cPanel is the control panel that comes standard with our shared hosting and reseller hosting plans, and it’s what you’ll use to manage nearly every day-to-day part of your web hosting account. Below is a rundown of the cPanel features you’ll actually use, from file management to security.
File Management
Among the most-used cPanel features is the browser-based file manager. It lets you upload, delete, and edit your website files directly from any computer with an internet connection — no separate FTP client required, though you can also create dedicated FTP accounts if you prefer to work that way.
Email Accounts
Create and delete custom email addresses on your own domain (@yourdomain.com) in a few clicks, and access webmail directly through your browser without needing to configure a separate email client. You can also set up forwarders, autoresponders, and mailing lists straight from the same panel.
One-Click Software Installs
Every cPanel account on our hosting plans includes Softaculous, a one-click installer for over 150 free scripts and applications, including WordPress, Joomla, and Drupal. It’s the fastest way to get a new site running without touching a line of code.
Domains and Subdomains
Add addon domains and subdomains directly from cPanel, without needing to contact support or wait for changes to be made on your behalf. This is especially useful if you’re managing more than one site under a single hosting account.
Database Management
Most dynamic websites — WordPress included — run on a MySQL database behind the scenes. cPanel’s database tools let you create new databases, manage users and permissions, and open phpMyAdmin for direct database access when you need to make manual changes or run a query.
Security Features
cPanel includes several built-in security tools: free SSL certificate installation, IP address blocking, hotlink protection to stop other sites from stealing your bandwidth, and password-protected directories for content you don’t want publicly accessible. These are some of the more overlooked cPanel features, but they matter just as much as the day-to-day tools.
Website Statistics
Built-in analytics tools let you see visitor counts, bandwidth usage, and traffic sources without installing a separate analytics platform, giving you a quick health check on your site’s performance at any time.
The Full cPanel Features List
- Upload and manage files to your website
- Check and manage your email, forwarders, and autoresponders
- Add a domain or subdomain to your hosting account
- Create an FTP account
- Create and manage MySQL databases
- Install a free SSL certificate
- View website statistics
- Install plugins, themes, and scripts via Softaculous
Between file management, email, databases, and security, these cPanel features cover almost everything a small business website needs day to day, without requiring any server administration knowledge. Contact us today if you’d like to learn more, or take a look at our shared hosting plans to get started.
