Panelica vs CWP
A side-by-side look at Panelica and CWP (CentOS Web Panel) using each project's official pages and public security advisories. Every number on this page is verifiable on the source publisher's own site.
What you actually pay each month
Pricing as published on each project's own pricing page. CWP figures are from centos-webpanel.com / control-webpanel.com.
Where Panelica wins, where CWP holds up
Feature presence on each platform without third-party add-ons. Partial means the feature exists but is limited or requires a paid extension.
| Feature | Panelica | CWP |
|---|---|---|
| Built-in AI co-pilot | OpsAI · 15 experts | , |
| Native iOS & Android apps | ✓ App Store / Google Play | , |
| PHP version coverage | PHP 8.3+ (always current) | PHP 7.4–8.4 (no 8.5) |
| Ubuntu LTS support | 22.04 / 24.04 / 26.04 | , |
| Debian support | 12 / 13 | , |
| RHEL family support | Ubuntu/Debian only | ✓ AlmaLinux / Rocky / Oracle |
| One-click migration in | ✓ 7-step pipeline + hash preservation | cPanel-only conversion script |
| Docker manager | ✓ 160+ one-click templates | Basic Docker module |
| 5-layer kernel isolation | ✓ cgroups + ns + chroot + FPM + perms | Partial (FPM + perms) |
| WordPress Toolkit | ✓ Install + harden + Benchmark + Redis Boost | App installer only |
| Live SSE / WebSocket UI | ✓ No reloads | , |
| Cloudflare 8-tab integration | ✓ DNS, Zones, Analytics, WAF, Pages, R2… | DNS only |
| 42-color white-label | ✓ Per-plan or per-tenant | Logo only |
| Public CVEs in KEV catalog (2025) | None | CVE-2025-48703 |
When each one is the right choice
CWP is a real product with real users. We are not pretending it is bad. It is optimized for a different audience, and we want operators to make the right call for their own environment.
Choose Panelica when…
- You run, or want to run, on Ubuntu LTS or Debian.
- You want a modern Go + React stack with a single binary, not a PHP and Bash script collection.
- Your customers ask for native iOS and Android apps with push notifications and biometric login.
- You want a built-in AI co-pilot that already knows the panel and runs locally on your server.
- Predictable flat licensing with no per-account or per-IP fees matters as you grow.
- Active, multi-engineer development with a public roadmap and dual-pushed Git history matters.
Stay with CWP when…
- You are committed to AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux or Oracle Linux for the long term.
- Your stack is already built around the CWP-specific cPanel-to-CWP conversion script.
- You have internal staff who are comfortable with the legacy PHP + Bash architecture.
- You are at the very low end of the budget curve and the free 10-user tier is enough.
- You do not need a modern UI, AI co-pilot, mobile apps or 160+ Docker templates today.
Move from CWP without resetting a single password
The Panelica importer connects over SSH, discovers every site on the CWP server, then copies files, MySQL databases, mailboxes and SSL certificates. Email and database password hashes are carried byte-for-byte, so end users keep their existing logins.
Free forever. Really.
Use the full feature set for 14 days. After that, you keep one domain forever, free, with no credit card, no expiry, no degraded functionality. Move up to Professional ($4.99/mo) only when you outgrow it.
Real prices, verifiable on our pricing page. No per-IP licensing, no per-account fees, no add-on charges.
About switching from CWP
Does CWP support PHP 8.5?
No. The CWP PHP Selector lists PHP 7.4 through 8.4 as of 2026. PHP 8.5, released by the PHP project in late 2025, is not in the selector. Panelica ships PHP 8.3 and newer (PHP 8.3+) with per-user FPM pool isolation. Every new PHP release is added automatically as the PHP project ships it, so you do not pin to a specific minor version.
Does CWP run on Ubuntu or Debian?
No. CWP only supports the RHEL family: CentOS Stream, AlmaLinux, Rocky Linux and Oracle Linux. If your fleet is built on Ubuntu LTS or Debian (which is the majority of public cloud images), CWP is not a deployment option. Panelica supports Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, 26.04 LTS and Debian 12 and 13.
What is CVE-2025-48703 and should I care?
It is an unauthenticated remote code execution flaw in the CWP file-manager 'changePerm' endpoint, disclosed in 2025. CISA (the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog and gave federal agencies until November 25, 2025 to patch or stop using the product. The fix shipped in CWP 0.9.8.1205. If you run CWP, you should be on the latest patched version. The historical record is publicly searchable in the CISA KEV catalog.
Can I migrate from CWP to Panelica?
Yes. Panelica imports CWP accounts over SSH and the panel API. Files, MySQL databases and mailboxes are carried over, with email password hashes (SHA512-CRYPT) and MySQL password hashes preserved byte-for-byte. End users never reset a password. Tested with customer accounts up to 100 GB.
What does CWP do better than Panelica today?
CWP has a longer history on the RHEL family and a free tier with no time limit (up to 10 user accounts). If your environment is locked to AlmaLinux or Rocky Linux and you only need the basics, CWP can be the cheapest option on day one. Panelica's flat license, AI co-pilot, mobile apps, modern stack and active multi-engineer team become more valuable as you grow past a handful of accounts.
Is Panelica really free?
Yes. The Starter plan is $0 forever. Full feature access for 14 days, then one domain stays free, with no credit card, no expiry, no degraded functionality. Move up to Professional ($4.99/month) only when you outgrow it.