As we approach 2026, it’s time to face a reality many in the web-hosting and reseller space have been quietly preparing for: major licensing platforms are increasing their prices. That includes cPanel, Plesk and WHMCS. At HostingSeekers we’ve pulled together the updated pricing plus implications and actionable steps — so you’re not scrambling when January 1 hits.
(Source: HostingSeekers blog)
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🧾 What’s Changing
cPanel
cPanel’s pricing for 2026 is set to rise across all tiers: for example “Solo” moves from $26.99 up to $29.99, “Admin” From $32.99 to $35.99, “Pro” from $46.99 to $53.99, and “Premier” from $65.99 to $69.99.
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On top of that, the “per account over 100” charge for Premier goes from $0.45 to $0.49.
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cPanel has been steadily raising rates since 2019.
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Plesk
While exact 2026 pricing hasn’t been fully published yet, Plesk has signalled an increase and many in the community anticipate it will affect smaller hosts and resellers disproportionately.
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WHMCS
WHMCS’s new pricing structure from Jan 1 2026 moves the “Plus” tier (up to 250 clients) to $34.95/month; “Professional” (up to 500 clients) to $54.95/month.
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For larger client volumes: Business 1,000 clients at $84.95/month, Business 2,500 at $179.95/month, up to Business 50,000 and even “Unlimited”.
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*Why You Should Care
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Thin margins are at risk: Many resellers operate on small margins. When licensing costs go up, either you absorb the hit or pass it on to your customers — either way, profitability or competitiveness may suffer.
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Account volume matters: If you manage hundreds or thousands of accounts, the per-account incremental cost adds up quickly.
Client push-back potential: If hosts raise their prices, end-customers may question the value or look for alternatives.
Tool-chain dependency: If you rely heavily on WHMCS for billing + automation, or on cPanel/Plesk for hosting control panels, you’re locked in unless you plan ahead.
*Your Game Plan
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Here’s a suggested plan you can follow (or customise) to navigate this transition smoothly:
Audit your current licensing footprint
Count how many accounts/licenses you hold with cPanel, Plesk, WHMCS.
Map which tier you’re in today and project where you’ll end up under the new pricing.
Determine how much your costs will increase (roughly).
Communicate early with stakeholders
Let your end-customers (e.g., resellers or site-owners) know licensing changes are coming and may affect pricing or offerings next year.
Be transparent: “Because our upstream tools are increasing, we’re reviewing how that impacts our plans.”
Explore alternatives / cost-mitigation strategies
Look at cheaper or open-source alternatives for control panels (especially if you’re small or starting out).
Consider whether you can negotiate volume discounts with your licensing vendor or move to a different model.
Analyse whether you can rationalise: fewer accounts, more efficient usage, or reconsider tiers.
Adjust your pricing and business model
If your costs go up, you’ll likely need to adjust your plan pricing (or the value you deliver).
Consider offering tiered plans with different feature-sets to offset the net increase.
Use the cost-increase as an opportunity to upsell value (e.g., added management, security, backups).
Monitor the market & timing
Keep an eye on how your competitors respond. Will they absorb or pass on the cost?
The date to watch is January 1, 2026: that’s when the new pricing for these licences kicks in.
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Decide your cut-off date for existing plans before new pricing applies (e.g., “Lock in old pricing if you sign up before 31 Dec”).
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