What is the difference between Plesk and cPanel?

The key difference between them is that Plesk is compatible with both Linux and Window servers; while cPanel functions only with Linux servers. cPanel has a graphic interface which is easy to navigate as compared to Plesk which has a user interface similar to WordPress. 

In this article, we will cover the strengths and weaknesses of Linux cPanel and Windows Plesk so that you can decide which control panel is best for you.

Ready to see who becomes the ultimate winner in the battle of control panels?

Let’s begin.

Following is the quick comparison of key features of cPanel vs Plesk-

Plesk Oynx vs cPanel 2019 Market Share 

1. cPanel creates a domain every 6 seconds and a hosting account every 14.5 seconds.
2. More than 50% of the top 100 worldwide service providers use the Plesk control panel.
3. It powers more than 10 million websites and applications.

Plesk vs cPanel: Which is better?

How to decide whether cPanel or Parallels Plesk is right for you? There are a few factors to consider:

1. User Interface
2. Support
3. Features and Tools
4. Security
5. Operating System
6. Backup
7. Price

User Interface

Plesk

Plesk Oynx offers Redesigned UX/UI with modern JavaScript technology. Its control panel is similar to the WordPress admin panel.

Key Features:

• Beginners friendly
• Clean user’s interface
• Easy to locate every feature

cPanel

In cPanel for Linux, every item is grouped into sections. Files, Database, Domain, Email, Metrics, Security, Software, and Applications are the different section you will see on your cPanel dashboard.

Key Features:

• Graphical User Interface
• Similar features are grouped together
• Allows you to customize your dashboard

Support

Official support is a crucial point to consider before making any decision. If in case something goes wrong, you need someone to assist you at any given time.

Plesk Support

• You can call or chat Plesk Support 24*7 without paying any fee.
• If you are not their customer, you can ask questions on their official forum or social media channels.

cPanel Support

• You can raise support tickets on cPanel Support. 
• Call their Customer Service (Central Standard Time- Mon-Fri 6AM-6PM; Sat-Sun 6AM-4PM)
• To get emergency support, you have to pay $65 for one incident.

Features and Tools

Plesk

• Secure WordPress with One-click.
• Plesk hosting is virtually OS agnostic. It works with both Linux and windows
• Get Support for Docker on Linux with over 200,000 Docker images.
• These can be launched from within the web hosting control panel.
• It is also compatible with Git, but you will have to use the Gitman extension.

cPanel

• Install cPanel & WHM in Less than 5 Minutes
• One-Click HTTPS Redirection of Websites
• Build Node.js Applications
• Imunify360 added to Security Advisor
• SpamBox by default on new cPanel accounts

Note:- Plesk supports both Nginx and Apache Web Servers whereas cPanel currently supports only apache web servers.

Security

Security is the prime concern of any web user. The platform you choose needs to be entirely secure, and both these control panels go an extra mile when it comes to security.

Plesk

Plesk control panel supports many security extensions like Immunity 360, Fail2ban intrusion prevention, and active directory integration. Both free and paid versions are available for these extensions.

Key Features:

• Security patches within 24 hours.
• You can secure your domains by configuring DNS and DNSSEC.
• It offers both Let’s Encrypt or Symantec SSL.
• Automated healing and recovery functionality to resolve technical issues without needing skilled support.
• Turn on SSL and HTTP/2 for all your websites at one click with Plesk Security Advisor.

Other than that you also get the following security options in your dashboard:-

cPanel

Some of the most famous security extensions offered by cPanel include Automatic installation of SSL certificate, IP address denials and password protected directories. Protect your machines and your customers with cPanel Security.

Key Features:-

• Blacklist or whitelist individual IPs or entire regions and countries
• Deploy SSL certificates to sites across your server network
• Encrypt all outbound messages
• Offer multi-factor authentication to customers
• Allows easy third-party integration

Operating System

Plesk is compatible with both Linux and Window servers; however, cPanel functions only with Linux servers.

Plesk

It is a cross-platform program and runs on multiple OS. These include

• Debian
• Ubuntu
• CentOS
• RHELLet’s see how the backup support differs in Plesk vs. cPanel:
• Cloud Linux
• Amazon Linux
• Virtuozzo Linux
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP

Note:- You have to buy a Plesk option for the specific OS you are using. One cannot buy it for a single software suite and then use it on multiple machines that have different operating systems.

cPanel

cPanel only functions with Linux. It can run on following operating systems:-

• CenOS
• CloudLinux
• Red Hat Enterprise Linux
• Amazon Linux

Backup

Both platforms offer fantastic support and security, but you never know when you will need a backup. Let’s see how the backup support differs in Plesk vs. cPanel:

Plesk

Plesk offers 2 types of backup:

Complete backup which includes all data regardless of the time when the data was last updated and Incremental backup that only contains data that has changed since the previous backup.

Use of Incremental backups minimizes the time of backup operation and the disk space occupied by backup files. These backups can either be stored in the internal Plesk storage or external FTP storage.

Key Features:

• You can schedule backups.
• Allows you to Back up the entire server
• Offers advantage of backing up individual user accounts/subscriptions.

Latest Feature:- You can secure sensitive data in your backups by using password protection.

cPanel

cPanel offers 3 types of backup:

Compressed, where all the information is saved in a compressed format and uses less disk space. Uncompressed, which takes more disk space but run faster than compressed, and  Incremental backups that use hard links to save disk space.

Key Features:

• Offers daily, weekly, and monthly backups.
• Allows scheduling and retention.
• By default, the system saves backup files locally to the /backup/ directory.

Note:- cPanel & WHM does not include an interface to restore system backup files.

Price

Both cPanel and Plesk have different price plans according to the services they offer. Do review the descriptions of what you’re buying to make sure that you’re getting the right option for you.

Plesk

Plesk offers 3 different plans for VPS and Dedicated Servers.

Key Features:

• If you manage more than 20 Servers, then you can apply for their partner program., it
• The monthly payment option is also available.
• Extra discounts if you opt for Annual Plans.

cPanel

cPanel offers 3 options, Solo, VPS, and Dedicated. You can pay on a monthly or yearly basis.

Key Features:

• More than 30% Special Partner Discount.
• The monthly payment option is also available.
• Extra discounts if you opt for Annual Plans.

Plesk or cPanel for WordPress

Plesk Panel is similar to the WordPress Dashboard. Hence if you know how to work on the WordPress Dashboard, then you can easily manage Plesk Oynx control panel. It also offers inbuilt WordPress toolkit to make its installation hassle-free. cPanel also offers click installation of WordPress.

Plesk vs. cPanel: Which is better?

The web hosting control panel you choose plays a crucial role in how you interact with your server. It is because your control panel is what gives you the features you’re going to require for your project.

1. cPanel is very popular as it is simple to use and works with Linux-based servers, which power the majority of the Internet.
2. Plesk is a better option if you’re looking to stay with a similar control panel when using multiple servers.
3. The control panel of Plesk has separate licenses for 10-30 websites, and it works out to be cheaper if you have fewer sites.
4. But if you have a large number of sites, then cPanel can be a more affordable option.
5. If you are a beginner and just starting with a website, we recommend Plesk over cPanel.

We offer both cPanel and Plesk to power websites around the world. Request a chat with us, or leave a comment below if you need further assistance.