Can cPanel Be Installed on DigitalOcean Hosting and Is It Free?

Yes, you can install cPanel on DigitalOcean hosting, but it is not free. cPanel requires a paid license, which you will need to purchase separately from your DigitalOcean droplet or server.

Steps to Install cPanel on a DigitalOcean Droplet

To install cPanel on a DigitalOcean droplet, follow these general steps:

Create a Droplet

Choose a suitable plan; a Basic plan with at least 1GB of RAM is recommended. CentOS is commonly used with cPanel.

Access Your Droplet

Use SSH to connect to your droplet.

Update Your System

Run the following commands to update your system:

sudo yum update -y

Set the Hostname

Set your hostname with the following command:

hostnamectl set-hostname

Download and Install cPanel

Run the following commands to download and install cPanel:

cd /home curl -o latest -L sh latest

After the installation, you will need to purchase a cPanel license from their official website.

Access WHM

Access WHM Web Host Manager by navigating to in your web browser.

Alternative Considerations

Some users have shared their experiences with installing cPanel on DigitalOcean, noting that it comes with a 15-day trial, but the license itself must be purchased separately. While you can save money on droplets, the cPanel license may become a significant expense.

Installation Process

Others recommend the following steps to install cPanel:

Create a CentOS 7 instance on DigitalOcean. Install cPanel with the following commands: (cd /home curl -o latest -L sh latest)

However, as DigitalOcean does not provide licenses, you will need to buy one from a third-party provider, such as LicencePal or BuyCpanel.

Personal Recommendations

Many DigitalOcean users have shared their opinions, with some recommending that you use another host that already uses cPanel, especially if cPanel is a core requirement. For example, if you need a mail server, some hosts provide these services out of the box, making them more convenient.

True, cPanel is useful, but it requires maintenance and security updates. Installing cPanel gives you more control over your server, but it also requires you to manage the software yourself. If you value ease of use and don't want to maintain the software, consider a host that offers cPanel as part of their service.

In conclusion, while cPanel can be installed on DigitalOcean with some effort and additional costs, it may not be the most cost-effective or convenient solution for every user. Consider your specific needs and whether the benefits of using cPanel outweigh the cost and effort involved.