What is cPanel? How to use cPanel in WordPress hosting?

By Techie Teacher Last updated Mar 26, 2024

cPanel functions as a vital web hosting control panel, empowering users to handle various website and server tasks directly from their hosting accounts. These tasks include monitoring web server resources like bandwidth, managing domain names, organizing website files, creating email accounts, and more.

It is widely utilized by numerous hosting providers, offering an accessible solution for users to manage their hosting affairs without requiring command-line expertise or technical knowledge. Instead, users can utilize a user-friendly Linux-based graphical interface (GUI) accessible through their web browsers.

Upon purchasing a hosting plan, users typically receive an email from their hosting service containing a link to access their cPanel login, facilitating seamless entry into their hosting management interface.

What Features Does cPanel Offer for Website Management?

cPanel provides crucial functionalities within its user-friendly interface for effectively managing your WordPress site, including:

Various app installers enabling the setup of content management systems like WordPress and Joomla.
Access to the file manager for adding, editing, and removing web files.
Access to MySQL database and phpMyAdmin.
Capability to manage and create new FTP accounts for website access via FTP.
The Domains section for managing subdomains, addon domains, redirects, and similar functions.
A DNS zone editor for overseeing DNS records.
And many additional features.

Is cPanel Free?

cPanel is not offered for free as it is a third-party application. Nevertheless, many hosting providers include cPanel in their hosting plans without additional charges. Some providers may offer cPanel for free during the initial year, then introduce fees for subsequent years.

It’s noteworthy that due to the escalated pricing of cPanel, several web hosting companies are contemplating a shift away from cPanel to alternative website control panels.

Is cPanel Private?

Certainly, your cPanel account is private. It’s important for website owners to keep their cPanel dashboard username and password secure to protect their website information and settings.

How to Log In to cPanel

Here are the steps to log in to your hosting account’s cPanel from your web browser:

Open your web browser and type in the URL for your cPanel login page. This URL is typically provided by your hosting provider and will resemble something like http://yourdomain.com/cpanel or https://yourdomain.com:2083.
If you have a new website and the DNS records haven’t propagated yet, you can use the IP address instead. Accessing your cPanel via IP would look like this: https://10.10.10:2083.
Once you’ve entered the URL, a login screen will appear, prompting you to enter your username and password. These credentials are usually the same as those used for your hosting account.
Enter your cPanel username and password into the appropriate fields.
Click the ‘Log in’ button to access your cPanel dashboard.
If you encounter difficulties logging in or if you’re unsure of your cPanel URL, contact your hosting provider’s support team for assistance. They can provide you with the correct URL and help you reset your password if needed.
If you prefer to use a different language in the cPanel interface, select your desired language from the list at the bottom of the cPanel login screen.
Before logging in to cPanel, consider bookmarking your cPanel page for easy access in the future.

Best cPanel Hosting Services

It is crucial to choose a WordPress hosting service that offers cPanel. When selecting a web host, consider factors such as reliability, performance, customer support, features, and pricing.

Some of the top web hosts utilizing cPanel include:

Bluehost: Renowned as one of the oldest web hosting companies, Bluehost offers automatic WordPress installs, a complimentary domain name and SSL certificate, along with 24/7 support. They are officially recommended by WordPress as a hosting provider.
HostGator: Known for its one-click WordPress installations, HostGator guarantees 99.9% uptime and provides round-the-clock support. They are considered one of the premier web hosting providers for businesses.
GreenGeeks: GreenGeeks offers one-click WordPress installations, free site migration, a complimentary CDN, and excellent support. Notably, GreenGeeks is environmentally friendly and hosts over 500,000 websites.

How to Install WordPress on cPanel

To install WordPress on cPanel, you can utilize one of the available one-click app installers such as Fantastico, Quickinstall, or Softaculous. The process requires just a few simple steps, allowing you to swiftly proceed with building your WordPress site.

What Is Managed WordPress Hosting?

Managed WordPress hosting is a specialized hosting environment designed specifically for WordPress websites. It offers superior levels of performance, security, and support.

Websites hosted on managed WordPress hosting platforms typically load faster, receive automatic updates, benefit from daily backups, and have access to expert support from WordPress professionals. The higher cost of managed WordPress hosting is attributed to the hosting provider’s management of the website environment.

Should You Use a Managed WordPress Platform?

Managed WordPress hosting is an ideal option for small to medium-sized businesses or blogs that already experience a high volume of visitors.

Businesses and popular blogs with substantial traffic stand to gain the most from a managed WordPress plan. This is because such entities prioritize customer service and content creation, necessitating a hassle-free, high-performing website.

However, if you are a beginner or just starting a blog, managed WordPress hosting may not be necessary.

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Where Is cPanel in Managed WordPress Hosting?

In a managed WordPress account, cPanel is typically not available as the web host handles fundamental website hosting duties.

Managed WordPress hosting encompasses tasks such as WordPress installation, server-level caching management, website backups, and handling WordPress core updates.

Managed hosting providers such as WP Engine and LiquidWeb utilize their own control panels instead of the standard cPanel.

Where Is cPanel in VPS Hosting?

In Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, cPanel may not come pre-installed by default, particularly if you’re using a VPS from a provider that doesn’t include it in their standard package.

Nevertheless, many VPS providers offer cPanel as an optional feature that you can either install during the initial setup or at a later stage.

Here’s what you can do to find or install cPanel on your VPS:

Check with your provider: Reach out to your VPS hosting provider to inquire if cPanel is available for your plan. Some providers offer cPanel as an optional service that you can activate.
Installation during setup: During the initial setup of your VPS, you might have had the opportunity to install cPanel. If you missed this option, you may need to reconfigure your VPS or seek assistance from the provider’s support team.
Manual installation: If your provider supports it, you can manually install cPanel on your VPS. This typically involves downloading the installation script from the official cPanel website and executing it on your server.

What Is the Difference Between cPanel and Web Host Manager (WHM)?

Interface	Description
User Interface	This is the interface that end-users interact with. It allows them to manage their websites, email accounts, databases, and other services related to their hosting account.
Web Host Manager (WHM)	This is the server management interface used by a hosting provider’s staff. WHM provides a wide range of tools for managing multiple cPanel accounts, setting up new accounts, configuring server settings, and more.

FAQ’s

What features does cPanel offer for website management?

cPanel provides various functionalities within its user-friendly interface for effectively managing your WordPress site, including app installers, access to the file manager, MySQL database management, FTP account creation, domain management, DNS zone editing, and more.

Is cPanel free?

cPanel is not offered for free as it is a third-party application. However, many hosting providers include cPanel in their hosting plans without additional charges, while some may offer it for free during the initial year and then introduce fees for subsequent years.

Is cPanel private?

Yes, your cPanel account is private. It’s important for website owners to keep their cPanel dashboard username and password secure to protect their website information and settings.

How do I log in to cPanel?

To log in to cPanel, open your web browser and enter the URL provided by your hosting provider. Then, enter your username and password on the login screen, and click the ‘Log in’ button to access your cPanel dashboard.

What are some of the best cPanel hosting services?

Some top web hosts utilizing cPanel include Bluehost, HostGator, and GreenGeeks. These providers offer various features such as automatic WordPress installs, domain name and SSL certificate, and round-the-clock support.

What is managed WordPress hosting?

Managed WordPress hosting is a specialized hosting environment designed specifically for WordPress websites. It offers superior performance, security, and support, including automatic updates, daily backups, and expert support from WordPress professionals.

Should I use a managed WordPress platform?

Managed WordPress hosting is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses or blogs with high traffic. However, if you are a beginner or just starting a blog, it may not be necessary.

Where is cPanel in managed WordPress hosting?

In managed WordPress hosting, cPanel is typically not available as the web host handles fundamental website hosting duties using their own control panels.

Where is cPanel in VPS hosting?

In VPS hosting, cPanel may not come pre-installed by default, but many providers offer it as an optional feature that you can install during setup or later on.

Conclusion

cPanel is an essential tool for managing web hosting tasks efficiently. While not always free, it’s widely included in hosting plans. Its user-friendly interface simplifies website management, making tasks like domain management and file organization accessible to all users. However, availability may vary in managed WordPress and VPS hosting environments. Overall, cPanel remains a fundamental component in web hosting, empowering users and providers with its versatile features.