cPanel vs WordPress Hosting: Which One is For You?

cPanel vs WordPress: Choosing the right web hosting can be overwhelming when you encounter cPanel hosting and WordPress hosting. Don’t worry—we’ll break it down for you.

You’re setting up your website. Do you want an all in one control panel where you can manage files, emails and databases? Then cPanel hosting might be the way to go. Or do you want a no hassle experience, specifically for WordPress, with automatic updates and built in security? If so WordPress hosting is the way to go.

Each hosting type serves different purposes so the right choice depends on how much control, customization and ease of use you need. In this guide we’ll break down cPanel vs WordPress hosting, the key differences and help you decide which one is best for your website.

cPanel hosting is a general web hosting with a control panel to manage websites, emails and databases. WordPress hosting is optimized for WordPress sites, faster, more secure and WordPress specific support. cPanel is flexible for multiple CMS platforms, WordPress hosting is for users who are only using WordPress.

cPanel is a Linux-based control panel to help you manage your web hosting. It’s a user-friendly interface to control everything from file management, email accounts, databases, security settings and website backups all in one place. Whether you’re using WordPress, Joomla or any other CMS, cPanel hosting gives you full control over your website settings.

cPanel Hosting Features:

• File Manager – Upload, edit and manage your website files.
• Email Management – Create and manage custom email accounts with your domain.
• Database Management – Manage MySQL databases and PHPMyAdmin access.
• Security Features – Install SSL certificates, manage firewalls and password protected directories.
• One-Click Installers – Install WordPress, Joomla and other CMS with Softaculous or Fantastico.
• Backup and Restore – Schedule automatic backups for your website data.

Pros

• Graphical interface.
• Supports multiple CMS platforms including WordPress, Joomla and Drupal.
• Full control over hosting settings and server configuration.
• Built-in security tools like firewalls and SSL management.
• One-click CMS installations for quick website setup.

Cons

• Requires some technical knowledge to configure.
• Can be overwhelming for beginners with too many features.
• cPanel shared hosting can have performance issues if not optimized.
• More expensive than basic WordPress hosting.

WordPress hosting is a specifically designed web hosting service to improve performance, security and management of WordPress websites. Unlike generic hosting, WordPress hosting is tuned to the needs of WordPress, so sites load faster, are more secure and auto update.

There are different types of WordPress hosting, shared WordPress hosting, managed WordPress hosting, VPS WordPress hosting and dedicated WordPress hosting, each with different performance, price and level of control.

Features of WordPress Hosting

• Pre-installed WordPress – no need to install manually, quick and easy setup.
• Optimized for speed – servers are fine tuned for faster loading times and better resource allocation.
• Auto updates – WordPress core, themes and plugins are updated automatically.
• Enhanced security – built in malware protection, firewalls and anti-brute-force measures.
• Daily Backups – automated backups so you never lose your website data.

Pros

• Beginner friendly with no technical setup required.
• Faster loading times due to server level WordPress optimisation.
• Auto updates for security and site performance.
• WordPress support for easy troubleshooting.
• Backups and security monitoring.

Cons

• Only for WordPress websites – not for other CMS.
• Less flexible than cPanel hosting.
• Some providers restrict plugin usage for security reasons.
• More expensive than shared cPanel hosting.

When choosing between cPanel hosting and WordPress hosting, you need to know the differences. Below is a comparison of their features to help you decide which one is best for you.

1. Management

cPanel Hosting:

• cPanel is a general purpose hosting control panel that allows you to manage multiple Content Management Systems (CMSs) like WordPress, Joomla, Magento, Drupal, and custom PHP applications.
• Full control over website files, databases, emails, domains and other server settings.

WordPress Hosting:

• WordPress hosting is optimized for WordPress only.
• Pre-installed WordPress and tools to make website management easy for non-technical users.
• Server settings are tuned for WordPress performance and security.

2. Ease of Use

cPanel Hosting:

• Require some technical knowledge as you need to setup databases, FTP settings, file management and email accounts.
• Softaculous or Fantastico for one click WordPress installation but requires more setup.
• More flexibility in website management but you need to configure many settings manually.

WordPress Hosting:

• Designed for ease of use perfect for beginners with no technical background.
• Pre-installed WordPress so you don’t have to deal with setup complexities.
• Simple dashboard to manage WordPress themes, plugins and updates without needing access to a complex control panel.

3. Customization

cPanel Hosting:

• Full control over server settings, software installations and performance tuning.
• Can customize PHP versions, database configurations and install various applications.
• Suitable for advanced users and developers who need control over their hosting environment.

WordPress Hosting:

• Limited customization since it’s built for WordPress.
• Server settings are pre-configured so you can’t modify certain server level settings (e.g. PHP limits, caching settings or database configurations).
• Best for users who want an optimized and hassle free hosting environment rather than deep customization.

4. Security

cPanel Hosting:

• Security must be configured manually by you.
• You need to install SSL certificates, configure firewalls, enable malware protection and setup security plugins.* Not secured if not managed properly.

WordPress Hosting:

• Has built in security like firewalls, malware scanning, DDoS protection and SSL.
• Auto updates for WordPress core, themes and plugins to prevent security vulnerabilities.
• Some managed WordPress hosting providers offer daily backups and auto threat detection.

5. Performance Optimization

cPanel Hosting:

• Manual performance tuning required (caching, db optimization, CDN config).
• Performance is user dependent.
• Can install performance optimization plugins but requires knowledge of caching and db optimization.

WordPress Hosting:

• Pre-optimized for WordPress, fast loading times and smooth functionality.
• Built-in caching mechanisms, CDN, db optimization.
• Servers are designed to handle WordPress workloads.

6. Best For

cPanel Hosting:

• For developers, advanced users and businesses that want full control over the hosting environment.
• For websites using multiple CMS (e.g. WordPress, Joomla, Magento).
• For users who need custom config and server control.

WordPress Hosting:

• For bloggers, small business and non-tech users who want a hassle free WordPress experience.
• For users who want automatic updates, built-in security and performance without dealing with technical complexity.
• For those who only use WordPress and don’t need extra hosting flexibility.

No, cPanel is not needed for WordPress hosting. Many hosting providers offer custom panels that are simpler and more optimized for WordPress users. While cPanel is a popular control panel, managed WordPress hosting usually eliminates the need for it by taking care of performance, security and updates for you.

When Do You Need cPanel?

• If you want full control over your hosting settings, including file management, email setup and database access.
• If you manage multiple sites with different CMSs (e.g. Joomla, Magento, Drupal) as cPanel supports multiple applications.
• If you need to create and manage custom email accounts linked to your domain or configure databases manually.

When Can You Skip cPanel?

• If you prefer a simpler, user friendly interface built for WordPress users.
• If you don’t need to configure hosting settings manually as managed WordPress hosting takes care of security, backups and performance optimizations for you.
• If you want automatic updates, built in security and premium support without dealing with complex control panel settings.

Looking for a cPanel alternative? Here are some great options:

1. Managed WordPress Hosting

• Fully managed WordPress experience with automatic updates, backups, security, and performance optimizations.
• No cPanel needed since everything is handled in a simple dashboard.

Examples: Rocon

2. Custom Hosting Control Panels

• Some hosting providers replace cPanel with their own dashboards for a more streamlined experience.
• Designed for beginners to make WordPress easy to manage.

3. Cloud Hosting for WordPress

• Cloud hosting lets you manage your server environment without cPanel.
• Better scalability, performance, and reliability for growing sites.
• Looking for an easy to manage WordPress hosting without the cPanel hassle? Managed WordPress hosting or cloud hosting might be the way to go.

Choosing between cPanel hosting and WordPress hosting depends on your needs and skill level. If you want full control over your hosting environment, need to manage multiple CMSs, and have the technical expertise to configure things, cPanel hosting is the way to go. But if you prefer a hands free experience with performance, automation and security, then WordPress hosting is the better choice.

Rocon—a managed WordPress hosting solution that takes care of security, performance and scalability so you don’t have to. Rocon is for agencies and businesses that need high availability, AWS powered infrastructure and expert WordPress support. With scalable Kubernetes hosting, managed databases and automatic security updates, Rocon makes sure your **mission critical sites run smoothly.

Want to try managed WordPress hosting without the complexity of cPanel? Try Rocon for free for one month!

1. Is cPanel free with WordPress hosting?

Not always. Some hosts include cPanel for free, others charge extra. Managed WordPress hosting doesn’t use cPanel and has a custom dashboard.

2. Can I install WordPress on cPanel?

Yes! Most cPanel hosts offer 1-click WordPress install using Softaculous or Fantastico.

3. Do I need cPanel for WordPress hosting?

No, cPanel is not required for WordPress hosting. Many WordPress specific hosts use custom control panels designed for WordPress management.

4. Which is better: cPanel or WordPress hosting?

It depends on you:

• cPanel hosting is for users who need full control, multiple CMS support and advanced configs.
• WordPress hosting is for beginners, bloggers and businesses who want ease of use, security, and performance.

5. Can I switch from cPanel hosting to managed WordPress hosting?

Yes, you can migrate your WordPress site from cPanel hosting to managed WordPress hosting. Many hosts offer free migrations to help you transfer your site smoothly.