lacks some features and integrations of cPanel and has a less polished interface. Importantly, there are limited tools for migrating from cPanel to DirectAdmin, which could pose challenges given the tight timeline.
Interworx
Our preferred alternative is Interworx, which is more modern than cPanel, offering enhanced clustering capabilities and a user-friendly interface. It includes Nodeworx (similar to WHM) and Siteworx (comparable to cPanel), but is more intuitive and mobile-friendly. Although fewer features mean enhanced functionality, you can still accomplish most tasks, including using command-line tools without disrupting the control panel. Interworx integrates seamlessly with major billing platforms and essential server software. Crucially, migrating from cPanel to Interworx is a built-in feature, accessible via the “Import” function in Siteworx.
For a smooth transition, partner with Steadfast for comprehensive migration support and an Interworx license priced at $8 monthly on public cloud hosting accounts, or $10 and $20 monthly on Linux dedicated servers, depending on domain limits. Visit the Interworx website for more control panel screenshots or request a free two-week demo license.
Partnering with a cPanel NOC for Discounts
In the earlier example, the pricing was based on direct licensing from cPanel. However, partnering with a cPanel NOC, like Steadfast, can secure special partner pricing. For instance, instead of paying $305 monthly, the company in our example could save $117 per month (a 38% savings), reducing costs to $188 monthly. In many cases, we can help clients save at least 20% on cPanel licenses.
By exploring these options, you can effectively manage the impact of the cPanel price increase and make informed decisions for your business’s future.