As you already know, DirectAdmin and cPanel are two different control panels and have different advantages and disadvantages. We will explain more about these features and differences in the following.
DirectAdmin
DirectAdmin is a user-friendly website hosting control panel, and it's designed to handle your boring tasks and allows you to manage your website better. DirectAdmin also makes it easy to manage users and domains, emails, and everything you need across your website.
Cpanel
CPanel is another popular web hosting control panel, and it also has a user-friendly interface and robust security features.
This control panel has a range of tools for web hosting, files, email management, and security. With this wide range of plugins and tools, Cpanel can cover your needs, whether you're a beginner or a pro.
Interface differences
There are some differences in the interfaces and feature abilities of these two control panels. One difference is that the CPanel control panel tends to have similar setting groups under one theme, but the specific features are separate.
The DirectAdmin, on the other hand, approaches groups the setting under one theme, but keeps related features together. This makes the DirectAdmin look less cluttered. In the following, we will talk about each theme more.
Load-in interfaces in DirectAdmin
The DirectAdmin load-in screen is user-friendly. The small icons and settings names make it easy to work with and to find what you are looking for.
If you prefer fewer icons, you can change the look in the skin options setting. You can find this feature in your dropdown on the top right side of your screen.
Similar to cPanel, if you need to find anything, you can easily search for it in the search bar. Some of the names might be slightly different, but the same settings are still available.
Emails settings
Now, let's talk about the email section, especially when it's the most visited setting for most users.
Similar settings
These are some of the settings that are similar in both cPanel and DirectAdmin control panels:
- Email Accounts
- Forwarders
- Autoresponders
- Spam Filters
- Mailing Lists
Different settings
Email Routing: Instead of what we call email routing in cPanel, we have access to the MX Record in DirectAdmin. This feature allows you to set or update the server that will be sending or receiving your emails.
Default Address: You can find this feature under the name "Email Accounts" in DirectAdmin.
Track Delivery and Email Deliverability: These two features are combined as the Email Tracking feature in DirectAdmin. This makes it a lot easier to work with and troubleshoot sending and receiving emails.
Address Importer: search for this feature in the IMAOSync Migrations setting.
Global Filters and Email Filters: DirectAdmin doesn't directly offer these features. But you can set them from your webmail or email.
BoxTrapper: This feature is an additional SPAM Filter application. In DirectAdmin, it has been replaced with a more advanced feature, Apache SpamAssassin.
Calendars: DirectAdmin doesn't have a calendar feature, but most people don't use their control panel for this.
Encryption: Since this is about mailing, this feature won't be necessary either. You can find it in your webmail or email application.
Email Disk Usage: This feature is the Email Accounts in the DirectAdmin control panel.
Files
cPanel has more settings in this section than DirectAdmin because most of them have been removed or have become part of something else.
Similar settings
Both cPanel and DirectAdmin control panels have the file manager feature.
Different settings
As we said before, some settings have been removed in DirectAdmin. But some are still there with different names.
Directory Privacy: You can find this tool in the Advanced Features section as Password Protect Directories.
Disk Usage: This feature is available in the Site Summary sidebar. You can find it on the right side of the screen.
FTP Accounts: This tool is moved to the Account Manager section and has been renamed a FTP Management.
Backup tools: You can find all the backup-related tools and features under Advanced Features in DirectAdmin.
Removed files
These are some of the removed files that we talked about earlier.
Images: This feature in cPanel lets you batch conversions, but most people never even use it. Just similar to the calendar.
Web Disk: In cPanel, this feature allows you to access your files on the web server like they were a part of your local machine. But this feature is very similar to the FTP account.
Databases
There is no Database section in DirectAdmin. Instead, you will find PHPMyAdmin under the Extra Features section. Also, all the database options are combined into one.
Domains
Different Settings
WP Tool: You can find this setting under the Softaculous section in DirectAdmin. But you must know that this tool is not a WordPress toolkit, but a WordPress manager.
Redirect: This feature is under the Account Manager section with the name Site Redirection.
Site Publisher: This feature is specifically for cPanel. But in DirectAdmin, you can find it as Site Builder under the Extra Features.
Metrics
DirectAdmin doesn't have a Metrics section, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have this feature. You can find them in other sections.
Different Settings
Resource usage: This feature can be found under the Extra Features section with the same name.
All other stats: all the other Metrics features are under Site Summary, Statistics, and Logs.
Security
Security is another one of the sections that is removed in DirectAdmin, but you can find it in other sections.
Different Settings
All SSL Features: All the SSL features are in the SSL Certificates setting under the Account Management.
Hotlink Protection: In DirectAdmin, this feature can be found in the Account Management section as Hotlink Protection.
Conclusion
cPanel and DirectAdmin are both very good control panels. They have their similarities and differences. cPanel can offer you more features, but it comes with a higher price. So, the question you must ask is whether these features are worth the price for you.
With clear priorities, you can make your choice between these two control panels and choose the one that works best for you.
