What is cPanel?
cPanel is a control panel. A control panel is a web page where you manage your website with buttons instead of code. With cPanel you can:
- Upload and edit website files.
- Make email addresses.
- Create databases. A database is a place where a site stores its information.
- Add domains and subdomains.
- Install apps such as WordPress.
- Make backups.
cPanel looks after one account. Think of it as the dashboard of your own car.
What is WHM?
WHM stands for Web Host Manager. It manages the whole server and all the accounts on it. Think of it as the garage that looks after many cars.
With WHM you can:
- Create, suspend and delete cPanel accounts.
- Set limits for each account, such as disk space.
- Change server settings.
- Update software on the server.
- Look at the server's health.
Who uses which?
| Feature | cPanel | WHM |
|---|---|---|
| Manages | One account | The whole server |
| Used by | Website owners | Server owners and resellers |
| Login | Account username | Root or reseller login |
| Typical address ends with | :2083 | :2087 |
Most people on shared hosting only get cPanel. VPS and dedicated server owners get both. Resellers get a limited WHM. Your welcome email shows which logins you have.
How do they connect?
WHM makes the account. Then cPanel runs the account. When you create an account in WHM, the owner can log in to cPanel at once. A WHM user can also open any account's cPanel from the account list.
Which one do I need?
- If you have one website, you need cPanel.
- If you sell hosting to others, you need WHM.
- If you are not sure, check your welcome email or ask Hostvento support.
Tip: Be careful in WHM. A wrong change can affect every site on the server.
Quick recap
- cPanel manages one hosting account.
- WHM manages the whole server and all accounts.
- Website owners use cPanel. Server owners and resellers use WHM.
- WHM creates accounts. cPanel runs them.