cPanel is an online (Linux-based) web hosting control panel. It provides an easy to use dashboard to manage domain names, email accounts, DNS, databases, web files, and popular website CMS apps like WordPress.
cPanel is popular and often bundled into web hosting services provided by many website hosting companies. Currently, cPanel holds an estimated 17.81% market share https://www.datanyze.com/market-share/hosting-control-panels–463/cpanel-market-share[/efn_note] among hosting control panels. This makes it an industry leading web hosting control panel.
cPanel is comprised of two interface layers:
- WHM (Web Hosting Manager)
- cPanel (Control Panel)
The WHM interface is web hosting provider facing, it allows web hosting companies (or their resellers) to manage website hosting customer accounts, software, and servers.
The cPanel interface is used by web hosting customers to manage their website hosting services.
The two layer interface supplied by cPanel makes it a good fit for both web hosting companies and their customers.
Access cPanel
There are a few different ways to login to your cPanel account.
One of the easiest ways is to use the following cPanel login link:
https://yourdomainname.com/cpanel
Make sure to replace ‘yourdomainname.com’ with your actual domain name.
Once you go to that cPanel login URL, you’ll see the following screen:
On the cPanel login page, enter your cPanel username and cPanel password to login. Once you’ve logged in, you will be directed to the main cPanel interface to manage your web hosting account.
You can also use an alternate cPanel login link:
https://yourdomainname.com:2083
Make sure to replace ‘yourdomainname.com’ with your actual domain name.
Once logged in, you’ll be redirected to your cPanel interface.
If you’ve recently migrated your website to a new web hosting company and you’re running into errors logging into your cPanel account, this may be due to DNS propagation.
A workaround to get into your new cPanel account is to create a link using the new server’s IP Address.
To use an example, if the server IP Address at your new web host is 203.43.9.231, you could login to cPanel using the following links:
https://203.43.9.231/cpanel
https://203.43.9.231:2083
It’s possible you hit an SSL certificate error on your browser while trying to connect this way, this is because IP Addresses cannot have SSL certificates.
If that happens, once you login to your cPanel interface, a secure and encrypted connection will be restored.
cPanel Hosting
Many web hosting companies provide cPanel on their web and WordPress hosting plans.
WordPress integrates with cPanel through a software called Softaculous, which provides WordPress installation, staging, and cloning tools in addition to single sign on.
We have tested several cPanel hosts on pricing, stability, service, and customer support. All of these cPanel hosting companies offer WordPress and cPanel integrations to make it easy to build your website and manage components of your web hosting service.
Our top picks for cPanel hosts are:
Skystra
Skystra is a WordPress and WooCommerce specialized hosting company that provides fast performance and excellent customer service. They consistently rank as our top host on our best WordPress hosting list. They provide cPanel, preinstalled WordPress, free SSL certificates, free email, and free CDN integration across all of their web hosting plans.
Read our full Skystra review to learn more about Skystra.
Bluehost
Bluehost is a popular beginner friendly web hosting company. They provide cPanel, easy to use 1-click WordPress, a free domain name, free SSL certificate, and free email on their web hosting plans. They are a great web host when you’re on a budget or looking to build your first website.
Read our full Bluehost review to learn more about Bluehost.
HostGator
HostGator is a cPanel host that offers shared and WordPress hosting services. It is a popular web host for beginners and those looking affordable services. HostGator provides a free domain name, free SSL certificate, and free email bundled into their hosting plans.
Read our full HostGator review to learn more about HostGator.
Install WordPress on cPanel
cPanel hosting companies use a software called Softaculous, which provides 1-click WordPress management tools.
If you use a cPanel host, you can follow these step by step instructions to install WordPress on your cPanel account.
Step 1 – Add your new domain name to cPanel by creating an addon domain or subdomain.
Step 2 – Once you’ve created your new domain name* on cPanel, scroll down to the Softaculous or App Manager and click on WordPress. Depending on where you host, this may have a different name, however, it will be located closer to the bottom of your cPanel interface.
*Note: If you’ve created an addon domain name, make sure to update your DNS.
Step 3 – This will redirect you to the WordPress management interface in Softaculous, click on the Install Now button to install WordPress on your new domain name.
Once you’ve installed WordPress, you’ll be able to login to your WordPress dashboard using the single sign on ‘Login’ button.
cPanel FAQ
cPanel is a popular web hosting control panel and we get a lot of questions about it. Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about cPanel.
If you have any other ones you’d like us to include, leave a comment below.
Is cPanel Free?
cPanel is a paid third-party software. You can get cPanel for free or a very reduced cost by hosting your services at a cPanel host. We recommend Skystra, Bluehost, and HostGator as the best cPanel hosting companies.
If you are running your own server, you will have to pay for cPanel, starting at $15 per month for a single cPanel account license.
Do all web hosting providers use cPanel?
Although cPanel is a popular web hosting control panel, not all web hosting companies use cPanel. Some web hosting companies use cPanel competitors while others have their own custom web hosting control panel.
What are the best cPanel alternatives?
The world of web hosting control panels has consolidated over the last few years, however, there are many viable cPanel alternatives.
The most popular cPanel alternatives are:
Do I need cPanel to use WordPress?
WordPress and cPanel are completely independent and separate softwares. As a web hosting control panel, cPanel provides an easy to use management layer for WordPress. You do not require cPanel to use WordPress, however many WordPress hosting companies will provide you with both.
