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cPanel Features DirectAdmin Features cPanel vs DirectAdminBoth cPanel and DirectAdmin are full-featured hosting control panels. We offer both so you can choose - but we'll be straight with you: for most users, DirectAdmin is the better pick today. Here's why, and when cPanel still makes sense.
Industry's most recognized panel. Familiar to millions. Softaculous ecosystem. Premium license cost reflected in plan pricing.
Modern, fast, lighter on resources. All the core features. Significantly cheaper license - means lower hosting prices for you.
How the two panels stack up on the features that matter for shared and reseller hosting.
| Feature | cP cPanel | DA DirectAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| File Manager | ||
| FTP / SFTP access | ||
| Email hosting | ||
| Webmail | Roundcube | Roundcube |
| MySQL / MariaDB | ||
| phpMyAdmin | ||
| Cron jobs | ||
| DNS zone editor | ||
| Subdomains & add-on domains |
| Feature | cP cPanel | DA DirectAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| Free SSL (Let's Encrypt) | ||
| AutoSSL / auto-renewal | ||
| Two-Factor Authentication | ||
| CloudLinux LVE isolation (Included on CrownCloud) | ||
| Imunify360 (Included on CrownCloud) | ||
| ModSecurity WAF | ||
| DKIM / SPF auto-config |
| Feature | cP cPanel | DA DirectAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| PHP Selector (DA wider version range) | ||
| Per-domain PHP version | ||
| Custom php.ini per domain | ||
| Redis object cache (DA only - included free) | ||
| Opcache | ||
| Node.js / Python support | ||
| Git integration | Built-in | Built-in |
| Feature | cP cPanel | DA DirectAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| WordPress (Both use Softaculous) | Softaculous | Softaculous |
| Joomla, Drupal | ||
| Magento, PrestaShop | ||
| 380+ scripts (Softaculous on both) | ||
| App auto-update |
| Feature | cP cPanel | DA DirectAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| Reseller level panel | WHM | Reseller panel |
| Create / manage accounts | ||
| Custom resource packages | ||
| Bandwidth reports | ||
| Custom branding / logo | ||
| Private nameservers | ||
| WHMCS integration | ||
| API access |
| Feature | cP cPanel | DA DirectAdmin |
|---|---|---|
| Shared plans from | $5/mo | $5/mo |
| Reseller plans from | $15/mo | $5/mo |
| Locations | ATL · FRA | LAX · FRA |
| Hardware | SSD | SSD/NVMe · AMD Ryzen 9 |
The honest answer - not a sales pitch.
Why are DirectAdmin plans cheaper?
cPanel significantly raised its per-account licensing fees in 2019 and again since. DirectAdmin charges a flat server license - not per account. That means as a reseller adds clients, cPanel costs keep climbing while DirectAdmin does not. We absorb our license costs and reflect them honestly in plan pricing. On reseller plans the difference is significant - DirectAdmin reseller hosting at CrownCloud costs around 60% less than cPanel for the same disk space ($5/mo vs $15/mo on the entry tier), with unlimited client accounts.
Whether you're leaving a cPanel host or another DirectAdmin provider, our team handles the migration at no charge. We transfer your files, databases, emails, email forwarders, DNS zones, and SSL certificates. You just point your domain's nameservers at us when you're ready - we do the rest.
Every ticket answered by our own team. Average first response under 15 minutes, around the clock.
Whichever panel you pick, your account runs on CloudLinux with full LVE isolation and Imunify360 malware protection included.
Yes. Contact support and we'll migrate your account between panels - there's no lock-in. File and database structures are compatible between the two.
Ready to decide?
Both panels are live and taking orders. Pick the one that fits - upgrade any time.