DirectAdmin in 2025 — The Lightweight Alternative to cPanel and Plesk

#devops #programming #php #cybersecurity

How I Discovered DirectAdmin?

When cPanel raised their prices (again), I started looking for alternatives. Plesk was already on my radar and quickly became my go-to for many projects.
But then I stumbled upon DirectAdmin after which I switched to Plesk.

At first glance, it felt like stepping back in time — simpler interface, fewer flashy features. But after spending time with it, I realized:

DirectAdmin isn’t about bells and whistles. It’s about speed, simplicity, and control.
For certain use cases, especially when budgets are tight, it makes a lot of sense.

What Is DirectAdmin?

DirectAdmin is a lightweight web hosting control panel for Linux servers. It provides the same basics as cPanel and Plesk:

Domain management
Email accounts
FTP
Databases
DNS control

It doesn’t try to be everything. Instead, it focuses on being fast, resource-friendly, and affordable.

That’s why smaller hosting providers and DIY sysadmins love it.

Why Choose DirectAdmin in 2025?

Here are the reasons people (including me) still use DirectAdmin today:

Performance — Very light on server resources, making it ideal for VPS with limited RAM/CPU.
Price — Much cheaper than cPanel and often bundled by VPS providers.
Simplicity — Minimalist design that doesn’t overwhelm beginners.
Stability — Runs reliably for years with low maintenance.
Active development — Regular updates despite being “the underdog”.

But… it also has downsides:

UI feels outdated compared to Plesk.
Smaller ecosystem, fewer extensions.
Some advanced tools (like WordPress staging or Docker integration) are missing.

DirectAdmin Pricing (2025)

One of the strongest selling points is price.

Personal License (up to 20 accounts) → $2/month
Lite License (up to 50 accounts) → $15/month
Standard License (unlimited accounts) → $29/month

Compare that to cPanel’s $24.95+ per month just for 5 accounts. That’s a huge difference.

DirectAdmin vs cPanel vs Plesk

DirectAdmin

OS Support = Linux
Resource Usage = Very light
Price = Low
WordPress Toolkit = Basic
UI = Simple/dated
Add-ons = Limited
Best For = Budget setups, DIY

cPanel

OS Support = Linux
Resource Usage = Medium
Price = High
WordPress Toolkit = Basic
UI = Familiar
Add-ons = Wide
Best For = Resellers, agencies

Plesk

OS Support = Linux & Windows
Resource Usage = Medium-heavy
Price = Medium
WordPress Toolkit = Advanced
UI = Modern
Add-ons = Huge
Best For = Developers, WordPress users

Conclusion:

If you want maximum features → Plesk.
If you want industry standard & compatibility → cPanel.
If you want cheap, stable, lightweight hosting panel → DirectAdmin.

Step-by-Step: Installing DirectAdmin on a VPS

Note: You need a license key before installation. You can get one from DirectAdmin’s official site or from your hosting provider.

Prepare your VPS (CentOS, AlmaLinux, Debian, Ubuntu supported)

ssh root@your_server_ip

Download the installer

wget -O setup.sh https://www.directadmin.com/setup.sh && chmod 755 setup.sh

Run the installer

./setup.sh

Enter your license key when prompted.
Access DirectAdmin in your browser

https://your_server_ip:2222

Secure your panel
Enable SSL
Set strong passwords
Update system & DirectAdmin regularly

Pro Tips for DirectAdmin Users

If you’re migrating from cPanel, use the DirectAdmin migration tools.
Pair with CSF Firewall for easy security hardening.
For WordPress users: Install a plugin like Softaculous to simplify one-click installs.
Regularly backup configs — DirectAdmin’s built-in backup is simple but effective.

Final Thoughts

DirectAdmin isn’t flashy. It doesn’t try to compete with Plesk’s WordPress toolkit or cPanel’s massive ecosystem.

But that’s the point.
If you want lightweight, affordable, no-nonsense hosting management, DirectAdmin is a great choice in 2025.

For me, it’s not my daily driver (I use Plesk more), but it’s my go-to recommendation for anyone who wants reliable control without the price tag of cPanel.