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Best Free and Open Source Web Hosting Control Panels

Web Hosting is a type of Internet hosting service that allows you as an individual or an organization to make websites accessible via the Web. So, if you are looking for a way to start hosting websites for your customers and yet you have a limited budget to start, then you are reading the right type of information here. In this article, we discuss top Open Source Web Hosting Control Panels that you can use to kick off your idea and make your customers 99.99% online.

For Commercial offerings, check Best Commercial Web Hosting Control Panels – Cpanel Alternatives

1. Warren.io

Warren listing

Warren is a complete self-service platform for cloud and hosting providers.

The platform is provided as a managed service, which means that the Warren team handles all of the maintenance and updates. This frees up your team to focus on your core business activities. New updates are deployed twice a month, which ensures that you are always running on the latest version of Warren with no downtime or disruption of service.

Here are some of the competitive edges of using Warren:

  • High availability and reliability: Warren is designed to be highly available and reliable, with a multi-cluster architecture and a distributed storage system. This means that your applications will be up and running even if there are hardware failures or network outages.
  • Scalability: Warren is scalable, so you can easily add or remove resources as needed. This makes it a great choice for businesses that are growing or that need to be able to handle spikes in demand.
  • Cost-effectiveness: Here are some of the benefits of Warren’s revenue sharing business model: No upfront costs, Low ongoing costs, Shared risk, Motivated partner.
  • Ease of use: Warren is easy to use, with a user-friendly interface that makes it easy to manage your day to day operations. 
  • Hourly resource usage metering: Warren provides hourly resource usage metering, so you can track your costs and optimize your usage.
  • Support for local payment gateways: Warren can support local payment gateways, so you can accept payments from customers in different countries.
  • Admin and operations: Providing Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) is more than just managing hardware and technical matters. It also involves handling abusers, providing efficient support, automating onboarding, and resolving payment issues. Warren has made significant efforts to help clients manage the service as a whole, with a high degree of configurability.

If you are a cloud or hosting service provider, Warren is a great option for you. It is a reliable, scalable, and cost-effective solution that can help you grow your business. 

2. Ajenti

ajenti

Ajenti has four main products: Ajenticore, Ajenti 2, Ajenti 1.x and Ajenti V. Ajenti 1.X is a Server Admin Panel used by users to administer their servers. Ajenti V is a plugin suite for Ajenti 1.x, which adds fast, efficient and easy-to-setup web hosting capabilities.

Features of Ajenti (Source Ajenti GitHub)

  • Easy installation: Ajenti is installed through your system’s package manager. Installation only takes a minute.
  • Existing configuration: Picks up your current configuration and works on your existing system as-is, without any preparation.
  • Caring: Does not overwrite your config files, options, and comments. All changes are non-destructive.
  • Batteries included: Includes lots of plugins for system and software configuration, monitoring and management.
  • Extensible: Ajenti is easily extensible using Python. Plugin development is quick and pleasant with Ajenti APIs.
  • Modern: Pleasant to look at, satisfying to click and accessible anywhere from tablets and mobile.
  • Lightweight: Small memory footprint and CPU usage. Runs on low-end machines, wall plugs, routers and so on.

Ajenti V adds the following features to your Web Hosting Experience:

  • Easy web hosting: Ajenti V makes website setup easy – including app servers, database, and routing.
  • Multiple Language support: PHP (PHP-FPM), Python (WSGI), Ruby (Puma and Unicorn) and Node.js are supported.
  • Mail: Automatic configuration of Exim 4 and Courier IMAP, including virtual e-mails, DKIM, DMARC, and SPF.
  • CLI interface: Includes tools for CLI control, deployment, and CI integration.

With other features available for you after installation, you can rely on Ajenti to host your websites including those of your clients. Get more information on the link below

3. Sentora

Sentora

The Sentora team describes this product as a free to download and use web hosting control panel developed for Linux, UNIX, and BSD based servers or computers. They continue to say that Sentora software can turn a domestic or commercial server into a fully-fledged, easy to use and manage web hosting server. This product is written in PHP and utilizes various other GNU/open-source software packages such as Apache HTTPd, PHP, Dovecot, Postfix, ProFTPd, and MariaDB.

Features of Sentora

  • Multi-client environment: Each client can log in and manage their web hosting via Sentora’s fully customizable control panel.
  • Quota management: Sentora enables the user to create and manage any number of services such as mailboxes and domains.
  • Integrate with the API: You can connect your corporate web site or billing system directly to Sentora. The API enables a seamless link for third-party applications and sites.
  • Want modules?: If you are looking to extend the functionality of Sentora then look no further than its App store’. They provide a simple platform where module developers can publish their modules and Sentora users can ‘single click’ install them.
  • Resellers: Sentora provides the ability for you to offer ‘reseller’ accounts enabling your clients to resell your hosting in a ‘white-label’ environment.
  • Brand it your way!: Sentora provides its own template system enabling you to download custom themes or even make your own enabling you to brand your control panel to your company.
  • Speaking your language: Sentora is used all over the globe and although their team speak English they provide translations packs for almost every language!
  • Community built: Sentora actively promotes members of the community getting involved.
  • Technologies: Out of the box, Sentora works with the following: Apache, HTTPd, PHP, ProFTPd, MySQL/MariaDB, Postfix and Dovecot.

If you are impressed or inspired, head over to Sentora’s Web Page to find out more information about installations and configuration.

4. CentOS Web Panel

CentOS Web Panel

CentOS Web Panel is a Free Web Hosting control panel designed for quick and easy management of servers (Dedicated & VPS) minus the all-consuming work and effort to use ssh console for every time you want to do something. The Platform offers a huge number of options and features for server management in its control panel package.

Features of CentOS Web Panel

CentOS Web Panel has so many features and we provide some of them on the list below:

Webserver Features

  • Apache from source
  • Varnish Cache Server
  • suPHP & suExec
  • Mod Security & OWASP rules
  • Nginx Reverse Proxy
  • Rebuild Apache vHosts
  • Status & Configuration

PHP Features

  • PHP version switcher
  • php.ini per user account
  • php.ini Editor, FFMPEG
  • PHP Addons (one click)
  • PHP ReCompiler (one click)
  • CloudLinux + PHP Selector
  • CWP PHP Selector (FREE)

User Management

  • Add, Edit, Remove Users
  • User Monitoring
  • Shell access management
  • CWP Limits (Process num, OpenFiles, Quota, Inodes)
  • CloudLinux Limits per user
  • User FTP & File Manage

Easy DNS Management

  • FreeDNS (DNS server)
  • Add, Edit, List and Remove DNS zones
  • Edit nameserver IPs
  • DNS zone template editor
  • Easy DNS Zone Manage
  • DNS Zone List Resolver

Security

  • CSF Firewall, CageFS
  • SSL Certificates
  • Mod Security + OWASP rules
  • suPHP & suExec
  • File System Lock Mod
  • Shell Access Manager
  • Security Limits per User

MySQL Database

  • MySQL Database Management
  • Local or remote access user
  • Live Monitor MySQL process
  • MySQL server configuration
  • PhpMyAdmin
  • Create, Remove database
  • PostgreSQL, phpPgAdmin

You can find more features of CentOS Web Panel on their Web Page.

5. Virtualmin

install virtualmin centos8 16

From Virtualmin’s website, Virtualmin is a powerful and flexible web hosting control panel for Linux and BSD systems. Available in an Open Source community-supported version, and a more feature-filled version with premium support, Virtualmin is the cost-effective and comprehensive solution to virtual web hosting management. This platform is unique because it has been built on top of, and integrated with, Webmin. This sets Virtualmin apart from other control panels by providing a comprehensive systems management UI, in addition to virtual web hosting capabilities. Features include:

Security

Virtualmin provides a number of tools to help you keep your systems and your data safe. It allows the use of Webmin’s two-factor authentication, certificate logins, brute force protection, and many other security features.

Alerts, Graphs, and Logs

Virtualmin provides easy viewing and searching of system and web server logs, advanced monitoring and email/text alerts for services and network status.

User and Reseller Accounts and ACLs

Delegate common administrative tasks to your customers and end-users, empowering them and freeing you and your IT staff from the tedious chores of managing websites, databases, domains, and users.

Backups And Cloud Integration

Virtualmin makes it easy to keep good backups of your websites, databases, mailboxes, and more, and makes it easy to migrate to a new Virtualmin server.

Install Scripts

Virtualmin GPL provides easy to install web applications for database management, webmail, WHMCS, and more.

Virtualmin can satisfy most of the needs that customers need. Whether it is security or all of the features enumerated, Virtualmin does a good job. For more information on the capabilities of this platform, please visit Virtualmin Web Page.

6. ISPConfig

ISPConfig Control Panel on Ubuntu 22.04 3

ISPConfig is a widely-used Open Source Hosting Control Panel for Linux, licensed under BSD license and developed by the company ISPConfig UG. ISPConfig has many features that make it one of the most used hosting platforms. Some of these features include:

It is Single and Multi-Server

  • Manage one or more servers from one control panel.
  • Single server, Multiserver and Mirrored Clusters.
  • No matter if it is a physical server or virtual machine, ISPConfig just works.

Supports Many Linux Distributions

  • Debian 5 – 10
  • Ubuntu 8.10 – 18.04
  • CentOS 5.2 – 7
  • Fedora 10 and 12 – 15
  • OpenSuSE 11.1 – 12.3

ISPConfig has Support For Many Daemons

  • HTTP: Apache2 and Nginx
  • SMTP: Postfix
  • POP3/IMAP: Courier and Dovecot
  • FTP: PureFTPD
  • DNS: Bind, PowerDNS, and MyDNS
  • Database: MySQL

Four Access Levels

  • Administrator
  • Reseller
  • Client
  • Email Login

To get more information about installation, other features and documentation, visit ISPConfig’s Web Page and get inspired.

7. Vesta

vesta

Vesta control panel is an open-source hosting control panel. It is a software platform that can be used to manage multiple websites. Moreover, Vesta can be used to create and manage DNS records, email accounts, FTP accounts, and MySQL databases. Vesta confirms it has the fine touch of a Softaculous auto installer that is able to install more than 439 apps with one click. Let us look at the features that Vesta holds:

Features of Vesta

  • Simple & Clever Hosting Control Panel
  • Security: Built-in firewall resolves all common issues including fail2ban to block brute force
  • Internationalization: Web interface is adapted to 26 languages and regions around the world.
  • Monitoring and Logging: Bould In web site analytics system, Server Stats including Monthly based Vesta usage report.
  • Backups: Out of the box you have a powerful backup system integrated.
  • CLI Interface: Vesta gives you full terminal control at your fingertips.
  • Databases: Support for MySQL plus phpMyAdmin and PostgreSQL plus phpPgAdmin
  • Web: NGINX + Apache NGINX + PHP-fpm Apache
  • Internationalization: Web interface is adapted to 26 languages and regions around the world.
  • Monitoring and Logging: Bould In web site analytics system, Server Stats including Monthly based Vesta usage report.
  • Backups: Out of the box you have a powerful backup system integrated.
  • CLI Interface: Vesta gives you full terminal control at your fingertips.
  • Databases: Support for MySQL plus phpMyAdmin and PostgreSQL plus phpPgAdmin
  • Web: NGINX + Apache NGINX + PHP-fpm Apache
  • Security: Built-in firewall resolves all common issues including fail2ban to block brute force

Feel free to visit Vesta’s Space on the Web to check out more than they reveal about this hosting platform.

8. Froxlor

froxlor

Written in PHP, Froxlor is a lightweight free and Open Source server management panel. This panel can be used for creating and managing shared web hosting servers.

Features of Froxlor

  • Resellers & Customers: Manage reseller resources and limit what the customers may use in the dedicated customer panel.
  • PHP-configuration: It can save different PHP-configurations and choose per domain which php.ini should be used (FCGI/FPM only).
  • Advanced SSL: Determine which ports should use SSL and allow customers to store certificates per domain.
  • Let’s Encrypt: Use free certificates from Let’s Encrypt directly from within Froxlor.
  • API based: Access all major functions via API to gain full control over your hosting.
  • Advanced SSL: Determine which ports should use SSL and allow customers to store certificates per domain.
  • Traffic calculation: Store dedicated HTTP, FTP, and Mail traffic and view it in interactive graphs.
  • True Multistack: Choose per domain which IPv4 and/or IPv6 addresses and which ports should be used.

There is more about Froxlor, visit Froxlor Web Page to gain more insights, read its documentation and install for your use.

9. BlueOnyx

BlueOnyx a fully-integrated Internet hosting platform that includes web, email, DNS and file transfer services from a simple, user-friendly web-based interface that is easily installed on commodity hardware or virtual private server. It is an Open Source initiative that will always be free to download, install and use.

Highlighted Features of BlueOnyx

  • Provides an enterprise Linux with a control panel for virtual hosting.
  • Optional Chrooted Jails with SFTP or SSH access.
  • IPv4, IPv6, and dual-stack support.
  • Easy to install via provided ISO images.
  • Reseller management to allow resellers to create virtual sites and users.
  • Ability to host an unlimited amount of virtual sites, mailing lists, and users.
  • Docker integration via the GUI (BlueOnyx 5209R or newer)
  • Brute Force Login detection and prevention mechanisms (pam_abl).
  • Ability to import/export emails for each user via Imapsync.
  • Very detailed email statistics via a modified Sendmail-Analyzer.
  • Built-in Webalizer for detailed web-based traffic analysis.
  • Subdomain management.
  • JSP support already built-in with an improved GUI.
  • GUI to modify SSHd settings, to generate and manage SSH keys and certificates.

There are more features and other delicacies hidden in BlueOnyx’s Web Page. Please spend some time to visit and experience it firsthand.

Conclusion

Get your web hosting right with the right panel suitable for your needs. Never let your customers down. We hope this article sheds some light and pointed you in a direction you would wish to follow. Thank you for spending time visit and read. Other interesting guides are listed below just for you.

More guides:

Calisto Chipfumbu
Calisto Chipfumbuhttp://cchipfumbu@gmail.com
I have 5 years' worth of experience in the IT industry, primarily focused on Linux and Database administration. In those years, apart from learning significant technical knowledge, I also became comfortable working in a professional team and adapting to my environment, as I switched through 3 roles in that time.
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