The Best Webmin Hosting: Who’s The Best For Your Site? [Updated: 2021]

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Compare Webmin Hosting

Webmin is a web-based administration configuration tool mainly for Unix-based systems (eg, Linux, macOS). What a control panel is for a website, Webmin is for a server. But Webmin is not widely available by default, so you need to pick a host carefully.

Webmin is most often installed on Linux machines. Although it is useful on shared hosting, the full power of Webmin will be found when using a VPS or dedicated server.

We will discuss Webmin hosting in detail below, but for now, here are our top-5 Webmin hosts:

  1. Web Hosting Hub – Unlimited Bandwidth and free SSL
  2. eBoundHost
  3. Awardspace
  4. Zettahost
  5. A Small Orange

How Did We Choose the Best Hosts for Webmin?

We analyzed hundreds of hosts to find the ones that offered strong Webmin hosting and easy installation. Then, we vetted our picks for pricing, quality of technical support, and security features.

Finally, we ranked the choices using our database of thousands of expert and user reviews to find the top Webmin hosting.

What is Webmin Hosting?

Webmin is a browser-based administration interface for managing Linux systems like OSX, Oracle VM, Red Hat, and Ubuntu, from wherever you happen to be. It is free to use, modify, and expand as you see fit, fully licensed under the Berkeley Software Distribution license.

As of March 2015, the latest Webmin version was 1.740. The browser-based administration interface lets you manage Linux systems remotely. How? Because it gives you web access.

Based primarily in Perl, Webmin is made up of a web server plus common gateway interface (CGI) programs. Some of the modules bundled with Webmin 1.740 are:

  • Apache Webserver
  • BSD Firewall
  • Bootup and Shutdown
  • Cluster Change Passwords
  • Command Shell
  • File Manager
  • MySQL Database Server
  • SpamAssassin Mail Filter

In addition to OSX, Oracle VM, Rd Hat, and Ubuntu Webmin also supports a range of other Linux distributions including (but certainly not limited to):

  • AlphaCore
  • CentOS
  • Corel
  • FreeBSD
  • Sun Solaris
  • Ubuntu
  • Yoper
  • BSDI
  • IBM/AIX
  • SCO OpenServer
  • Windows
  • XenServer Linux

Plus, virtualization developers and virtual hosting providers may be interested in Webmin’s built in Cloudmin user interface, specifically for virtual systems like Xen, for example.

Another hugely popular module is Virtualmin, used for managing multiple virtual hosts in one interface. You can also use it to create single Webmin user accounts, which may only access their own domain and files.

Webmin-friendly hosting plans aren’t typically available as such. However, if you have a Linux dedicated server or a Linux-based hosting plan, you may be able to handle admin tasks remotely from a browser by using Webmin. Some hosts do offer free installation of Webmin with hosting plans.

Compare Webmin Hosting Plans

PEOPLE’S CHOICE: #1 HOST FOR webmin Jan 2021
#1
Spark plan

$3.99 / mo

#2
Starter VPS plan

$16.50 / mo

#3
Cloud 1 VPS plan

$20 / mo

Why Choose Webmin?

There are plenty of reasons! First, Webmin has the convenience of being able to be used remotely, which is a real draw card for some.

Second, Webmin is compatible with a tremendous range of Linux and unix-like operating systems.

Third, Webmin is a modular system – the same way that a food processor has different blades for different functions, so too does Webmin have different modules for different things. The real benefit of Webmin though is that anyone can develop a module, so there are infinite combinations that are bound to fit your needs. Basically, it’s endlessly customizable, and very easy to do.

So there are lots of reasons to use Webmin. And did we mention it’s free?

How to Install Webmin

There are six different ways to install Webmin, depending on if you’re installing the RPM version, the Debian Package, The TAR file, the Solaris Package, or on Windows.

What Does Webmin Cost?

Because Webmin is distributed under a BSD-style license, there’s virtually no limit to what you can do with it, all for free. Essentially, it means unfettered commercial or non-commercial use, forever.

However, like any hosting platform, your website will incur some costs via server space and bandwidth, especially as you begin to scale. Consult your hosting service for more detailed information.

Further, some of the modules come with a scaled pricing model, like Cloudmin Pro or Virtualmin Pro, if you’re interested in enhanced functionality.

Alternatives

Fortunately for developers, there are other programs out there who have a similar offering. For example, Ajenti, OpenPanel, and ServerPilot.io are all excellent companies who have a similar functionality, and if you’re specifically looking for Windows compatibility, then ZPanel is a great option.

Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Extremely easy to uninstall (should you want to)
  • You can manage multiple virtual hosts from one interface
  • You can manage virtual systems easily from Cloudmin’s API shell script
  • there are hundreds of plugins developed by third parties for you to use
  • If you’re accessing from a mobile device, the mobile theme will automatically be applied

Cons

  • Some costs associated with the pro versions of common modules
  • Little to no support outside of the user community
  • There are some security holes, although these continue to be patched and fixed
  • Limited functionality on some operating systems, specifically Windows

Points to Remember

There’s a lot of benefit in using a modular system like Webmin. Take Usermin, for example, their web-based interface for webmail (among other things). Being on the Webmin system is going to make it far simpler to provide your customers with a clean, simple webmail interface, without IMAP or POP3. That entire feature is only possible because it’s a modular system.

Server Requirements

Because Webmin is so diverse, it’s hard to say exactly what the server requirements are. Consult your server host for more information.

Other features in Control Panels

Webmin Frequently Asked Questions

  • How much RAM will Webmin use if I’m running Apache, MySQL, and FTP?

    It will consume about 230MB. But that can vary dramatically – for example, if you’re only running Apache and Webmin, it will likely only use about 11MB.

  • How much RAM should I get to adequately run Apache?

    Apache and Webmin will only consume about 11MB. However, Apache runs far better if you have 256MB – beneath that, it’s much more difficult to get it working.

  • Are there any ways that I can reduce my Webmin memory consumption?

    Sure there are lots of ways! Two popular ones are to disable to disable innodb and Berkley databases, or to reduce Apache’s memory usage. However, it’s recommended that you only do this on VPS that is carrying a fairly lightweight load.

  • Virtualmin Pro is the paid version of Virtualmin. How much does it cost?

    There are a couple different pricing tiers depending on what you need. The least expensive is for 10 domain accounts on one server. That’s $99.00. The top tier license is a lifetime license with some add-ons like support and updates on one server with unlimited domain accounts. That’s $999.00. Naturally, there are some tiers between these two but that gives you the ballpark you’re looking in.

  • Is there anywhere I can get some more info about Webmin?

    The best place for information about Webmin and associate products is the Webmin wiki, which has lots of information like FAQs, how-to guides, developer documents, and tutorials. Plus, the wiki has exhaustive information on the 113 modules that Webmin has, conveniently grouped into seven major categories. Everything the budding Webmin user needs!

WhoIsHostingThis Team

About WhoIsHostingThis Team

Our writing team comes from all over the world with diverse backgrounds in the arts and sciences. But what links them is their passion for the internet. All together they represent many decades of experience working in all facets of it – from programming and hardware creation to website design and marketing.

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