CyberPanel vs Plesk (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, CyberPanel and Plesk share a 2.2 GPA, and only CyberPanel has a free plan.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
CyberPanel grades higher on the free plan. Plesk grades higher on features. They get the same grade on value for money, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
CyberPanel
Free OpenLiteSpeed control panel with paid add-ons
Plesk
Web hosting and server control panel licensed per server
Which one is for you
Pick CyberPanel if
- Fits if you want a no-licence panel on your own server and run OpenLiteSpeed
- Works for people who are comfortable with a command-line install
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you don't want to run a server, as CyberPanel is the panel and not hosting
- Tight if you want backups and the WordPress manager in full, which are paid add-ons
- Pricey if you add the .htaccess module, which is $59 a year or $199 once
- Watch out: add-on licences are tied to a single server IP
Pick Plesk if
- Fits if you manage several client sites on a VPS and want a standard control panel
- Makes sense if you run Windows servers, which many panels here don't cover
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want hosting included, because Plesk is a licence only
- Tight if you host more than 10 domains, since Web Admin stops there and Web Pro caps at 30
- Pricey if you need unlimited domains, as Web Host is $57.74 a month on a VPS
- Watch out: licence prices are due to be adjusted from 1 January 2027, and prices exclude VAT
- Watch out: Plesk says it cannot accept payments from Russia
How we grade them
| 2.2GPACyberPanelFair | 2.2GPAPleskFair | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CThe core is free but only if you host it yourself, so it counts as C. The add-ons bundle is $7.99 a month, $59 a year or $169 once, tied to one server IP. | CWeb Admin is $15.57 a month billed annually for up to 10 domains, inside the middle of web hosting at $10.99 to $20.83. Web Pro for 30 domains is $27.49, and the server is extra. |
| Free plan and trial | BThe core is free and open source with no listed cap, which one person could run on. WordPress Manager Pro, Backup V2, SSL V2 and the rest are paid. | CA 2-week full trial with no card. No free plan. |
| Features | CSites, email, DNS, PHP, databases, Docker and a WordPress manager. Backup V2, WordPress Manager Pro, SSL V2 and root file manager are paid add-ons, and the .htaccess module is sold separately. | BSites, domains, email and WordPress management with WP Toolkit, Sitejet Builder, security features and an extension catalogue. The domain caps are on the plans, not in the panel's job. |
| Ease of use | DNo store rating on record. You provide, install and maintain the server. | DNo store rating on record. It is installed on your own server, and running it means administering that server. |
| Platforms and integrations | BWeb only, but it ties into OpenLiteSpeed, WordPress, Docker, n8n, Google Drive and Amazon S3. | BWeb only, but it sits on Linux or Windows and works with AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, DigitalOcean, Vultr and Linode, plus an extensions catalogue. |
| Best for | a free OpenLiteSpeed panel you install yourself | a licensed control panel for a Linux or Windows server |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: CyberPanel and Plesk. How we grade
Price against what you get
CyberPanel starts at $7.99 a month and scores 2.0 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. Plesk starts at $15.57 a month and scores 2.3.
Plesk scores higher, and starts $7.58 a month higher: the question is whether the extra is worth that to you. Of the other web hosts on the chart, 21 score higher than CyberPanel for less, and 5 score higher than Plesk for less.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Where they differ
- CyberPanel is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- CyberPanel also covers file management.
- Plesk also covers managed WordPress and dMARC.
At a glance
| CyberPanel | Plesk | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Free trial |
| Starts at | $7.99 per month for the premium add-ons bundle | $15.57 per month, paid annually ($16.99 paid monthly), for the VPS Web Admin edition |
| Free plan | CyberPanel core is free and open source, with website, email, DNS, PHP, SSL, file, database and Docker management. | None |
| Free trial | None listed | 2-week free trial, fully functional, no credit card required. |
| Web | ||
| Made by | CyberPanel | Plesk |
| Price read from | cyberpanel.net | plesk.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
CyberPanel
- You must provide and maintain your own server; CyberPanel is the panel, not the hosting.
- WordPress Manager Pro, Backup V2, SSL V2, Root File Manager and Rspamd Manager need the paid add-ons.
- The .htaccess module is a separate product at $59 a year or $199 lifetime; a bundle with the add-ons is $99 a year.
- CyberPanel also sells Cloud VPS from $4.99 a month and email delivery as separate products.
Plesk
- Plesk is a license only; the server or hosting plan is bought separately.
- Editions are capped by domains: 10 on Web Admin, 30 on Web Pro, unlimited on Web Host. Web Host is shown for dedicated servers as well as VPS.
- The page notes that licence pricing will be adjusted from January 1, 2027, for new orders and renewals.
- Prices exclude VAT, and Plesk cannot accept payments from Russia.
Key features
CyberPanel
- OpenLiteSpeed at the core
- The panel runs on the OpenLiteSpeed web server and manages websites, PHP versions and databases from one interface.
- Email and DNS servers
- The free core includes an email server built on Postfix and Dovecot, and DNS management through PowerDNS.
- WordPress Manager
- Installs WordPress and handles staging sites and updates; the Pro version is one of the paid add-ons.
- Docker and n8n managers
- Deploy and manage Docker containers, and run n8n workflows, alongside websites on the same server.
- Backups and restores
- Local and remote backups; the paid Backup V2 adds incremental backups to SFTP, S3 and Google Drive.
- SSL and firewall tools
- Basic SSL and firewall management are free; SSL V2 adds automatic renewal with DNS verification and wildcard support.
Plesk
- Server and site management
- Domains, subscriptions, accounts and resellers are managed from one panel, with a power-user view that combines server and site administration.
- WordPress tools
- WP Toolkit is included, in a limited SE version on Web Admin and in full on Web Pro and Web Host.
- Sitejet Builder
- A site builder is included in all three editions.
- Security features
- Let's Encrypt, DNSSEC and Security Core with ModSecurity rules are listed, with email security and WP Guardian as options.
- Extensions catalogue
- Extensions such as SEO Toolkit, Premium Email by Kolab, Email Security and SocialBee add features, some sold in bundles.
- Runs on your infrastructure
- Plesk can be installed on a VPS, a dedicated server or hyperscalers including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and Alibaba Cloud.
Plans
CyberPanel
CyberPanel Core$0
Free and open source under GPLv3. You host it yourself on a server you manage; includes OpenLiteSpeed.
Premium add-ons, monthly$7.99
per month, billed monthly, tied to one server IP
SSL V2, WordPress Manager Pro, Backup V2, Email Debugger, Root File Manager and Rspamd Manager.
Premium add-ons, yearly$59
per year, tied to one server IP
The same six add-ons billed once a year.
Premium add-ons, lifetime$169
one-time, tied to one server IP
The same six add-ons with lifetime updates, paid once.
Plesk
Web Admin Edition$15.57
per server / month, paid annually ($16.99 paid monthly)
VPS pricing for up to 10 domains, with Sitejet Builder, WP Toolkit SE, subscription, account and reseller management.
Web Pro Edition$27.49
per server / month, paid annually ($29.99 paid monthly)
VPS pricing for up to 30 domains, with the full WP Toolkit, Sitejet Builder and the developer features.
Web Host Edition$57.74
per server / month, paid annually ($62.99 paid monthly)
VPS pricing for unlimited domains; dedicated-server pricing is $64.16 annually or $69.99 monthly.
Ways to pay less
CyberPanel
- Annual discount
Yearly add-ons at $59 versus $7.99 monthly
The yearly add-ons license costs $59, against $95.88 for twelve months at the monthly rate. A lifetime license is $169.
Plesk
- Annual discount
Save 8% with yearly billing
The pricing page labels yearly payment as an 8% saving over monthly billing.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, CyberPanel or Plesk?
As of Nov 13, 2026, CyberPanel is cheaper to start with: $7.99 a month, against $15.57 a month for Plesk. CyberPanel starts at $7.99 per month for the premium add-ons bundle, and Plesk starts at $15.57 per month, paid annually ($16.99 paid monthly), for the VPS Web Admin edition.
Which has a free plan, CyberPanel or Plesk?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only CyberPanel has a free plan. Plesk does not, though it has a free trial.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.