Plesk Alternatives: What are they?

A server for web hosting requires professional administration to ensure adequate security and stability for customers or your own website. Traditionally, this involves configuration done solely through text files and the command line on a Linux server or Unix server.

Control panels like Plesk, cPanel, ISPConfig, or Froxlor, and similar alternatives, provide a way to structure and visualise the complex process of manual configuration.

What sets Plesk apart?

The first version of Plesk was programmed by the Russian computer scientist Dimitri Simonenko in 2000 as an automated Control Panel on behalf of a US-based IT provider - making it one of the oldest tools for managing commercial web hosting. Currently (as of 2022), more than 380,000 servers worldwide use the software to manage over 11,000,000 websites and 15,000,000 email accounts. This positions Plesk as the market leader among alternative providers, enjoying exceptionally high popularity among medium and large IT providers, who use it as a control panel for commercial web hosting as well as dedicated servers and virtual private servers. Its key features include:

• Hierarchical structure with different user roles for administrators, resellers, web hosts, and customers
• Custom configuration of packages for different services
• Direct monthly or annual licensing or provisioning through the web host (more at Rent Plesk License)
• Availability of 32 different languages for the Control Panel
• Support for extensions through extensions, plugins, add-ons
• Three different editions with varying functionality and domain limitations
• Suitable for managing virtual and dedicated servers as well as a control panel for web hosting
• Compatible with various Linux distributions and Microsoft Windows Server
• Guaranteed Long Time Support (LTS) for operating systems until the end of their lifecycles (EOL)
• Automated installation for Content Management Systems (CMS) such as WordPress, Typo3, or Joomla

Due to its long-standing experience, expertise, functionality, and long-term strategic development, Plesk has established itself as the preferred choice over alternatives Control Panels for server management such as cPanel, Froxlor, ISPConfig, or Usermin, and despite strong competition in commercial use, it is often considered the industry standard. In terms of structure, interface, and functionality, Plesk is seen by many alternative providers as an unofficial model and often leads the way in introducing innovative changes and new features as the first control panel. Plesk is among the most popular cPanel alternatives.

Where are the main areas of application for Plesk?

Generally, Plesk and its alternatives act as a frontend with a graphical user interface (GUI) via a web interface, simplifying the configuration and administration of a server or providing customers with a comfortable web hosting experience as a control panel. Strictly speaking, they are less standalone applications and more systems for managing IT services. Plesk is more widespread than alternative tools because it is particularly popular with large enterprises and has built up a broad base of loyal customers due to its long history. The most important task and application area for the control panel is the administration of virtual and dedicated servers - in this category, Plesk has prevailed over alternatives as it offers very extensive customization options for services in packages alongside a clear user interface. Many major providers include it in their offerings because it simplifies management for less technically savvy users. By using Plesk, they enhance the security and performance of their products and reduce requests to internal support, which often involve technical configuration issues.

However, like many alternatives, Plesk has the option and potential to be used as a Control Panel for end customers in web hosting. It allows easy access to settings such as the Domain Name System (DNS), setting up subdomains under a single internet address, managing databases, or creating and accessing email accounts at lower levels. Additionally, as the interface can be customised with templates or own designs, many users use Plesk or alternatives without realising it. However, for simple, individual services like hosting a single domain or an email account, Plesk is not cost-effective due to ongoing licensing fees. In such cases, specialised, Open Source-based solutions like Squirrelmail, Horde, or Roundcube for emails, PhpMyAdmin and Adminer for managing MySQL or MariaDB databases, or Webmin for virtual and dedicated servers are usually preferred.

What are some Plesk alternatives with similar functionality?

Due to its versatility and popularity, many providers initially opt for Plesk. Alternatives such as cPanel, Froxlor, DirectAdmin (DA), or ISPConfig are often considered as a second choice for a Control Panel. However, this perspective can be deemed unfounded, as closer examination reveals equally viable options. This is especially true for smaller web hosting providers or server owners who do not operate as resellers or web hosts, but simply desire a straightforward and convenient administration. In such situations, open-source solutions like Froxlor, ISPConfig, and Webmin prove to be suitable alternatives to replace Plesk, as they do not incur additional costs due to their open-source licensing.

Compared to a proprietary, paid control panel like Plesk, alternatives based on open source may have a less design-focused interface and slight limitations in user-friendliness and intuitive operation. However, this does not necessarily mean a disadvantage, as each control panel requires a certain period of familiarisation and functionality is not necessarily restricted. In addition to these, there are also commercial solutions that can replace Plesk as alternatives with an identical range of settings and interface customisation options. The most important ones among them are DirectAdmin and cPanel, which also primarily target professional and larger web hosts.

Image credit: Gerd Altmann on Pixabay