A free, open-source alternative to cPanel
ArcPanel is a free, open-source control panel for Linux web servers. It runs web domains, mail, DNS, databases, SSL and backups from one dashboard and one command line, with resellers, Node.js apps and Docker apps, and it has no license keys and no per-account fees.
ArcPanel and cPanel at a glance
| Topic | ArcPanel | cPanel |
|---|---|---|
| License and price | Free, GPL-3.0-or-later; no paid edition | Monthly license: Solo $29.99 (1 account), Admin $35.99 (5), Pro $53.99 (30), Premier $69.99 (100 accounts, then $0.49 per account) 1 |
| Price in 2019 | Free since its first release | Solo $15 and Premier $45 a month, $0.20 per account above 100 (August 2019) 2 |
| Source code | Public on GitHub | Proprietary; the license forbids derivative works and reverse engineering 3 |
| Resellers | Admin, reseller and user roles; resellers sell their own plans within their allocation | Reseller accounts managed in WHM 4 |
| Supported systems | Debian 12/13, Ubuntu 22.04/24.04/26.04 LTS, amd64 | AlmaLinux 8–10, CloudLinux 8–10, Ubuntu 24.04 LTS; no ARM 5 |
What do cPanel licenses cost for your servers? Work out your own numbers with the license cost calculator.
When cPanel is the better choice
- Your customers ask for cPanel by name and you do not want to retrain them.
- Your billing, CloudLinux or Imunify setup is built around cPanel and WHM.
- Your servers run AlmaLinux or CloudLinux; ArcPanel installs on Debian and Ubuntu only.
When ArcPanel fits
- You want to stop paying a license that grows with every account you host. See how
- You sell hosting through resellers who run their own customers and plans. See how
- You host Node.js and Docker apps next to PHP sites, mail and DNS. See how
- You script your servers: every action is a shell command and a REST API v2 call. See how
Moving from cPanel
ArcPanel installs on a fresh Debian or Ubuntu server; it does not convert a cPanel server in place. Accounts, sites, mail and databases move to the new server, and DNS is switched when everything is checked.
We also move servers for you: see the migration service.
Questions
Is ArcPanel really free for commercial hosting?
Yes. ArcPanel is free software under GPL-3.0-or-later. Every user runs the same public release on as many servers and accounts as they like; there is no paid edition and no license key.
Does ArcPanel look like cPanel to my customers?
No. ArcPanel has its own interface, built for hosting customers, resellers and administrators. Customers find the same tasks (domains, mail, databases, files, SSL), but in a different layout.
Can I upgrade a cPanel server to ArcPanel?
No. ArcPanel needs a fresh Debian or Ubuntu server. Move accounts from the cPanel server to the new one, or ask us for a paid migration.
Who do I call when production breaks?
Support plans start at $39 per server per month and go up to 24/7 with a written SLA, from the people who build ArcPanel. Without a plan, ask in GitHub Discussions.
Sources
- License and price: https://cpanel.net/pricing/
- Price in 2019: https://web.archive.org/web/20190805131310/https://cpanel.net/pricing/
- Source code: https://cpanel.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/EULA-document.pdf
- Resellers: https://docs.cpanel.net/whm/resellers/
- Supported systems: https://docs.cpanel.net/installation-guide/system-requirements/
Facts about cPanel were checked in October 2026 from the vendor's own pages. Prices exclude tax. If something is wrong or out of date, write to support@arcpanel.org.