6 Best cPanel Hosting Providers: Take Control of Your Hosting Today

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Because it’s so widely available from a range of hosting providers, we carried out our own specialist research and came up with the six best cPanel hosting providers. Bluehost is our top choice – it’s the best host overall with feature-heavy yet consistently cheap plans, and offers particularly powerful WordPress hosting. 

HostGator is another strong contender, with an impressive 45-day money-back guarantee and unlimited storage, and InMotion’s cPanel is optimized especially for VPS hosting which makes it great for small businesses wanting to expand their sites.

Choosing the best cPanel for you can be tough, but we’ve made it simple for you to choose the one that’s right for you. So let’s begin!

The 6 Best cPanel Hosting Providers

  1. Bluehost Best overall hosting provider.
  2. HostGator Best for shared hosting.
  3. InMotion Reliable VPS hosting.
  4. A2 Hosting Great range of plans.
  5. SiteGround Good alternative for startups.
  6. GoDaddy Hosting Best for extra features.
Most hosting providers give their users a control panel. Think of your control panel like your dashboard – it’s the interface you use to manage your hosting services, account, and server functions, all in one place. cPanel is one of the most popular choices of control panel, because it makes it simple to run your website, comes with tons of tools, and – most importantly for your peace of mind – it’s extremely reliable.

If you’d like to brush up on the basics of cPanel before you begin, you can check out our guide to What is cPanel first – then come back here to explore the top providers!

Compare the 6 Best cPanel Hosting Providers

We know that choosing a hosting provider can be hard. From bandwidth to uptime, free domains versus free backups, there are so many different features to compare – and that’s before you start thinking about the price! So, to save you serious brain ache, we’ve compiled all the key information in this comparison table, for you to view side by side.

Swipe right to see more
0 out of 0

Bluehost

HostGator

InMotion

A2 Hosting

SiteGround

GoDaddy

Overall rating
4.8
Overall rating
4.7
Overall rating
4.5
Overall rating
4.1
Overall rating
3.7
Overall rating
4.0
Starting from

$2.95

Starting from

$4.95

Starting from

$3.49

Starting from

$2.99

Starting from

$2.99

Starting from

$6.99

Uptime

99.98%

Uptime

99.99%

Uptime

99.98%

Uptime

99.95%

Uptime

99.99%

Uptime

99.97%

cPanel
cPanel
cPanel
cPanel
cPanel
cPanel
Money-back guarantee

30 days

Money-back guarantee

45 days

Money-back guarantee

90 days

Money-back guarantee

30 days

Money-back guarantee

30 days

Money-back guarantee

48 hours to 30 days

Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Free backups
Storage space

10GB – Unlimited

Storage space

Unmetered

Storage space

75GB – Unlimited

Storage space

100GB – Unlimited

Storage space

10GB – 160GB

Storage space

25GB – 100GB

Free SSL certificate
Free SSL certificate
Free SSL certificate
Free SSL certificate
Free SSL certificate
Free SSL certificate
Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unlimited

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Bandwidth

Unmetered

Visit Bluehost Visit HostGator Visit InMotion Visit A2 Hosting Visit SiteGround Visit GoDaddy
his list of our top hosting provider recommendations were carefully compiled based on our thorough research and testing process. This is to ensure we’re providing you with the most accurate and useful information on the criteria for hosting products that are important to you.

Every web host on the list has been tested and analyzed on the following criteria to calculate our ratings:

Pricing – includes price range, number of plans, money back guarantee, and billing cycle.

Performance – includes server response time, storage space, bandwidth, cores, threads, and RAM.

Features – includes migration, backups, security, domains, control panel, and green hosting.

Help and support – for example, the host’s knowledge base, and what other support options are available.

Market analysis – this looks at factors such as competitor reviews, search volume, and more.

There are so many forms of hosting to dive into, but we’ve focused on those that we’ve found to be the most popular and practical for you, our readers.

With this in-depth testing, we can fairly rate and compare the best hosting providers to help you feel equipped and ready to make an informed decision.

Disk space, or storage space, is how much space you have for your site’s content. Think files, images, pages, and all the lovely stuff that makes up your website – they all need somewhere to go! If your storage is too small, it’s easy to imagine what trouble you’ll run into as you keep adding content to your site.

Uptime is the percentage of time a server is running, meaning the sites it supports are also up and running. If your server is always down, how will anyone ever visit your website? Uptime is essential for keeping up with the competition, so make sure it’s as close to 100% as possible.
Now you know the best cPanel hosting providers, we’ll be comparing the 12-month prices in each section and getting into the nitty-gritty of which one is best for you. 

Further Information

#1. Bluehost

Best Overall Hosting Provider

Editor's Choice

Bluehost

Best overall hosting provider

Outstanding

4.8

out of 5
  • Best for WordPress sites
  • Best value for money
  • Refund within 30 days

Paid Plans: $2.95 - $119.99 / month

Pros

  • Recommended as best by WordPress
  • Great value, feature-rich plans
  • Reliable 99.98% uptime

Cons

  • Be careful of add-ons at checkout
  • No cloud hosting packages available
  • The cheapest plan only has 10GB storage
Read Review

Bluehost has a fantastic cPanel dashboard that’s super crisp and clean, you won’t need to worry about getting lost when trying to use it. It’s Ideal for WordPress sites, ecommerce, dedicated plans, and sports the number one spot overall in our research. It can’t be beaten – not only does Bluehost come out as the best overall hosting provider with a score of 4.8 out of 5 – it’s also the number one recommended provider by WordPress itself. 

We think that’s something worth shouting about, especially as our research supported Bluehost’s claim to WordPress fame. It caters for websites of all types and sizes, with shared, VPS, and dedicated plans, as well as specially tailored shared WordPress hosting, WooCommerce hosting, and managed WordPress hosting.

Bluehost goes above and beyond for its users. For example, Bluehost’s managed WordPress plans include:

  • A free domain, to give your site a stronger identity
  • Automatic software updates to keep your site up to date and secure
  • Free backups for a stress-free experience
  • Unlimited storage so your site can grow freely
  • Unmetered bandwidth so you can enjoy high levels of traffic

For online stores, Bluehost’s WooCommerce plans come with an ecommerce theme pre-installed, plus a one-click installation of popular payment processing tools.

Pricing

For managed WordPress hosting, you’re looking at a starting price of $24.95 per month up to $51.95 per month when you choose a 12-month plan, with Bluehost’s promotional prices.

New customers can get shared WordPress hosting from just $2.95/month with Bluehost (normally $7.99).

All of Bluehost’s hosting plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re not completely happy with the service you receive, you’ll get a full refund.

bluehost logo

Bluehost Has The Number One Spot!

Bluehost impressed us both for cPanel and hosting overall because of its features, prices, and WordPress prowess. Ready to try it?

Further Information

#2. HostGator

Best for shared hosting

HostGator

Best for shared hosting

Excellent

4.7

out of 5
  • 99.9% uptime guarantee
  • Powerful features
  • Refund within 45 days

Paid Plans: $3.95 - $159.99 / month

Pros

  • Easy to use control panel
  • Best for help and support
  • Standout choice for shared hosting

Cons

  • The Support Portal can be overwhelming
  • It’s not the cheapest host out there
  • Control panel design is a little dated
Read Review

HostGator not only gets a whopping 5 out of 5 overall help and support score, the best help and support on the market – but it also has the best score for shared hosting with an impressive rating of 4.7 out of 5.

So just what makes it so good? For starters, it bursts onto the scene with a generous 45 day money-back guarantee. That’s a great start considering that Bluehost offers 30 days.

HostGator is a close second to Bluehost, combining the third-best site speed we tested with a full range of support options, tons of hosting types, and a full house of quality features (such as CodeGuard).

What’s more, HostGator has customized its cPanel to make it even easier to use – it’s very simple to navigate and find everything you need. There are plenty of videos, articles, and guides in the HostGator support portal too, in case you do get stuck!

HostGator is the best choice if you want shared hosting. You get a solid range of features, including:

  • One total free migration and one cPanel migration
  • Unlimited disk space to store tons of content
  • A choice of Linux or Windows hosting to suit your needs
  • Unmetered bandwidth to handle high traffic
  • Free SSL certificate

… and that’s just on the cheapest shared plan!

Pricing

HostGator’s cheapest shared plan is the adorably named Hatchling Plan, costing only $3.95 per month for new users when you choose a 12-month subscription. If you’re wanting to level up to dedicated hosting, you can host with HostGator for $109.98 per month on its Value Server plan.

hostgator logo

Try Top Support And Good Speed!

HostGator is a close second to Bluehost, and is a perfect choice if you’re after shared hosting – or impressive site speed.

Further Information

#3. InMotion

Reliable VPS Hosting

InMotion

Reliable VPS hosting

Excellent

4.5

out of 5
  • Optimized VPS cPanel
  • Money off for WBE readers
  • Refund within 90 days

Paid Plans: $3.49 - $539.99 / month

Pros

  • Best quality features we’ve tested
  • VPS optimized cPanel on all VPS plans
  • Great for photography

Cons

  • Pricey plans reduce its value for money
  • 99.97% uptime could be better
  • No Windows hosting for niche users
Read Review

InMotion gives a lot of the other cPanel hosting providers on this list a run for their money in VPS hosting with a respectable VPS score of 4.4 out of 5. It also comes with quality features that any first-time hoster will be wise to take heed of.

InMotion’s cPanel is uncluttered and clear, with everything laid out on a single page.

This makes it easy to manage different sections of your site, as well as track your statistics like bandwidth usage. You can scroll or use the menu links at the top to jump straight to the section you want, or, you can use the search bar to narrow down your results.

Capture InMotion cPanel Search
The search bar makes it easy to get straight to the areas you want to manage.

One of the extra bonuses of InMotion using cPanel is that you get a really tailored service, since cPanel can be specially optimized for VPS hosting. cPanel VPS Optimized makes sure resources are used minimally, improving performance and speed.

This version of cPanel is included in all of InMotion’s VPS plans – combine that specially optimized service with InMotion’s top-notch features, and you’ve got a winning combination!

Pricing

Most people start out on shared hosting because it’s the most basic option, and InMotion includes a range of features to make sure your site gets the best start in life. The $3.29 per month Core plan is a great starting point, with unlimited bandwidth, and a free SSL certificate.

Website Builder Expert readers get additional InMotion discounts – just go to InMotion’s site and these will be automatically applied.

And, when it’s time to give your site a more robust hosting plan, you can count on InMotion to provide stellar VPS hosting as well. Plans start at $24.99 per month (annual renewal) and include features such as root access (for ultimate control and customization over your server), free backups (for peace of mind), and up to 90GB of storage to give your site room to grow.

inmotion logo

Is InMotion Your Perfect Provider?

InMotion is a powerhouse when it comes to VPS hosting – check out its features to see if it ticks your boxes.

Further Information

#4. A2 Hosting

Great range of plans

A2 Hosting

Great range of plans

Good

4.1

out of 5
  • Flexible cloud hosting
  • Low uptime
  • Refund within 90 days

Paid Plans: $6.59 - $529.99 / month

Pros

  • Strong focus on speed and security
  • VPS cloud hosting is fast and flexible
  • Generous money-back guarantee policy

Cons

  • Worst uptime guarantee at 99.95%
  • Clunky sign-up process could be smoother
  • Doesn’t meet our support expectations
Read Review

In our research, A2 Hosting also stood out for its superb cloud hosting, which lets you customize your plan resources depending on your needs.

A2 Hosting uses cPanel because of its intuitive design and easy-to-use interface. It uses this popular control panel to power its shared, VPS, dedicated, and reseller servers, and combines cPanel with high-performance SwiftServers to give your site the power and speed it needs.

And what about its hosting? A2 Hosting is a solid choice – in our research, it scores a very respectable 4.1 out of 5 overall. It has a full range of help and support options, as well as a wide selection of different hosting types.

Where A2 Hosting fell down, however, was its pretty low uptime score of 99.95%. There’s also the huge issue of support, where it scores a low 1 out of 5 for the overall help it offers. Bad customer service is one of the most frustrating things around – you don’t want to be the last person to know when something goes wrong with your site! That’s something you may need to worry about with A2 Hosting, since it’s the only provider on this list without 24/7 support.

Pricing

A2 Hosting’s prices start at $6.99 for its cheapest shared hosting plan when you choose a 12-month term. Its cloud VPS hosting comes in two varieties: Managed and Unmanaged. Managed hosting means A2 does everything for you, whereas Unmanaged requires installation and a lot more work.

But your labor is reflected in the price, with Unmanaged hosting starting at only $6.59 per month and Managed at $49.99. Sometimes it pays to do it yourself…

a2 hosting logo

Do You Want Flexible Hosting?

A2 Hosting stood out for its cloud hosting in our research, as well as its generous 90-day money-back guarantee!

Further Information

#5. SiteGround

Useful alternative for startups

SiteGround

Useful alternative for startups

Good

3.7

out of 5
  • Great help and support
  • Limited bandwidth
  • Refund within 30 days

Paid Plans: $2.99 - $400 / month

Pros

  • Another WordPress recommended host
  • Reliable hosting with useful features
  • Free, automated daily backups

Cons

  • Only allows 10,000 visits on lowest plan
  • No free domain name on any plan
  • 99.95% uptime score could be better
Read Review

SiteGround is rather average compared to others on this list. It has the worst performance for shared hosting on this list with a score of 0.9 out of 5, and it doesn’t allow free domains on any plans. However, it is on the cheaper side and has reliable support, making SiteGround a useful alternative for startups.

SiteGround offers six types of hosting. Out of these, it’s strongest in its managed WordPress hosting. It’s not in the number one spot, (that honor goes to Bluehost) but it is recommended by WordPress because of its tailored features.

All SiteGround plans come with cPanel included, making managing your account easy. Manage your domains, track your billing, and even access support through your control panel with SiteGround. It didn’t stand out in our research for good or bad reasons – it sits comfortably amongst its competitors, with a score of 3.7 out of 5 overall.

Pricing

SiteGround’s cheapest shared hosting begins at $2.99, but as we mentioned earlier, SiteGround has the lowest performance score for shared hosting on this list.

Its managed WordPress hosting is decent, however, coming in third on our managed WordPress rankings with a score of 4.3 out of 5 overall. From $2.99 per month, you get essential WordPress features such as free installation and migration, daily backups, automatic updates, and specialist WordPress support. It’s not quite on Bluehost’s level, but it’s a safe and solid choice.

siteground logo

Do You Value A Good WordPress Alternative Host?

SiteGround is a beginner-friendly host that’s been recommended by WordPress – could it be your perfect match?

Further Information

#6. GoDaddy Hosting

Best for Extra Features

GoDaddy

Best for extra features

Good

4

out of 5
  • Tons of extra services
  • Poor value for money
  • Daily automatic backups

Paid Plans: $6.99 - $469.99 / month

Pros

  • Easy to centrally run multiple service
  • Perks include free domain and email
  • Tons of tools and extras to choose from

Cons

  • No other GoDaddy services
  • Expensive renewal prices
  • Limited migration options
Read Review

For an all-round service including hosting, domain names, email, marketing, and more, take a look at GoDaddy. It’s not the most advanced hosting provider out there, getting a score of 4 out of 5 overall, but it does have a whole host of options. All of which you can easily manage in one place, and it has great support options. This makes it a popular, if not particularly cheap choice.

In our research, GoDaddy actually scores top marks for performance, getting the second highest server response time. Just on its cheapest Economy plan, you can benefit from free backups, a free domain, a free business email for the first year, and more.

As well as all those nifty extras, GoDaddy has 24/7 phone and live chat and scores consistently high in help and support across all plans.

cPanel doesn’t support Windows hosting, so you only get cPanel with GoDaddy if you sign up for any of its Linux hosting plans. We usually recommend Linux hosting because it’s faster and generally cheaper, while Windows is more specific and isn’t needed by most users.

Pricing

GoDaddy has made some improvements in its value for money score, moving from 2.5 out of 5 last year, to 3.5 out of 5 this year. The lowest shared hosting plan starts at $6.99 per month when billed annually, and renews for $8.99 per month

This new score places GoDaddy Hosting in the middle of other providers – it stands out because it offers quite a lot including its own builder, making it easier for those looking for both a host and builder in one neat package.

godaddy logo

Do You Love Extras?

GoDaddy may not be the most powerful provider around, but it sure does offer a ton of extras to spice up your hosting plan!

Further Information

Are There Any Other cPanel Hosting Providers?

cPanel is one of the most widely used control panels on the market, mainly because it’s so easy to use. Of course, it makes sense there are more providers out there using cPanel than the six in our list – but these are the best six!

There are other providers using their own version of cPanel, which we’ve researched and can recommend. These providers are best if you want something a little bit different, but just as user-friendly.

iPage

Without a doubt, iPage is strongest when it comes to disk space and reducing option fatigue – offering just one plan to choose from. You can host with iPage from as little as $2.99 per month on its shared hosting plan – that’s 75% off the regular price, and includes free domain registration!

The main thing you need to know about iPage is that it doesn’t use cPanel – it has its own iPage Control Panel. The aim of using this custom control panel is to simplify the design even more than cPanel, making it as beginner-friendly as possible. This dashboard also provides quick and easy access to all your management tools, and can tailor its design to reflect iPage itself.

Overall, iPage is a good, budget friendly hosting provider, which is perfect if you just want to keep things simple. Its “one-size-fits-all” shared hosting plan means you don’t have to worry about increasing costs as your site grows. But on the flip side does mean that you have limited room for growing your website, as it doesn’t offer VPS or dedicated plans.

ipage logo

Want Less Complicated Hosting?

iPage stands out for its one-size-fits-all hosting plans and custom control panel. Could it be what you’re looking for?

DreamHost

DreamHost is the best hosting provider for storage space, and also comes with a fantastic uptime guarantee of 100%, alongside some great features. Instead of cPanel, DreamHost has a custom control panel called DreamHost Panel.

DreamHost Panel works in a similar way to cPanel, giving you controls to manage everything from payments and servers to your account, access support, and more. It has simple menus, helpful links, and an all-important search bar for quick fixes.

DreamHost is another provider which is recommended by WordPress, and has an impressive range of features to go with it.

dreamhost logo

Do You Need Awesome Uptime?

If so, DreamHost could be your perfect provider. It has also been recommended by WordPress, and uses its own DreamHost Panel.

WPEngine

WPEngine is aimed at WordPress users, with four managed WordPress hosting plans to choose from.

It’s no surprise that this WordPress specialist package comes with top notch help and support. You’ll need to sign up to the $115 per month Growth plan to unlock 24/7 phone support, or be bold and go for the Custom plan to access consultative onboarding (ooh).

WPEngine uses its own version of cPanel, which it has created to bring users the best experience of WPEngine possible. This control panel is called User Portal, and allows you to access all major features, such as visitor stats, storage and bandwidth usage, and domain management.

WPEngine control panel User Portal
WPEngine’s User Portal gives you a clean, simple interface to manage your site through.
wpengine logo

Do You Need WordPress Hosting?

WPEngine caters solely for WordPress users, making it a pricier alternative to Bluehost.

cPanel or Custom Control Panel – How Do They Compare?

At the end of the day, all control panels will do a similar job – you’ll have a central, all-in-one center to manage the important features of your site.

While different providers will customize their cPanel, on the whole, the basics remain the same. You have the benefit of standard cPanel guides and manuals online to help you out, and switching between providers is easy.

Custom control panels provide a more tailored and specific service, filled with the provider’s own data and design to benefit you and your site. However, there’s also more room for risk – you don’t know how easy or difficult it might be to use, and switching providers later on could be more difficult.

Some providers actually provide a demo of their control panel, which is a great way to see if it ticks your boxes before signing up.

Further Information

Best cPanel Hosting Providers - Summary

Overall, we’d have to recommend Bluehost as the best cPanel provider to choose from. It’s got the features, the prices, and the reliable control panel to boot. Claiming the title of the best overall hosting provider, as well as the undisputed champion of WordPress hosting, Bluehost doesn’t leave much room for competition.

6 Best cPanel Hosting Providers: Recap

  1. Bluehost Best overall hosting provider
  2. HostGator Best for shared hosting
  3. InMotion Reliable VPS hosting
  4. A2 Hosting Great range of plans
  5. SiteGround Useful alternative for startups
  6. GoDaddy Hosting Best for extra features

What about the rest? These aren’t the only top-quality providers out there – we’ve researched others that use their own custom control panels, and DreamHost, iPage, and WPEngine have all worked hard to bring you a control panel to rival cPanel.

Don’t let the dust settle after this epic showdown – pick your winner, take control of your cPanel, and enjoy happy hosting!

bluehost logo

Are You Ready to See Bluehost?

Bluehost is the best overall provider, and the best choice for WordPress users. If you’re unsure where to start, we recommend checking out Bluehost’s shared hosting first!

Best cPanel Hosting Providers: FAQs

On its own, cPanel is not a free product – it starts at $15 per month. However, most hosting providers include it for free in your hosting plan, so you don’t need to worry about paying any extra! A few will give it to you free for a year, but charge extra after that, so always make sure to check your plan before signing up.
cPanel is a little outdated it’s true, but it’s far from obsolete! Especially for those creating a website with less technical skills, cPanel is really easy to use. In that regard it’s still very relevant.
Yes! You have to log in to access your control panel, whether it’s cPanel or a custom one. It’s important to keep your control panel secure, because it has all the important information and settings for your website. You don’t want a random stranger to get in and start messing around with your domains or emails!
cPanel can only be used for Linux hosting, rather than Windows hosting. This shouldn’t be a problem to most people, as Linux is the most popular and widely recommended type of hosting. It’s faster, cheaper, and more up to date. However, if you do need Windows hosting, you can use the software Plesk instead of cPanel – many providers offer both, so nobody is left out.
Yes! GoDaddy offers cPanel at no extra cost, as do many hosting providers.
It’s typically used by smaller companies, but cPanel does have 17.35% market share. Businesses making around one to two million dollars typically go with cPanel. But there are some big companies like U.S. Remodelers and TMG Health that use cPanel too.
Website Builder Expert aims to provide you with honest data. That’s why we conduct our own research and obtain direct, personal insight.
Written by:
I’m the Content Manager here at Website Builder Expert, which means I read and edit nearly all the content we publish, and work with our wonderful writers and researchers to bring you the best possible advice for achieving your online goals. Over the past five years I’ve built demo websites using all the website builders we review, so I have the experience and expertise to help you out. You’ve got the experts on your side – I’m here to help you reach your online goals, and enjoy the process too!
Researched by:
natasha_willett
I love to understand human behavior and the cognitive biases that drive us to do what we do. For over nine years I have worked as a mixed method researcher – research using a mix of numerical data and personal experiences – across a range of sectors, from insurance and policy development to finally arriving at Website Builder Expert five years ago. Fascinated by consumer decision-making, I meticulously built our leading ranking methodology to explore where providers like Wix sit within a competitive industry and what value they truly bring to our audience.
As a member of the Market Research Society, I’m an advocate for high ethical, commercial, and methodological best practices. All of this combines to give you the most ethical recommendations based on real data.

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