If you’ve ever managed a website, you’ve probably used cPanel, the most popular web hosting control panel for tasks like creating databases, email accounts, or cron jobs.
The problem with cPanel (and its main competitor, Plesk) is that it’s proprietary and paid software, usually included in shared hosting but not in dedicated or VPS hosting. Buying a separate license can cost $15–$45 per month.
So what if you want to run your site on a server without cPanel, but don’t want to use the command line for every task?
One option is to pay for cPanel or Plesk. The other is to use open-source alternatives you can install yourself, offering similar basic features for free.
Webmin + Virtualmin
Webmin lets you manage any Linux machine from a web interface. It’s a true control panel for system settings. To manage web hosting, install Webmin with Virtualmin for extra features. Both are modular, so you only add what you need.
CentOS Web Panel (CWP)
CentOS Web Panel is designed for CentOS and CloudLinux, not all Linux distros. Unlike Webmin, CWP is focused on hosting management. It has official documentation and even a cPanel migration guide. There’s also a paid version (CWPpro) with extra features, but it’s much cheaper than cPanel—just $12/year without support.
ISPConfig
ISPConfig is probably the best-positioned free cPanel alternative, with 40,000 downloads per month. It’s harder to install and use, but lets you manage multiple servers from one panel—something rivals don’t offer.
YunoHost
YunoHost is a bit different: it’s a full operating system for self-hosting, or you can install it as a toolset on Debian. It focuses on managing domains, backups, and especially easy installation of web apps like XMPP, WordPress, or Nextcloud.
