Comparison

FlatRun vs cPanel

See how FlatRun compares to cPanel and why hosting providers are choosing open-source alternatives.

Feature FlatRun cPanel
Starting Price Free Forever $15.99/month (Solo)
100 Accounts Free $51.99/month (Premier)
Open Source Yes (MIT License) No (Proprietary)
Docker Support Native No
Vendor Lock-in None High (Proprietary format)
One-Click Apps Yes (Templates) Yes (Softaculous extra)
SSL/TLS Management Yes Yes
Database Management Yes Yes (phpMyAdmin)
File Manager Yes Yes
REST API Yes (Full Access) Yes (UAPI/WHM)
Modern Architecture Docker/Containers Legacy (Apache/shared)
Email Hosting Roadmap Yes
DNS Management Roadmap Yes

Why Switch from cPanel to FlatRun?

Escape the License Trap

cPanel's 2019 pricing changes shocked the industry. Costs can reach $600+/year for hosting providers. FlatRun is completely free—no license fees ever.

Container-Based Architecture

cPanel's shared hosting model is legacy technology. FlatRun uses Docker containers for better isolation, security, and portability.

No Proprietary Lock-in

cPanel configurations are tied to their platform. FlatRun uses standard docker-compose files you can take anywhere.

Scale Without Cost Scaling

cPanel charges per account. With FlatRun, add unlimited sites without touching your infrastructure costs.

Developer-Friendly

Modern developers expect containerized workflows. FlatRun speaks Docker natively—no antiquated shared hosting concepts.

True Open Source

Audit the code, contribute features, or fork it. You're not dependent on a single company's roadmap or pricing decisions.

3-Year Cost Comparison

For hosting providers with 100 accounts

FlatRun

$0

Total over 3 years

  • Unlimited accounts
  • All features included
  • No per-account fees
  • Community support

cPanel Premier

$1,872+

Total over 3 years

  • 100 accounts max
  • Softaculous extra
  • Price increases likely
  • Email support extra

Architecture Comparison

FlatRun (Modern)

  • Each site runs in isolated Docker containers
  • Standard docker-compose configuration
  • Easy horizontal scaling
  • Portable between servers and providers
  • Resource limits per container
  • Modern CI/CD integration

cPanel (Legacy)

  • Shared Apache/LiteSpeed environment
  • Proprietary configuration format
  • Vertical scaling only
  • Locked to cPanel-compatible servers
  • Resource limits via CloudLinux (extra)
  • Manual deployment workflows

Ready to Modernize?

Join hosting providers building on modern infrastructure with FlatRun.