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The Best WHM Hosting: Who’s The Best For Your Site? [Updated: 2019]

Which WHM Hosting Company is Best for You?

Compare WHM Hosting

If you wish to manage one or more hosting accounts, WHM is a good choice. In this article, I will describe its good and bad points and show you how to get the right hosting for it.

What is WHM?

Web Hosting Manager, or WHM®, is a Linux-based administrative control panel application used behind-the-scenes by webmasters and site administrators to maintain, upgrade and repair servers. Hosting resellers can use it to create and manage cPanel user accounts for their hosting customers.

Who Might Find WHM Useful?

A successful online presence requires solid website design, effective marketing, and reliable hosting, among other things. If you’re a hosting reseller, you also need an effective way to manage the accounts and server access for your customers.

Web Hosting Manager (WHM) is one of the most popular options for managing hosting accounts, for hosts and resellers alike. WHM gives owners and webmasters complete and flexible control over all aspects of server management.


Why You Should Consider WHM Hosting via Cybernewsguide.com

Who’s Best for WHM Hosting?

We think SiteGround is the best choice for WHM.

    2,118 Reviews Visit SiteGround or read our in depth review
    Table of Contents

    Compare WHM Hosting Plans

    Customer Rating Starting Price
    SiteGround screenshot

    SiteGround

    2,118 Reviews

    $3.95 / mo

    Entry Cloud plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host www.siteground.com
    BlueHost screenshot

    BlueHost

    480 Reviews

    $2.75 / mo

    VPS Standard plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host www.bluehost.com
    A2 Hosting screenshot

    A2 Hosting

    235 Reviews

    $3.92 / mo

    Entry VPS plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host a2hosting.com
    InMotion Hosting screenshot

    InMotion Hosting

    554 Reviews

    $3.99 / mo

    R-1000 plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host www.inmotionhosting.com
    HostPapa screenshot

    HostPapa

    387 Reviews

    $2.95 / mo

    Bronze Reseller plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host www.hostpapa.com
    HostGator screenshot

    HostGator

    574 Reviews

    $2.75 / mo

    Aluminium Reseller plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host www.hostgator.com
    GreenGeeks screenshot

    GreenGeeks

    350 Reviews

    $2.95 / mo

    Seed Reseller Hosting plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host greengeeks.com
    Interserver screenshot

    Interserver

    208 Reviews

    $4.50 / mo

    RS One plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host www.interserver.net
    JustHost screenshot

    JustHost

    152 Reviews

    $3.49 / mo

    Reseller Hosting Silver plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host www.justhost.com
    LiquidWeb screenshot

    LiquidWeb

    62 Reviews

    $59 / mo

    2 GB VPS plan

    Usual price:  Get  % off!
    Visit Host www.liquidweb.com

    Why You Should Consider WHM Hosting

    If you provide any kind of service or products for website owners, adding hosting to your offered services can be a low-maintenance source of guaranteed monthly income in addition to your other client work. With a WHM reseller account, you can offer hosting to your clients without having to invest in and maintain your own servers and data centers.

    You should consider host reselling if you already offer services like:

    • Web design and/or development
    • WordPress installation
    • Website or blog maintenance
    • SEO services
    • Web content writing
    • Other online services.

    Even if you aren’t reselling website hosting at the moment, consider going with a host that has WHM enabled in case you decide to go that route in the future, since switching web hosts later on can be a hassle.

    The Differences Between WHM and cPanel

    WHM and cPanel work together to provide a secure way to manage website hosting accounts.

    If you’re a webmaster who has experience managing your hosting account “behind the scenes,” you’re likely already familiar with cPanel. cPanel is a popular control panel interface used by many hosts to give their customers access to file, application and database management for their sites.

    WHM is the complement to cPanel. Just as cPanel allows resellers control over their particular server or partition, WHM provides total, root-level control over the server as a whole.

    WHM cPanel
    Designed for use by system administrators and resellers Designed for use by end users
    WHM provides total, root-level control over the server as a whole. Allows users to control their particular server or partition
    Can control settings and limitations for cPanel users Can’t manage settings for other cPanel users

    Reseller Limitations When Using WHM

    However, unless you have a dedicated server or are purchasing your own hardware, you’ll most likely receive a version of WHM limited to your particular partition of your host’s server, rather than root access to the hosting server itself.

    The reseller host will probably limit your access in other ways too. You typically won’t be able to change the username for the primary cPanel account, restart services, install SSL certificates, or set IP addresses.

    Using WHM on a Virtual Private Server

    However, if the host company gives you a virtual private server (VPS), then you should be able to get WHM with unlimited control. Details will vary from one host provider to another.

    Using WHM, you can set up and manage cPanel access for your own hosting clients. You can completely control which features your hosting clients can access, and even customize the look and feel of your clients’ cPanel with your own logos and branding.

    Creating Packages using WHM

    A handy feature is the ability to create packages. You can set up a package for each host plan, defining settings such as disk space, memory, and SQL database allocation for each new customer account. This saves the effort of setting each parameter by hand and avoids mistakes. To upgrade a user’s existing web hosting plan, you can simply change the account’s host package.


    WHM Other Uses via Cybernewsguide.com

    Other Uses for WebHost Manager

    There are many other uses for WHM including:

    1. cPanel Administration
    2. Performing Server Maintenance
    3. Fine-Tuning a Hosting Reseller Account
    4. Server Monitoring
    5. Accessing Additional Server Security Features
    6. Adding Microsoft FrontPage Extensions.

    cPanel Administration


    WebHost Manager Screenshot via Cybernewsguide.com

    Server admins use WHM to add new applications, copy, delete and create cPanel accounts, and manage security (including SSH keys, PHP scripts, and Traceroute data tracking).

    Performing Server Maintenance Using WHM

    WHM is also used to set up basic server configuration, and to perform server upgrades, maintenance, and troubleshooting. With WHM, you can choose settings like available cPanel features, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, and Domain Name Server (DNS) information.

    Fine-Tuning your Hosting Reseller Account

    Beyond basic maintenance and administration, you can also use WHM to fine-tune components of each reseller account and add or remove features on the fly.

    The WHM control panel gives you a lot of options when setting up an account. Settings include limits on the number of parked domains, subdomains, FTP accounts, and email boxes and accounts. The Feature Manager lets you choose which features are available on the cPanel control panel.

    WHM Server Monitoring Features

    The server monitoring features let you catch any problems with your host service. You can examine log files, spot excess resource utilization, and set security features. Configuration options let you get alerts by several methods, including email and SMS.

    When you log-in to WHM, you can check Security Advisor for possible weaknesses in account setups. It will point out the use of risky features such as anonymous FTP and shell access which isn’t “jailshelled.”

    Heading Additional Security Features

    Another security feature is AutoSSL, which automates the installation of SSL certificates for new subdomains. Both cPanel and WHM have access to Security Advisor, but with WHM it points out global considerations, while on cPanel it points out issues for individual customer accounts.

    Microsoft FrontPage Extensions

    WHM can also be used to add the necessary extensions to allow users of Microsoft FrontPage to upload their websites and other content using that software. Although FrontPage was discontinued in 2003, it still remains popular among Microsoft users who want to build a website without learning how to code. Setting up FrontPage server extensions with WHM is useful if you have customers who rely on FrontPage for their design, but also have a need for a non-Windows (i.e., Linux-driven) hosting solution for other apps.


    WHM Hosting Support via Cybernewsguide.com

    WHM: Is it Supported?

    As one of the most popular web management consoles for Linux servers, cPanel is most likely provided as part of your host’s basic consumer hosting packages. WHM is common as well, but not always provided. Check the details of your hosting package and contact the hosting service provider to be sure you’re getting WHM in addition to cPanel.


    WHM Hosting Costs via Cybernewsguide.com

    WHM Hosting Costs

    Hosting service companies that provide a WHM option will often charge more than they do for just cPanel. That’s because WHM hosting is often used by host resellers, who require many more resources and much more bandwidth than a typical customer with only their own website.

    Depending on your bandwidth and storage needs, you can expect to pay between $20 and $100 each month for reseller hosting that includes WHM.

    Points to Remember

    Here are some points to remember when using WebHost Manager:

    • WHM allows management of multiple domains from one web-based control panel
    • It is also integrated with cPanel for individual domains
    • Learning to use WHM requires some effort, but less than using low-level tools
    • Mixing the use of WHM and command line tools can cause technical issues
    • Always check whether your host supports WHM as standard before choosing a hosting plan.

    Other features in Control Panels

    WHM Frequently Asked Questions

    • What is WHM?

      WebHost Manager (WHM) is a control panel designed for VPS and dedicated server accounts.

      It allows the owner of the hosting account to divide their space and resell it, or create separate cPanel accounts and hosting directories for each of their websites. WHM also lets the user control certain server settings.

    • Who makes WHM?

      WHM is made by cPanel, Inc., the makers of the cPanel control panel.

    • What is the difference between cPanel and WHM?

      The cPanel control panel allows a user to manage the settings for one hosting directory. The WHM control panel sits above this, allowing the administrator to manage all of their hosting directories.

      For example, if you are a hosting reseller, you would use WHM to create each individual customer directory and set the bandwidth limits, disk space, and resources for each one.

    • What kind of management does WHM provide?

      WHM normally gives the user root level access to the server and its operating system (OS). On some accounts, it’s more restricted.

      WHM controls permissions and setting price tiers. Users can be given control over their own individual site management.

      WHM is also designed to give you important statistical and analytical information on your server, ensuring you’re armed with the information you need to keep your server secure and running smoothly.

      WHM includes backup features that allow you to create automatic backups and transfer websites from one cPanel-enabled server to another. The control panel can be branded to match your company’s logo, color schemes and branding.

      For companies or individuals looking for a custom experience, there are over 500 applications and plugins for WHM, making it possible to customize virtually every aspect of the control panel.

    • Who is WHM designed for?

      WHM is designed for web hosting resellers, web designers, and people that want to host multiple websites on one VPS or dedicated server.

    • Does WHM come with shared hosting accounts?

      No. Shared hosting accounts come with some kind of control panel purely for that account. WHM is an administrator control panel.

    • What does WHM offer resellers?

      WHM lets you create, delete, suspend, and modify hosting accounts. You can set up pre-defined hosting plan templates, and then quickly roll out new accounts with a couple of clicks.

      WHM also lets you customize some of the default error pages on your server, as well as the cPanel log in page that your customers see.

    • What are WHM’s system requirements?

      WHM requires a 226 MHz processor and 512MB of RAM, but 1GB RAM is recommended.

      On the software side, WHM natively supports CentOS, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and CloudLinux.

      Supported virtual environments include KVM, Linux-VServer, Microsoft Server 2008, Microsoft Server 2012 Hyper-V, OpenVZ, Oracle VM VirtualBox, VirtualBox OSE, Virtuozzo, VMWare Server, VMWare ESX Server, Xen, XenEnterprise, XenExpress and XenServer, as well as SmartOS.

      Each of these environments may have specific requirements that will need to be met for WHM to work properly.

    • How much does WHM cost?

      If you get WHM with your web hosting package, it may be included in the package price. If not, your host will probably allow you to add it for a small monthly fee.

      If you buy a license directly for your own use, the cost ranges from $20 to $40 per month.

    • What are the alternatives to WHM?

      The most common alternative to cPanel and WHM is the Plesk control panel.

    • is WHM better than Plesk?

      WHM was designed for Linux, and also offers integration with a large number of add-on packages and applications. It is an excellent reseller platform, it’s easy to use, and it performs more efficiently than Plesk.

      Plesk is available for both Linux and Windows, and integrates more closely with some Windows services, such as MS SQL. Plesk is also a good choice for server clusters, as it allows you to manage multiple servers from a single interface.

      However, Plesk does not integrate with as many third-party applications as WHM, it often runs slower on Linux, and it’s more expensive.

    • Does WHM back up my hosting data?

      No. You must have a separate back-up plan, either by using cPanel, or a third party service.

    • Do I need to update the WHM software?

      Yes. It’s a good idea to keep the software up to date. You can manually update WHM, or turn on automatic updates if you prefer.

    • What is the WHM API?

      WHM has its own API so you can control your server without using the WHM interface.

    • Does WHM store deleted accounts?

      No. Account deletion is permanent. If you’re having a problem with a customer, use the Suspend function to place the account on hold. Only delete an account if you’re certain that the data in that account has been backed up.

    Gary McGath

    About Gary McGath

    Gary McGath spent years as a software developer before turning to writing. In addition to writing many articles on technology, he’s the author of two crowdfunded e-books. His tech passions include data security and digital preservation.

    Connect with Gary

    Who’s Best for WHM Hosting?

    We think SiteGround is the best choice for WHM.

      2,118 Reviews Visit SiteGround or read our in depth review