cPanel vs WHM – cPanel and WHM (Web Host Manager) are popular dashboards used to control servers and hosting accounts. Depending on your hosting service, you may have access to one or both of these powerful configuration tools.
Table of Contents
What is WHM?
WHM (Web Host Manager) is an administrative access tool for the backend of the cPanel account. With WHM, one can create a cPanel account to avail hosting accounts. Users can easily manage many a light to heavy sites with the help of WHM. Moreover, one can sell hosting services and manage multiple cPanel with the option to modify, upgrade or even downgrade an account and monitor usage of bandwidth as well.
What are the key benefits of WHM?
WHM allows users to access DNS zones of all the domains. It also allows users to create, delete and suspend cPanel accounts. Apart from its ability to configure and support customer requests through the cPanel, it also allows users to change domain and usernames of clients. With a total backend control over cPanel, WHM has many other benefits for Virtual Private Servers and Dedicated servers as well. They can be enlisted as follows:
- create individual accounts
- create custom hosting packages
- add domains to the server
- manage features of hosting packages and accounts
- reset passwords/contact email addresses for cPanel accounts
- edit Resource Limits for cPanel accounts
- modify DNS zone records for each domain/subdomain
- set up private nameservers on the server
- access resold accounts without entering login details
- perform basic system and control panel maintenance
- It allows assignment and whitelisting of IP addresses
- WHM allows users to install and manage SSL certificates with ease
- With WHM, one can get access to all the accounts inside. In addition to this, it also allows one to change the ownership of the account in case an account is sold or deleted
- Clients can receive newsletters, updates and deal upgrades via WHM
- WHM allows other websites to brand themselves with different WHM skins
- It also monitors the status of the server and resources
On the whole, WHM takes away the time spent on server administration and puts the focus on managing requirements of customers.
What is cPanel?
cPanel is an online control panel that helps users manage Linux hosting service. With the help of cPanel, a user can control administrative tasks of hosting such as creating a website, creating and managing emails, resetting passwords, setting mail forwards, managing add-on domains and subdomains, uploading and managing files etc
What are the key benefits of cPanel?
cPanel allows users to manage files with ease. It’s simple GUI (graphic user interface) acts as an enabler for managing system admins when you are not looking to use a website builder. This has made cPanel user-friendly in comparison to its peers and competitors. For the want of explaining its pluses in details, here is a list of the same:
- install CMS using Softaculous
- upload and manage files for their websites
- add/remove addon domains and subdomains
- create email accounts and manage email settings and SPAM protection
- edit DNS records for their domains
- check website statistics
- manage databases and backups, etc.
What is the difference between cPanel and WHM? (cPanel vs WHM)
After having gone through the key features of cPanel and Web Host Manager (cPanel vs WHM), let us dive into the differences among them. Since most of the information about cPanel vs WHM you have already acquired, it will become easier for you to figure out the differences between them. But to put forth the things into your onlook, here we have highlighted the principal points that show the differences between cPanel vs WHM:
| Factor | Web Host Manager | cPanel |
| 1. Controller | WHM is basically a reseller control panel. Many resellers utilize WHM to manage all the web hosting accounts of their reseller packages. | cPanel is the control panel which is utilized by the end customers under a web hosting provider. It is generally utilized by the customers to handle their own accounts. |
| 2. Access | The resellers acquire the root level access with the WHM. | cPanel only offers access to the web hosting accounts on the servers (to the users). |
| 3. Port Number | WHM functions through 2087, which is a secure port number. | cPanel on the other side, operates through 2083 as its secure port number. |
| 4. Password reset | The password details for WHM correspond to its cPanel accounts. That means, if you modify the password of your WHM, then the password of cPanel will also be changed. | The password for cPanel can be set by the end customers according to their choice. |
| 5. Domains | You can only add domains but not subdomains. | You can add or remove any domains and subdomains. |
How cPanel and WHM Work Together?
cPanel and WHM are both created by cPanel Inc. and are almost always sold together. cPanel is for the end users(the clients whose website you or your reseller hosts). Whereas, WHM is for the server administrators or resellers.
In order to install cPanel and WHM, your system must meet certain basic requirements. To know further about the system requirements, you can head to the cPanel website where you can check out the installation guide.
Conclusion
After examining the features and differences of the cPanel vs WHM, you must have comprehended that the characteristics of both of them are quite distinct from each other. They do operate in tandem. However, they also possess significant differences that can benefit discrete groups of end-users and resellers.
Therefore, you should think first of all about your needs, and which can suit the best for your web business before picking any from the options of cPanel and Web Host Manager (cPanel vs WHM) cPanel vs WHM
