cPanel Price Increase 2026: Smart Alternatives & Competitive Pricing
Understanding cPanel’s new licensing structure and how UnderHost delivers better value with pricing that beats cPanel direct rates
Understanding cPanel’s 2026 Price Structure Changes
For the third consecutive year, cPanel has announced significant price adjustments to their licensing model effective January 2026. The changes introduce revised account limits and increased pricing across all standard license tiers that hosting providers and web professionals rely on.
Unlike previous adjustments that primarily affected higher-tier licenses, the 2026 changes impact the core tiers that most businesses use, from small agencies to growing hosting providers. The restructuring maintains the familiar Admin, Pro, and Premier categories while adjusting account limits and pricing to reflect market demands.
Key Changes in cPanel’s 2026 Pricing
- Revised account limits across Admin, Pro, Plus, and Premier tiers
- Price increases of 8-15% depending on tier
- Consolidated Premier pricing for Cloud and Metal servers
- Reduced per-account fee for bulk accounts: $0.35 (down from $0.45)
- Extended Lifecycle Support continues for legacy operating systems
2026 cPanel Pricing: Official vs. UnderHost Rates
While cPanel’s direct pricing sees noticeable increases, UnderHost continues our commitment to providing better value with pricing that remains below cPanel’s standard rates across all commercial tiers.
cPanel Cloud/VPS Licensing (2026)
| License Tier | Accounts | cPanel Direct | UnderHost Price | Your Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| cPanel Admin | Up to 5 Accounts | $32.99 | $28.95 | $4.04 monthly |
| cPanel Pro | Up to 30 Accounts | $46.99 | $39.95 | $7.04 monthly |
| cPanel Plus | Up to 50 Accounts | $57.99 | $49.50 | $8.49 monthly |
| cPanel Premier | Up to 100 Accounts | $65.99 | $54.95 | $11.04 monthly |
| Additional Accounts | Above 100 | $0.45 each | $0.35 each | $0.10 per account |
cPanel Metal/Dedicated Server Licensing (2026)
| License Tier | Accounts | UnderHost Price |
|---|---|---|
| cPanel Premier Metal | Up to 100 Accounts | $54.95 monthly |
| Additional Accounts | Above 100 | $0.35 each |
Understanding the Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS) Program
Starting July 1, 2024, cPanel introduced the Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS) Program for servers running CentOS 7 or CloudLinux 7 with cPanel v110. This program provides critical security updates and support for operating systems that have reached end-of-life, but comes with mandatory additional fees.
Important ELS Program Details
- Mandatory fees for CentOS 7 and CloudLinux 7 servers running cPanel v110
- No deferrals available – fees are automatically applied to qualifying servers
- Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS) new fees will also be added to the cPanel license cost.
- Opt-out available by upgrading to supported operating systems
- Started July 1, 2024 with immediate coverage for qualifying systems
ELS Program Monthly Fees
| License Tier | Accounts | ELS Fee | UnderHost ELS Fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| cPanel Admin Cloud | Up to 5 Accounts | $6.30 | $5.75 |
| cPanel Pro Cloud | Up to 30 Accounts | $9.60 | $8.75 |
| cPanel Plus Cloud | Up to 50 Accounts | $12.60 | $11.50 |
| cPanel Premier Cloud/Metal | Up to 100 Accounts | $14.85 | $13.50 |
Avoid ELS Fees: Upgrade Your Operating System
The most effective way to avoid ELS program fees is to upgrade from CentOS 7 or CloudLinux 7 to supported operating systems like AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux, or CloudLinux 8+. Our UnderManagement team can handle this migration for you with minimal downtime.
Beyond Price: The Real Impact on Your Hosting Business
While the immediate focus is on dollar amounts, the cumulative effect of three consecutive years of cPanel price increases has broader implications for hosting providers and web professionals:
For Agencies & Resellers
With cPanel Pro now approaching $47 monthly direct, the cost of providing control panels to clients cuts deeper into margins. A typical agency with 10 client servers faces nearly $5,000 annually in cPanel licensing alone.
For Growing Hosts
The jump from Pro to Plus tier represents a significant cost increase at a critical growth stage. Smart tier selection becomes essential for maintaining profitability during expansion.
For Enterprise Hosts
Large-scale operations with hundreds of servers face six-figure annual increases. The reduced per-account bulk fee offers minor relief but doesn’t offset the core license price jumps.
Your Migration Path: Control Panel Alternatives That Save You Money
The silver lining in cPanel’s persistent price increases? The control panel market has responded with robust alternatives that offer similar functionality at significantly lower cost, or completely free.
Free Control Panel Options
Free Control Panel Migration Service
UnderHost provides free migration assistance when switching from cPanel to any of our free control panel alternatives. Our technical team handles the entire process with minimal downtime.
Looking for the best options? Read our Top Free Web Hosting Control Panels of 2024 and follow our blog for the new Best of 2025 list, coming next week!
aaPanel
- Cost: Completely free
- Best for: PHP-focused deployments, developers
- Key features: One-click PHP versions, Nginx optimization
- Migration: Manual site transfer with our assistance
- Learn about aaPanel →
CloudPanel
- Cost: Completely free
- Best for: Cloud-native deployments, DevOps teams
- Key features: Docker support, modern architecture
- Migration: Manual site transfer with our assistance
- Explore CloudPanel →
Budget-Friendly Paid Alternative
DirectAdmin
- Cost: $39.95/m for Dedicated Servers and $19.95/m for Cloud Servers (unlimited accounts)
- Savings vs cPanel: Up to 70% for multi-account use
- Key advantage: Familiar interface for cPanel users
- Migration: Automated migration tool available
- View DirectAdmin Pricing →
Calculate Your Potential Savings
Wondering how much you could save by switching to UnderHost’s cPanel pricing or migrating to alternatives? Here are typical annual savings based on common use cases:
| Use Case | cPanel Direct (Annual) | UnderHost cPanel (Annual) | DirectAdmin (Annual) | Free Panel (Annual) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer (5 clients) | $395.88 | $347.40 | $239.40 | $0 |
| Small Agency (30 clients) | $563.88 | $479.40 | $239.40 | $0 |
| Growing Host (100 clients) | $791.88 | $659.40 | $239.40 | $0 |
Your Action Plan: Navigating the 2026 cPanel Changes
With the 2026 pricing taking effect soon, here’s your strategic approach to managing these changes:
Immediate Steps (Next 30 Days)
- Audit your current cPanel usage – How many accounts are you actually using per license?
- Evaluate alternative control panels – Test aaPanel or CloudPanel in a development environment
- Contact our sales team – Discuss your specific needs and migration options
Medium-Term Strategy (Next 90 Days)
- Migrate non-critical sites to free panels to test functionality
- Consolidate cPanel licenses where possible to higher tiers for better value
- Train your team on alternative control panels
Long-Term Planning (2026 & Beyond)
- Develop a hybrid approach – Use cPanel where necessary, alternatives where possible
- Factor control panel costs into your pricing and service offerings
- Stay informed about emerging control panel technologies
Optimize Your Control Panel Strategy for 2026
UnderHost provides better cPanel pricing and free alternatives that keep your hosting costs manageable while maintaining performance
cPanel 2026 Pricing FAQs
Q: When do the new 2026 cPanel prices take effect?
The new pricing structure becomes effective December 1, 2025 for new licenses. Current UnderHost customers with active cPanel licenses will maintain their existing pricing until their billing cycle renews after January 1st 2026.
Q: Can I keep my current cPanel license tier if it’s being discontinued?
Yes, existing license tiers will be grandfathered for current customers. However, new deployments after January 1, 2026, will need to use the new tier structure.
Q: How difficult is it to migrate from cPanel to a free alternative?
Migration complexity varies by panel. Moving to DirectAdmin is relatively straightforward with automated tools. Transitioning to aaPanel or CloudPanel typically requires manual site transfers, but our technical team provides free migration assistance to make the process smooth.
Q: Do the free control panels include email management and databases?
Yes, aaPanel offers comprehensive email management, database administration (MySQL), and DNS management features that are comparable to cPanel’s core functionality.
Q: What if I need help choosing the right control panel for my needs?
Our support team can analyze your specific use case and recommend the optimal control panel solution based on your technical requirements, budget, and growth plans.
Ready to optimize your control panel costs for 2026? Contact our team for personalized recommendations based on your specific hosting needs and budget considerations.