cPanel is the user interface software that allows you to operate your web hosting account via your web browser. The application is available for operating systems, including macOS, Windows, Linux, UNIX, Microsoft Windows.

cPanel was developed by Houston-based company 1997 founded by Nick Koston and Greg Colvin as a project management solution called Parallels Plesk. They later reworked it into cPanel, which they found more popular than their initial product. In March 2003, the source code of cPanel was released under the GNU General Public License (GPL).

How to Login to cPanel

cPanel login is a straightforward process. Visit the website of your web hosting company and look for either your control panel login or cPanel webmail login; both should link to an option to log in to cPanel.

In this guide on how to use cPanel, I will be using example URLs like http://example.com/cPanel. This is just for explaining purposes; you will need to replace it with your domain name or IP address.

cPanel Host Options

1-Bluehost

Bluehost is the best overall hosting provider because they have a no-fuss interface, fast websites and 24/7 customer support.

2-GoDaddy

Godaddy is the best for extra features because they offer a free website with any domain name you purchase.

3-Siteground

Siteground is the best WordPress hosting because they make it easy to get started, has excellent customer service, and includes a free SSL certificate.

How to Install WordPress in cPanel

1. Login to cPanel.
2. Select ‘Softaculous App Installer‘ from the “Software Services” section. If you didn’t find that, click on the “More Software” button.
3. In the search bar at the top, type in WordPress and hit search. It would help if you were taken a screen like this:
4. Click ‘Install‘. Then enter your site information and Admin Account information as prompted by the Softaculous setup wizard.
5. Once everything is filled out, press ‘Install‘ once more, and your website will begin to install WordPress! Once installation is complete, visit yourdomainname.com/wp-admin (replacing with your domain name) to see your brand new WordPress dashboard!

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Managed WordPress Hosting

1-Siteground

Managed WordPress hosting allows you to avoid many hassles of running a WordPress website by taking care of maintenance and upgrades for you.

SiteGround is the best overall managed WordPress host because they have an easy interface, excellent cPanel customer service, and include a free SSL certificate.

2-WP Engine

WPEngine is the best premium option because they have excellent performance and security options, as well as fantastic customer support.

3-Flywheel

Flywheel is the best for small teams with limited budgets because they provide fantastic value with their basic plans that allow up to 10 websites. Pricing starts at just $15/month!

cPanel Application Manager

The cPanel app is a program that allows you to launch each of your applications from the cPanel dashboard. It comes pre-installed on all new cPanel accounts and will enable you to easily see what’s installed and open them without having to search for them in your file browser. The cPanel File Manager is a web-based file manager that allows you to manage your files through your cPanel account. You can easily create, edit and delete files and upload and download files.

How to Configure DNS Nameservers with cPanel

1. Login to cPanel
2. In the ‘DNS Functions‘ section, select ‘Manage My DNS‘ from the dropdown menu. When you click on it, a window will pop up that shows your current domain nameservers.
3. Next to ‘Nameservers,’ click on the edit button. You should see an empty text box labelled Nameserver 1 and Nameserver 2 with a button next to it called Add Record.
4. Next to Hostname, Type in @ for now because we’ll be configuring a wildcard subdomain instead of a specific hostname. In this case, leave both boxes empty unless you know what type of record(s) you want to add.
5. In the TTL field, enter the number 3600.
6. This number determines how often the records will update. The minimum the number, the maximum chances of it will be recognized by your visitors.
7. Click ‘Add Record’. This adds a wildcard record to your nameservers for all hostnames that match *.example.com (similar to .htaccess rules).
8. Now we’ll configure an A record for www.example.com. Click on ‘Add Record’ again, but this time in the Hostname field, enter www and in the TTL field, enter 7200.
9. Click ‘Add Record’. This creates an A record that points to the IP address of your web server.
10. Now test your website by visiting www.example.com and make sure it’s working properly.

How to create a Subdomain in cPanel

1. Login to cPanel

In the ‘Subdomains’ section, select ‘Create a Subdomain’ from the dropdown menu. This will open a new screen that asks for the following information:

2. Domain

Choose a domain name for the subdomain you want to create.

3. Subdomain

A subdomain is a unique online address for your website. This can be anything you want, but it’s best to use something related to your website’s topic or content.

4. Document Root

This is the path to your subdomain folder, where all of its files will be stored. If you leave this blank, cPanel will create a public_html folder for you.

5. Password

Optional password for your subdomain. If you leave this blank, cPanel will create a random password.

6. Create Directory

The optional checkbox allows you to create a public_html folder if you don’t enter a path for the ‘Document root’ field. This is only essential if you want your subdomain to serve content from its own folder.

Click ‘Create.’ This will add your new subdomain and allow you to change its settings at any time by clicking on it in the Subdomains section of cPanel.

Conclusion

cPanel is a popular hosting control panel that allows you to manage your website’s files, databases, and email accounts. cPanel is not free, but most hosts include it with their hosting plans. cPanel backups can be easily generated from within your cPanel account and can be stored in the /backup folder or another location, depending on your host’s servers. cPanel emails is a free email service that allows you to send and receive emails from your domain.

FAQs

Is cPanel free?

cPanel is not free, but most hosts include it with their hosting plans. If you need to purchase cPanel separately, the cost is around $50-$100/year, depending on the provider.

Where are cPanel backups stored?

cPanel backups are typically stored in the /backup folder within your cPanel account. However, this location may vary depending on your host’s servers. Some providers may backup cPanel to AWS, Microsoft Azure or another 3rd party cloud provider.

What are cPanel emails?

cPanel emails are a free email service that allows you to send and receive emails from your domain. Emails can also be forwarded if you add an email address to your cPanel account.

Do a cPanel backup?

Yes, cPanel backups can be easily generated from within your cPanel account. This will create a backup of all your files and databases. You can also create a backup from the command line if you have shell access to your account.

Do I need cPanel hosting?

No, cPanel is not required for hosting a website. However, it is the most popular hosting control panel, and many hosts include it with their plans. If you need to purchase cPanel separately, the cost is around $50-$100/year, depending on the provider.