The following chart and table illustrate the increase in package prices, particularly those aimed at small and medium hosting companies, on a monthly basis. As shown, the largest price hikes affect the Business packages, which have risen by 135% (for the package up to 5000 clients) and 123% (for the package up to 10000 clients) over the past two years. The Plus and Professional packages have increased by 50%.

Users are dissatisfied

Posts on the WHMCS community forum reveal that users are not happy with the price increases. However, the situation on the forum is not as dramatic as the outbursts of anger seen in discussions about other WebPros products. While some WHMCS users could accept the price hikes, the main issue is the lack of development in directions expected by the community. They feel their opinions are being ignored, and suggestions for improvements and extensions to the billing platform are dismissed by the owner.

One user, Evolve Hosting WWW, sarcastically remarked that the only recent “innovation” in WHMCS that was useful to him was the requirement to upgrade to a higher PHP version. He also pointed out issues with the heavily promoted PayPal module, problems with the ticketing system, poor quality of MarketConnect extensions, and a lack of trust in hCaptcha.

Indeed, reviewing the release history and forum posts, it seems that WHMCS development has slowed down. The platform appears to rely primarily on the reputation it built over the years as a stable and affordable billing software for hosting services.

What to do, how to move forward?

The classic question that arises with the annual price hikes is: do we have an alternative? It turns out that the answer is not so straightforward. The forum does mention examples of various software – both free, open-source, and commercial – free from the ubiquitous integration of WebPros products with SocialBee. Unfortunately, in most cases, attempts to migrate to solutions like Blesta, FOSSBilling, or SaaS services end in failure, with users returning to WHMCS.

Some users point out that competing software either lacks sufficient technical support, doesn’t have the necessary integrations, or the cost of developing these integrations is too high to absorb all at once. Migrations also pose a challenge, though HostBill offers a migrator tool, and its plans are available through one-time licenses. However, not every small hosting company can afford such a one-off expense.

As for developing your own billing software, which only the largest players can boast of, the costs of design, development, and maintenance do not always turn out to be cheaper in the long run. Sure, you have your own software that you can customize as needed, but if things go wrong, there’s no one to blame or turn to for help.

So what’s next?

Analyzing the situation, it is clear that WHMCS users find themselves in a difficult position. On one hand, they are forced to accept annual price hikes, which in some cases have reached staggering levels. On the other hand, the lack of real alternatives and the high costs of migration make many users choose to stick with the software despite their frustration over the lack of expected innovations.

The rising prices and stagnation in platform development, with its owners seemingly ignoring the needs of the community, could lead to a greater loss of customers in the long term if a suitable alternative emerges, as demonstrated by users’ experiments in attempting to move away from WHMCS. However, for small and medium hosting companies, finding an alternative that meets both their technical and financial requirements remains a challenge. As the market evolves, it will be important to watch closely whether new solutions appear that can provide real competition to WHMCS, or whether users will have to accept further price increases without significant improvements in the software’s functionality.

PS. Below we link to the 2024 and 2025 price list.

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The chart above shows how cPanel prices changed from 2019 to 2024. Prices for different subscriptions, such as Solo, Admin, Pro, and Premier, have steadily increased, affecting the profitability of many smaller hosting providers. One user on the cPanel community forum even shared a breakdown of their costs over the years, showing how sharply cPanel fees have risen.

In January 2024, the subscription costs were:

• Solo: $17.49 per month (1 account)
• Admin: $29.99 per month (5 accounts)
• Pro: $42.99 per month (30 accounts)
• Premier: $60.99 per month (100 accounts)
• Extra accounts: $0.40 per month each

A year later, in January 2025, the prices increased to:

• Solo: $26.99 per month (+54.3%)
• Admin: $32.99 per month (+10%)
• Pro: $46.99 per month (+9.3%)
• Premier: $65.99 per month (+8.2%)
• Extra accounts: $0.45 per month each (+12.5%)

It’s important to remember that the pricing of WebPros products can vary greatly depending on the number of licenses, level of partnership and staff certification, licensing methods, and internal agreements. As usual, cPanel has released an official document each year with a detailed price list, which also explains the licensing and discount methods.

Hosting community: “Time for a Change!”

Many users in the hosting industry are sharing their frustration on discussion forums like WebHostingTalk and the official cPanel forum. A user named Keith007 on WebHostingTalk expressed his anger:

Another user, ThickYesterday977, shared a similar view:

User furf and Cameron Worts from the official cPanel forum was also upset:

Is it worth changing your control panel?

As cPanel raises prices, many hosting providers are considering alternatives like DirectAdmin or Webuzo, which offer lower costs and simpler licensing. A year ago, there were already talks about moving to DirectAdmin, but users felt it was less intuitive, not as advanced, and less developed compared to cPanel and WHM. MechanicWeb-shoss on WebHostingTalk pointed out that none of the alternatives fully match cPanel’s functionality:

Additionally, as Tim_Wakeling pointed out on the Plesk community forum, where price increases are also happening, migration is not always easy to do. Hosting companies would have to deal with customer habits, service interruptions, and changes in configuration. This is why many people will choose to pay the fees anyway;

Effects of price increases on hosting providers

The price increases for cPanel have a significant impact on smaller hosting companies and end users. Higher license costs force hosting providers to pass the costs on to their customers, affecting price competitiveness. Some users, like KMyers, have decided to stop using cPanel, showing the growing resistance from the community towards the company’s pricing policy.

The ongoing cPanel and Plesk Panel price hikes are a challenge for hosting providers around the world. Many are thinking about moving to other control panels, but the lack of a full alternative keeps them strong in the market. As long as shareholders want to see profits, I don’t think prices will go down. Companies owned by investment firms often raise prices to meet financial goals and provide returns to investors.

Will there be a panel in the future that can compete with cPanel or Plesk panel in both price and quality? For now, we can only watch how the market reacts to these changes and how providers handle passing the costs on to their customers.

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cPanel and Plesk pricing updates

As part of its ongoing collaboration with WebPros, Vultr has reduced pricing for cPanel and Plesk services, providing customers with more cost-effective solutions for managing their web hosting infrastructure.

New cPanel Pricing:

• cPanel Admin: $27.99/month
• cPanel Pro: $39.99/month
• cPanel Plus: $49.99/month
• cPanel Premier: $59.99/month

New Plesk Pricing:

• Plesk Web Pro Edition: $19.95/month
• Plesk Web Host Edition: $31.95/month

Additionally, Vultr has introduced a new Plesk Web Admin plan for customers who manage up to 10 domains and do not require advanced account or subscription management tools. This plan is priced at $12.95/month, making it a cost-effective option for users with smaller hosting needs.

These price reductions are designed to offer better value for customers using cPanel and Plesk, ensuring they have access to high-quality management tools at competitive rates.

Vultr GPU billing model update

In addition to the cPanel and Plesk pricing adjustments, Vultr has also updated the billing model for its GPU services. Starting on October 1, 2024, Vultr will transition from its current 672-hour (28-day) monthly billing cycle to the industry-standard 730-hour month.

Key Changes to GPU Billing:

• The old rate was $0.179 per hour based on 672 hours per month.
• The new rate is $0.165 per hour, but customers will now be billed for the actual hours in each month (e.g., 720, 730, or 744 hours, depending on the month).

This adjustment provides greater transparency in billing and ensures that customers are only charged for the actual time their infrastructure is used. For users with variable workloads or on-demand deployments, this will result in a more accurate reflection of usage.

Impact on customers

For customers with monthly subscriptions or committed contracts, there will be no changes in total monthly charges. However, for those using on-demand or non-committed servers, billing may fluctuate depending on the number of days in each month. The reduced hourly rate offers better value, especially for those who do not utilize fixed workloads each month.

For instance, in a 744-hour month, a customer using the new GPU rate of $0.165 per hour would pay $122.76, compared to the fixed $120 under the previous 672-hour plan. Over time, this change will offer more accurate billing and better value for customers with flexible infrastructure needs.

These updates to Vultr’s pricing model, particularly for cPanel, Plesk, and GPU services, represent a significant step toward offering greater value and billing transparency to users. The reduction in cPanel and Plesk prices, combined with the shift to the industry-standard 730-hour month for GPU billing, ensures that Vultr remains competitive in the cloud infrastructure space while delivering a fair and predictable billing experience.

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With the price hike set to take effect in just a week and a half on September 1st, let’s revisit the situation and explore the anticipated consequences this decision might have on the domain industry and the broader digital community.

A recap of the february announcement

In our February article, we delved into Verisign’s 2023 earnings report, which not only outlined the company’s financial performance but also provided a roadmap for 2024. A key takeaway was the scheduled price increase for .com domains, which was the final step in a series of allowed hikes over the past four years. This increase was driven by contractual obligations with ICANN and a need to offset the decline in the number of domains managed, particularly due to regulatory and economic changes in markets like China.

The market’s response

Now that the dust has settled, it’s clear that the price hike has had a significant impact, but perhaps not in the ways that were initially anticipated. While Verisign’s argument centered around the necessity of the increase to maintain financial stability amidst declining registrations, the reality is that the competitive nature of the domain registrar market has softened the blow for consumers.

Despite Verisign’s wholesale price increase, robust competition among registrars has kept consumer prices relatively close to the wholesale cost. Some domain registrars, like GoDaddy and Namecheap, have indeed increased their prices, but not always at the same pace as Verisign.

GoDaddy, for instance, has raised its list price to $21.99 this year, up from $19.99 in 2022, but offers significant discounts for multi-year registrations and for members of its Domain Discount Club. Namecheap, on the other hand, has held its prices steady, offering discounts that bring the effective cost close to the wholesale price.

The role of competition

One of the most interesting developments since the price hike is how competition among registrars has played a pivotal role in keeping domain registration affordable for end-users. While Verisign has a monopoly on .com domain registration, the market for domain registrars remains highly competitive, with over 1,000 active registrars vying for customers. This competition has led to many registrars offering .com domains at or near the wholesale price, with some even absorbing additional costs, such as credit card processing fees, to maintain a competitive edge.

For example, Cloudflare has famously maintained its policy of selling domains at cost, and other registrars like NameBright and Sav.com have followed suit, offering .com domains at prices that are almost indistinguishable from Verisign’s wholesale rate. This has ensured that despite Verisign’s price increase, customers can still find reasonably priced .com domains with a bit of comparison shopping.

What’s next?

As we look to the future, the landscape of domain registration remains uncertain. While Verisign has completed its series of allowed price hikes, the broader market dynamics will continue to evolve. The role of competition among registrars will likely remain a key factor in determining the prices consumers ultimately pay for .com domains. Moreover, as new top-level domains (TLDs) continue to emerge, we may see shifts in consumer behavior, with some users opting for alternative TLDs that offer better pricing or unique branding opportunities.

In conclusion, while Verisign’s price hike was a significant event in the domain industry, its impact has been mitigated by the competitive nature of the registrar market. As always, staying informed and being willing to shop around remains the best strategy for consumers looking to secure the best deals on domain registrations. We’ll continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as the domain landscape continues to shift in response to these and other developments.

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At the end of the first quarter of 2024, Verisign managed 172.5 million domains within .com and .net, which represents a decrease of 0.27 million compared to the end of 2023. The number of .com domains decreased by 0.2 million, while the number of .net domains remained virtually unchanged. This is a concerning trend for the company, which relies on the growth of managed domains as one of its main sources of revenue.

Revenue and forecasts

Despite the decline in domain numbers, Verisign recorded a revenue increase of 5.5% in the first quarter, primarily due to earlier price increases. However, the company does not anticipate automatic price hikes in 2025 and 2026, meaning it needs to increase domain registrations to sustain revenue growth. This does not exclude the announced domain registration price increase of 7% for .com domains in September.

Verisign must now consider long-term strategies that will allow the company to increase domain registrations, and thus revenues. This may include investments in marketing, promotions, and exploring new markets and opportunities. In response to these challenges, Verisign has lowered its revenue forecast for 2024 from a range of $1.56-$1.58 billion to $1.555-$1.57 billion. Additionally, the company must be ready to adjust its prices to remain competitive in an increasingly saturated market for internet domains.

Summary

Verisign’s lowering of forecasts shows that even the largest companies in the tech industry are not immune to the impact of external economic factors and changing market trends. The decline in the number of domains under the company’s management in the first quarter is a clear signal to the management that new strategies and innovations are needed to maintain financial stability and growth in the future.

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Who should be interested in the reseller service?

Reseller Hosting services are aimed at a wide audience, including primarily individuals and companies that want to try their hand in the hosting industry but do not have sufficient financial resources to purchase their own server or hire qualified system administrators.

Thanks to the Reseller model, users can acquire server space and resources in larger quantities and then resell them to their clients under their own brand. This not only lowers the barriers to entry into the hosting market but also enables quick business startup with minimal initial investments.

Furthermore, Reseller Hosting services are highly popular among web development agencies and companies responsible for maintaining and taking care of their clients’ websites. For such entities, the ability to offer hosting as an additional service to their clients is not only a convenient but also an economical solution. It allows agencies not only to offer comprehensive customer service, including both web design and hosting but also to build long-term relationships with clients and generate additional revenue streams.

As a result, Reseller Hosting is an attractive choice for individuals and companies at various stages of development – from startups, through medium-sized interactive agencies, to large firms looking for flexible and cost-effective hosting solutions.

resellerclub.com vs scalahosting.com vs asurahosting.com

In today’s era, where the hosting services market is incredibly dynamic and competitive, choosing the right Reseller Hosting provider can pose a serious challenge. That’s why, in today’s article, we will focus on three companies that regularly appear at the top of the Reseller services rankings.

ResellerClub.com is a renowned Reseller Hosting service provider that has been on the market since 1998. This company has earned the trust of clients worldwide by offering a wide range of hosting products and services that meet the needs of both beginner resellers and large agencies. ResellerClub stands out with its highly developed infrastructure and flexible pricing plans, allowing customers to scale services as their business grows.

ScalaHosting.com has been in the market since 2007, focusing on delivering innovative solutions in hosting for both individual and business clients. The company is known for introducing advanced security and performance technologies, such as its proprietary VPS management system SPanel, making it an attractive choice for resellers looking for reliability and modernity in their hosting services.

AsuraHosting.com is a relatively new player in the market, having been active since 2012, but it has quickly gained recognition due to its competitive pricing and solid customer support. The company focuses on offering economical hosting plans with high performance and reliability, making it an excellent option for those starting in reseller hosting without a large financial investment.

Key resources in Reseller packages

In the world of Reseller hosting, two main variables are crucial when choosing the right package: the limit of user accounts in the server management panel and the available disk space. These parameters are incredibly important as they determine the maximum number of users that can be served on a given hosting account. An interesting fact is that none of the services analyzed impose limits on the number of internet domains that can be added to an account, which gives great freedom in expanding one’s hosting offer.

Let’s now examine in detail the offers of three leading Reseller Hosting service providers, focusing on the resources provided in each package:

ResellerClub

ResellerClub’s offer includes four Reseller packages, with differences in limits and resources:

• Essential Package – 25 cPanel users, 40GB SSD disk space, 800GB data transfer, free SSL.
• Advance Package – 35 cPanel users, 50GB SSD disk space, 1000GB data transfer, free SSL.
• Pro Package – 45 cPanel users, 100GB SSD disk space, 2000GB data transfer, free SSL.
• Ultimate Package – 60 cPanel users, 200GB SSD disk space, 3900GB data transfer, free SSL.
• An additional cPanel user costs $3.99, and WHMCS $7.

Services offered by ResellerClub have previously appeared in our analyses, where we compared them to changes in the Reseller offer from HostGator. Since that time, ResellerClub’s offer has remained unchanged, still providing resources proportional to the limit of cPanel users. This consistent approach to the offer is noteworthy, especially since all packages are prepared to work with WHMCS, which can be purchased separately, just like additional user limits. Particularly, the PRO and Ultimate packages seem to be designed for expansion, encouraging the purchase of additional options to increase the user limit—a strategy that might seem like a catch, but certainly is not baseless.

Although ResellerClub does not offer packages with NVMe disks, clients can benefit from integrated CloudFlare, which is a significant advantage in the context of improving the performance and security of hosted websites. The servers run on the free Apache system, which does not necessarily have to be seen as a disadvantage, although some users may prefer more specialized solutions.

However, the use of the CentOS 7.x system, whose technical support is set to end in 2024, raises some questions about the future and stability of the services. A natural step seems to be offering clients the option to use their own license for CloudLinux, Rocky Linux, or AlmaLinux, which may provide longer support and be better suited to the requirements of modern hosting.

In summary, ResellerClub’s offer maintains its place in the market thanks to flexible packages and additional services that allow resellers to tailor the offer to their own needs. Nevertheless, there are areas where the provider could consider making changes to better meet customer expectations in a changing technological environment.

ScalaHosting

ScalaHosting offers packages that stand out with unlimited data transfer and included cPanel/WHM:

• Scala1 Package – 20 cPanel users, 25GB SSD disk space, unlimited data transfer, free SSL.
• Scala2 Package – 40 cPanel users, 50GB SSD disk space, unlimited data transfer, free SSL.
• Scala3 Package – 60 cPanel users, 75GB SSD disk space, unlimited data transfer, free SSL.
• Scala4 Package – unlimited SPanel users, 50GB NVMe disk space, unlimited data transfer, free SSL.

ScalaHosting indeed offers impressive limits regarding the ability to connect user accounts, making this offer particularly attractive for resellers looking for flexibility in managing a larger number of clients. However, it’s worth noting that the fast NVMe disks, which ensure higher performance of hosted sites, are only available in the highest package of the offer. Nonetheless, this package deserves special attention, especially because it includes its own management panel, SPanel, which serves as an alternative to the traditional cPanel.

One might think that the offer with an unlimited number of SPanel users is primarily aimed at owners of smaller sites, such as online business cards, considering that it only provides 50GB of disk space. This limited level of resources may not meet the needs of larger online projects requiring more data space.

However, ScalaHosting compensates for these potential inconveniences with a series of other benefits. Customers receive antivirus protection and a dedicated IP address, which increases the security and stability of the services. Additionally, the server based on the free version of LiteSpeed, OpenLiteSpeed, offers access to the LiteSpeed Cache plugin. This is a significant advantage for WordPress users, as it can greatly speed up page loading and improve overall site performance. Blacklist monitoring for email boxes is another feature that underscores ScalaHosting’s care for the security and reliability of its clients’ electronic communication.

Moreover, the highest ScalaHosting package allows for own branding, which is a key feature for resellers wanting to promote services under their own brand. This option is not available in lower packages, further highlighting the value of the highest offer. Despite certain limitations, ScalaHosting offers a balanced and competitive proposal for resellers looking for advanced features and flexibility in managing their client portfolio.

Most importantly, each of the smaller packages already includes cPanel and WHM for managing the service and daily offsite backups at the price.

Asura Hosting

Asura Hosting focuses on affordability and the use of NVMe disks, offering the following packages:

• Reseller 1 Package – 7 cPanel users, 25GB NVMe disk space, unlimited data transfer, free SSL.
• Reseller 2 Package – 20 cPanel users, 60GB NVMe disk space, unlimited data transfer, free SSL.
• Reseller 3 Package – 20 cPanel users, 125GB NVMe disk space, unlimited data transfer, free SSL.
• Reseller 4 Package – 65 cPanel users, unlimited NVMe disk space, unlimited data transfer, free SSL.
• An additional CRM panel Blesta $2.99 or WHMCS $9.99.

Asura Hosting stands out among its competitors by offering a range of unique services and features in each of its packages, making it an especially attractive choice for resellers. Each AsuraHosting package comes equipped with backups performed by the advanced JetBackup software, which provides weekly or daily backups, giving users an additional sense of security and protection against data loss.

Additionally, the company utilizes LiteSpeed Enterprise server software, known for its high performance and scalability, as well as Imunify360 – a comprehensive security solution that protects servers from attacks, malware, and other threats. The offer also includes Softaculous – a popular application auto-installer, which allows for easy installation of hundreds of web applications from the management panel.

Asura Hosting places a strong emphasis on the “white label” aspect, enabling resellers to sell hosting under their own brand, without any visible signs of affiliation with Asura. Clients can also use private DNS servers, which is a key element in building brand and professionalism in the eyes of their customers.

Most importantly, only Asura Hosting offers dedicated IP addresses in its two highest packages, which is a significant added value for businesses requiring this functionality for better personalization and optimization of their hosting services.

A unique feature that sets Asura Hosting apart from other providers is the use of fast NVMe disks in all packages. NVMe disks offer significantly higher data read and write speeds compared to traditional SSDs, which translates to faster website loading times and better overall performance of hosted services.

In summary, Asura Hosting provides a comprehensive and competitive offer that meets the needs of modern resellers, offering advanced technologies and additional services that can significantly contribute to the success of their hosting business.

Reseller package pricing comparison

After thoroughly analyzing the resources offered by the individual Reseller packages from ResellerClub, ScalaHosting, and Asura Hosting, it’s time to look at how each offer stacks up against each other in terms of pricing. Prices are often a deciding factor for many resellers, especially those who are just starting their journey in the hosting industry or those looking for the most cost-effective solutions for their business. In this part of the comparison, we will focus on the pricing analysis of the available packages to help in choosing the option that best meets the needs and financial capabilities.

In the price comparison, Asura Hosting offers the lowest price for services, significantly outpricing the competition. With a monthly price for its most expensive package at $24.99, AsuraHosting is 57.64% cheaper than the corresponding package at ResellerClub, which costs $58.99. Also, compared to ScalaHosting, which offers its Scala4 package for $29.95, Asura is 16.56% cheaper.

The prices of ScalaHosting and ResellerClub are indeed very similar for the first two packages, but significant price differences emerge when analyzing the two largest packages. ScalaHosting, offering the Scala4 package for $29.95, is 49.23% cheaper than the most expensive package offered by ResellerClub.

Such a comparison shows that AsuraHosting offers the most affordable prices, especially for those who are just starting their business in reseller hosting. ScalaHosting and ResellerClub offer packages that may be more attractive to customers looking for specific resources and functionalities, but the price differences, especially at the higher packages, are significant.

User reviews at TrustPilot

While price is definitely an important factor in choosing a Reseller Hosting service provider, it should not be the only criterion guiding our decision. It is also important to consider the reviews and experiences of other users with the offered services. For this purpose, we checked reviews of ResellerClub, ScalaHosting, and Asura Hosting on the popular website TrustPilot to gain a broader reference to the overall assessment of the service providers.

From our research, it appears that ScalaHosting enjoys the best reputation among users, securing an impressive 5-star rating based on 1610 reviews. Such a high rating suggests that the company is trustworthy and offers services at the highest level, meeting customer expectations.

Asura Hosting also gathers positive reviews, achieving a rating of 4.7 stars, however, on a significantly smaller number of reviews – only 71. Nonetheless, it’s worth noting that only 3% of them are negatively inclined, indicating a generally positive reception of the company’s services by users.

The situation looks much worse for ResellerClub, whose average rating is only 1.6 based on 89 reviews. A whopping 89% of respondents expressed their dissatisfaction, pointing to numerous problems and challenges the company may be facing. Such a low rating could be a warning signal for potential customers, suggesting that it might be worthwhile to consider other options.

Of course, it’s important to remember that online reviews can be diverse and not always entirely objective. There’s also the issue of potential false positive reviews. This, however, will be the topic of our next article, where we will take a closer look at the credibility of rankings and online opinions. This will be an opportunity to examine more closely the practices companies use to improve their visibility and ratings on the internet. So, as you can see, there’s much to look forward to.

To sum it all up…

Summarizing our comparison of Reseller Hosting offers from Asura Hosting, ScalaHosting, and ResellerClub, it’s clear that not only price but also customer reviews and offered resources should be considered when choosing the right provider. Asura Hosting leads in terms of price, offering very attractive packages, especially for those looking for an economical entry into the hosting world. ScalaHosting, on the other hand, can boast the best reviews on TrustPilot, indicating high-quality services and customer satisfaction. ResellerClub, despite having competitive prices in some packages, seems to have a problem maintaining a positive image among users, which could be a warning signal for many potential resellers.

However, we must not forget that choosing a hosting service provider is a complex decision, which should also include other factors such as specific business needs, technical support, and the flexibility of the offer. In the near future, we also plan to delve into the topic of market verification in terms of trading positions in rankings, which will surely provide even more valuable insights for those seeking reliable information.

Additionally, we are preparing a series of comparisons of software for running your own hosting, and perhaps we will even show how to undertake such a venture on your own! We hope our analyses will prove useful to you and help in making the best business decisions.

Remember, your opinions and experiences are very important to us, so we encourage you to be active in the comments. We look forward to your stories, questions, and suggestions. See you in the next articles!

The post Comparing cPanel reseller host offers appeared first on webhosting.today.

We limit our review to the most reputable entities in the domain reselling sector to assure not just competitive pricing but also exemplary service and support standards. This analysis is designed to serve a broad audience, from solo entrepreneurs and burgeoning startups to established corporations seeking streamlined domain management practices.

Through our comprehensive assessment, we delve into the diverse range of services provided, scrutinizing not merely the cost implications but also the essential features and advantages offered by each reseller. Our goal is to empower you with the insights needed to select a domain reseller that not only aligns with your financial considerations but also enhances the operational functionality of your business.

.COM Domains: The Backbone of the Internet

In assessing the current market trends for domain extensions, the .com extension maintains its position as the premier selection among businesses globally. Our analysis reveals that among the array of resellers, DomainNameAPI.com emerges as a leading provider, offering .com domains at highly competitive rates that vary between $10.19 and $10.79. This pricing structure positions DomainNameAPI.com as an optimal partner for firms at both the entry-level and those in phases of expansion, seeking to augment their domain portfolio in a cost-efficient manner.

Conversely, CentralNicReseller.com is identified as a less appealing option for .com domain acquisitions, with its pricing spectrum extending from $11.65 to $15.44. This range potentially places CentralNicReseller.com at a disadvantage, especially for businesses prioritizing cost-effectiveness in their domain procurement strategy.

.INFO Domains: Ideal for Informational Sites

In the context of .info domain registrations, DomainNameAPI.com distinguishes itself once more by offering the most economical pricing on the market, ranging from $2.99 to $3.99. This pricing model renders DomainNameAPI.com particularly attractive for informational websites looking for a cost-effective gateway to establishing an online presence.

On the contrary, CentralNicReseller.com presents .info domains at a markedly higher price bracket, from $21.19 to $27.46. This places CentralNicReseller.com as a less desirable alternative for entities aiming to register .info domains, especially when affordability is a key consideration.

A Versatile Alternative

In the arena of .net domain offerings, DomainNameAPI.com asserts its position as the provider of choice with the most cost-effective pricing structure, which spans from $12.99 to $13.99. This extension, frequently adopted as a substitute for .com, is particularly apt for businesses with a technological focus or those operating within networked industries.

Contrastingly, CentralNicReseller.com’s pricing strategy for .net domains, which ranges from $13.57 to $19.52, positions it as a less advantageous option for customers whose primary concern is cost efficiency.

.ORG Domains: For Organizations and Non-Profits

Regarding the provision of .org domains, tailored specifically for organizations and non-profits seeking to cultivate trust and credibility online, DomainNameAPI.com emerges as the leading choice. It offers an appealing price range of $7.29 to $7.49, making it the go-to reseller for entities focused on cost-effective domain registration without compromising on the extension’s inherent value.

In contrast, CentralNicReseller.com sets its .org domain prices between $12.11 and $15.85. This pricing spectrum renders it a less attractive option for clients who prioritize minimizing registration costs for .org domains, underscoring the importance of selecting a domain provider that aligns with financial and branding strategies.

Let’s have a look at some more extensions

In the competitive domain registration sector, particularly concerning .io, .ai, and .co extensions, discerning the resellers that provide optimal value against those that do not is crucial.

DomainNameAPI.com is noted for its favorable pricing on .io and .ai domains, quoting $43.99 to $45.99 for .io and $89.50 to $99.50 for .ai domains. These rates are particularly attractive for technology startups and AI-centric initiatives aiming for cost-effective domain acquisition. Conversely, CentralNicReseller.com’s offerings for .io domains are less appealing, with prices ranging from $54.09 to $64.07. The company’s reseller program also imposes stringent advancement requirements, making it a less viable option for entities operating with limited budgets or at a smaller scale.

For .co domains, DomainNameAPI.com maintains its competitive stance, with prices set between $25.96 and $28.60. This ensures that affordability is not at the expense of the global appeal and versatility associated with the .co extension. On the flip side, CentralNicReseller.com’s pricing strategy for .co domains, which lies between $27.53 and $31.08, may not be excessively higher but still renders it a less attractive choice due to the high thresholds required for progression through its reseller program tiers.

Efficiently navigating the domain reseller landscape necessitates a strategic approach that considers cost, scalability, and the unique requirements of your digital venture. While DomainNameAPI.com consistently presents more favorable deals across these sought-after extensions, the comparatively higher prices and stringent criteria for program advancement associated with CentralNicReseller.com could dissuade those in search of both value and scalability.

Conclusion

When evaluating the landscape for optimal domain seller options, DomainNameAPI.com stands out as the best choice among all four examined domain extensions. Its very aggressive pricing strategy, combined with a transparent and scalable multi-tier program, positions it as the ideal partner for businesses of various sizes.

The second place is occupied by one of the most recognizable reseller service providers – resellerclub.com. It has the most balanced pricing policy and an established position in the market.

The third place, when it comes to domain registration prices, is held by twin entities: enom.com and opensrs.com. Unfortunately, when it comes to partner thresholds, they perform the worst of all. Therefore, if you don’t have a large volume, don’t approach them. They also require meeting a threshold of a constant amount of new registrations or incoming transfers.

The worst performer, CentralNicReseller.com, consistently ranks as a less preferred option, primarily due to its elevated pricing structure, which may not suit the financial constraints of many clients.

For entities at the initial stage or those intending to expand their domain portfolio, a critical analysis of both the initial costs associated with domain registration and the comprehensive value brought by the reseller is necessary. This detailed comparison aims to facilitate making an informed choice, ensuring alignment with your organization’s digital strategy and fiscal boundaries.

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Compared to cPanel, Plesk Panel offers a much more complex pricing policy. During our analysis, we focused on the general American price lists. Plesk also has an individual pricing scheme, which we decided to omit due to its specific nature. Instead, we concentrated on analyzing and reviewing the prices of monthly and annual subscriptions aimed at VPS servers and dedicated servers. These versions are most often chosen by individuals, small agencies, smaller resellers, and startup hosting companies that do not yet have the volume of clients to receive significant discounts.

So here we go — years 2017-2020

We begin our analysis with the years 2017 to 2020. During this period, for both VPS and dedicated server services, there was only one price increase noted between the first and second half of 2017. The subsequent years were characterized by stagnation, during which the price list remained stable at the same level — aside from occasional promotions.

For VPS server offerings, the price of the Web Admin Edition package changed from $5.00 to $10.00, while for dedicated servers, the same change was observed for the Web Admin Edition package, as well as a price change for the Web Host Edition from $35.00 to $45.00.

These changes accustomed Plesk Panel users to competitive pricing relative to the package capabilities. During the same period, cPanel recorded annual price increases.

Price Trends: 2020-2024

During the period from 2020 to 2024, we observed notable changes in the pricing of packages for both VPS and dedicated servers. This analysis separates monthly and annual billing cycles, providing insights into the incremental growth of each package’s cost.

VPS and Dedicated Servers (Web Admin and Web Pro Editions)

For both VPS and dedicated server environments, the Web Admin Edition and Web Pro Edition packages maintained identical pricing structures. This uniformity simplifies the analysis for these two categories.

The Web Admin Edition package in the monthly billing at the beginning of 2020 cost $10.00, whereas now its price is $15.50. This is an increase of 55.00%,. In the case of annual billing, the price surged from $110.04 to $169.56, which represents a growth of 54.07%.

The Web Pro Edition package follows a similar trend as in the monthly billing, it cost $15.00 at the start of 2020, whereas now its price is $23.50. This is an increase of 56%. In the case of annual billing, the price escalated from $165.00 to $257.04, which represents a growth of 55.78%.

Web Host Edition

The Web Host Edition for dedicated servers displayed a more significant price adjustment, especially when compared to its VPS counterpart. The highest available Web Host package, primarily aimed at large companies, also saw changes over the years 2020 – 2024. The increases are indeed spectacular:

In the case of dedicated servers and monthly billing, there is an increase from $45.00 to $67.00, amounting to 48.89%. Annual billing shows increases from $495.00 to $733.56, yielding a total of 48.19%.

VPS servers were not spared either, as monthly billing jumped from $25.00 to $45.50, representing a 62% price increase, and annual billing from $275.04 is now $445.56, which is an increase of 62%.

These adjustments not only illustrate the evolving pricing landscape within the web hosting industry but also reflect a strategic adaptation to market demands and operational costs. Interestingly, the price increments for the first two packages are consistent across VPS and dedicated server platforms, indicating a streamlined pricing strategy for these services. The significant uptick in the Web Host Edition’s cost for dedicated servers underscores the premium placed on high-capacity hosting solutions.

Where do such changes come from?

The recent price increases observed in the Plesk Panel offerings can be attributed to several factors, reflecting broader trends in the web hosting industry as well as specific strategic decisions by Webpros, the company behind Plesk. Here’s a breakdown of the potential reasons behind these pricing adjustments:

• Market Dynamics and Subscription Growth Limit: Initially, the rapid increase in prices may have been a response to hitting a growth ceiling in new subscriptions. As the influx of new customers begins to stabilize, the momentum for dramatic price hikes diminishes. This stabilization suggests that earlier price escalations were partly aimed at managing the pace of new user acquisition and aligning service capabilities with demand.
• Competition and Premium Positioning: The emergence of competitive solutions in the market can also drive price changes. By increasing the cost of its packages, Plesk may be positioning itself as a premium offering within the enterprise sector. This strategy implies that higher prices are justified by the advanced features and reliability that Plesk provides, distinguishing it from other solutions and appealing to businesses looking for top-tier hosting services.
• Continuous Software Development: Another significant factor behind the price adjustments is the ongoing development and enhancement of the Plesk software. Regular updates introduce new functionalities, such as an integrated website builder and a sophisticated WordPress management tool, which are particularly valued by interactive agencies. These enhancements contribute to the platform’s overall value proposition, justifying the higher costs associated with accessing the latest and most advanced features.

It should also be borne in mind that determining the exact reasons for the price changes is challenging, as Webpros does not publicly release detailed sales or financial reports related to Plesk. Therefore, any analysis of the pricing trends and their underlying causes must be speculative, based on opinions and information from various sources within the industry. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to pinpoint the precise drivers of price adjustments, leaving room for interpretation based on observed market behavior and product evolution.

In conclusion, while the specific reasons behind Plesk’s pricing strategy may be complex and multifaceted, it’s clear that a combination of market positioning, product development, and industry dynamics plays a role in shaping these decisions. As the web hosting landscape continues to evolve, Plesk’s approach to pricing will likely reflect both its response to competitive pressures and its commitment to offering a high-quality, premium service to its enterprise-level customers.

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cPanel price adjustments: a five-year perspective

The notable increase in cPanel package prices between 2019 and 2024 presents a fascinating case study in the dynamics of market demand and strategic pricing. It is estimated from various sources that during this period, there was a steady increase in the number of active subscriptions for individual cPanel software packages. Unfortunately, the company does not officially disclose the exact number of active subscriptions; however, many sources speak of year-over-year increases of 12.5%, 11.11%, 10%, and 9.09%, respectively. Therefore, it can be assumed that with a constant number of active clients, there are also steady revenue increases.

And indeed, one can believe this by looking at the interest in the service by both small agencies and large hosting companies offering shared services or VPS servers with pre-installed packages. It also reinforces the way licenses are billed – which are strictly dependent on the number of active users per hosting account.

Comparing the aforementioned growth indicators with the percentage increase in cPanel package prices – 16.6% for Solo, a striking 50% for Admin, 43.3% for Pro, and 35.5% for Premier over the course of these 5 years — reveals a discrepancy suggests that the price adjustments were influenced by more than just the operational costs and developmental investments. With such a billing model, cPanel’s financial situation is certainly in a much better position than its sibling Plesk Panel. So, what influences such an approach in pricing policy? In my opinion, it is the desire to maximize revenue and profits in light of a subscriber base that may not be growing as quickly as before, and although the company still reports positive financial results, by the end of each year, they are not as high as in previous years.

Could it be a fear of total stagnation? It seems so to me, especially looking at this disparity of price increases versus stabilization of financial issues. The financial results for Q1 and Q2.2024 and their comparison with previous years should give an answer as to whether we can expect further increases in subscription packages this year as well.

Critical response from customers

The small clients, representing hobby projects or very small marketing agencies using cPanel on their servers, seem to be the most affected by the price increases. It is precisely this group of clients that has not remained indifferent to the changes in prices.

The reaction has been markedly critical, especially in light of the most recent price hike in December 2023. This period of adjustment saw not only a continuation of the trend in rising costs but also a moment when the discontent among the user base became particularly vocal. Many long-standing clients, accustomed to the platform’s reliability and service quality, found themselves re-evaluating the cost-benefit ratio of their cPanel subscriptions.

Submission

Over the past few years, prices for cPanel services have shown a steady upward trend, reflecting the general trend of rising costs in the hosting industry. Each year has brought successive increases, although in some periods prices have remained stable, reflecting a varied approach to pricing. Particularly significant was the increase in the price of the Admin package, which recorded the largest percentage increase in the period under review, reaching about 50% over the initial price. This change underscores the challenges faced by users of this package, in the context of growing expenses for hosting services.

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Starting September 2024, the annual fee for .com domains will rise to $10.26 from the current $9.59. This 7% hike, marking the culmination of a series of allowed increases over the past four years, is attributed to contractual terms with ICANN and is part of a broader strategy amidst the changing landscape of domain registrations and internet usage.

The upcoming price hike for .com and .net domains by Verisign can be attributed, in part, to the decrease in the number of domains managed. Regulatory and economic changes in China have significantly impacted this, leading to a reduction of 1.2 million domains. This move aims to bolster Verisign’s financial standing, especially noteworthy given the company’s 4.8% revenue increase in 2023. This growth, partially fueled by a similar domain price increase last year, underscores the company’s response to market dynamics and its efforts to sustain financial health amidst declining domain registrations.

Conclusion

Verisign’s decision underscores the delicate balance that companies must strike between maintaining financial stability and adapting to customer needs. What more can we say… the path the company has taken may also be followed by other domain resellers, which will involve general changes in domain registration prices in the market.

When the dust settled after the recent .com domain price hike, the digital community found itself at a crossroads. Today, again, the impending .com domain price adjustment heralds a new chapter in the domain landscape. For now, the decision has resonated with the media, so let’s wait and see how events unfold in the coming months. We still have some time until September.

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