Table of contents

What is WHM?Who needs WHM access?What can you do with WHM?Is WHM included with all hosting plans?How to log in to WHMWHM alternativesBenefits of using WHMChallengesNext stepsAdditional resources

Get the industry’s best web hosting◦ Fastest speeds
◦ Fully managed options
◦ 24/7 expert support

What is Web Hosting → WHM

What is web host management (WHM)? A complete beginner’s guide

WHM might sound like something only hosting providers use, but it’s also one of the most powerful tools available to developers, freelancers, and businesses that manage more than one website. WHM gives you access to the backend of your server, allowing you to control multiple websites, hosting packages, and cPanel accounts from one dashboard.

If you’re using a VPS, dedicated server, or reseller hosting plan, WHM is how you make the most of it.

Ready to get started?

Get started with premium web hosting services for every platform and purpose—from WordPress to Magento, reseller to enterprise domains.

Explore Web Hosting

What is WHM?

WHM stands for Web Host Manager, and it’s a web-based control panel that gives you administrative access to a server so you can manage multiple cPanel accounts. While cPanel is made for end users to manage their individual websites, WHM is built for higher-level tasks like creating accounts, setting resource limits, and customizing hosting environments.

You’ll typically get access to WHM with:

Reseller hosting plans
VPS or dedicated servers with cPanel installed
Managed hosting environments that include cPanel/WHM licenses

WHM vs cPanel: what’s the difference?

Users often confuse WHM with cPanel, because they’re closely linked, but they serve different roles in a hosting environment. WHM controls the server and user accounts; cPanel controls the websites within those accounts.

Here’s a breakdown of how they compare:

Feature	WHM	cPanel
Purpose	Server and account management	Website and hosting management
Access Level	Admin/root or reseller	End-user
Creates/manages	cPanel accounts	Individual websites
Common Use Cases	Resellers, agencies, sysadmins	Website owners, clients
Controls	Resource limits, DNS, security	Files, emails, domains
URL Access	https://yourdomain.com:2087	https://yourdomain.com:2083

Think of WHM as the landlord, and cPanel as each individual tenant’s apartment dashboard.

Who needs WHM access?

You don’t need WHM if you’re just running a single website on shared hosting. But if you’re managing multiple websites or offering hosting to others, WHM is essential. It’s commonly used by:

Freelancers or developers who manage hosting for multiple clients
Digital agencies that bundle hosting with design or maintenance services
Web hosting resellers who provide white-labeled cPanel accounts
Businesses with multiple internal websites or brand domains
System administrators running VPS or dedicated servers

What can you do with WHM?

WHM gives you the tools to manage your hosting environment efficiently. Here’s what you can do with it:

1. Create and manage cPanel accounts

You can create a separate cPanel account for each domain or client, each with their own login and resource limits (disk space, bandwidth, email accounts, etc.).

2. Manage DNS zones

WHM lets you edit DNS records for each domain, including A records, CNAMEs, MX records, and more. You can also create custom nameservers.

3. Customize hosting packages

You can create and assign hosting packages that define what each cPanel account can access—like storage space, addon domains, email limits, and features.

4. Suspend, unsuspend, or terminate accounts

If a client doesn’t pay, or if you need to pause access for security reasons, WHM lets you suspend accounts. You can also delete them entirely.

5. Monitor server health and usage

WHM includes tools to track CPU, memory, and disk usage in real time. You can also view logs and process managers to troubleshoot issues.

6. Configure security and backups

Set brute force protection, install SSL certificates, enable firewalls, and schedule account-level or server-wide backups—all from the WHM dashboard.

Is WHM included with all hosting plans?

No—WHM is not available on shared hosting. You’ll need a plan that gives you administrative control:

VPS Hosting: WHM access is included when cPanel is licensed on your server
Dedicated Servers: Full WHM access with root privileges
Reseller Hosting: WHM access included to manage customer cPanel accounts

If you’re not sure whether your plan includes WHM, check with your hosting provider or look for “cPanel/WHM” in your service description.

Explore the latest VPS packages

How to log in to WHM

To access WHM, you’ll use a browser and a special port. Here’s how:

Open a browser and go to https://yourdomain.com:2087 or https://yourserverIP:2087
Log in with your root credentials (for full server control) or reseller credentials (limited to managing assigned accounts)
Once inside, you’ll see the WHM dashboard with account management, security tools, DNS settings, and more

Note: You may need to accept a security warning if your SSL certificate isn’t configured.

WHM alternatives

If you’re not using cPanel-based hosting, there are a couple of other control panels you might encounter:

Plesk – Often used on Windows hosting, but also supports Linux. Offers similar account and website management features with a modern UI.
InterWorx – A lesser-known alternative that separates admin and user control (NodeWorx and SiteWorx). Lightweight and good for smaller servers.

While these tools serve similar purposes, WHM remains the industry standard for cPanel-based VPS and dedicated servers.

Benefits of using WHM

WHM makes it easy to manage a growing number of sites, clients, or projects. Key benefits include:

Centralized control – Manage all cPanel accounts and server settings from one interface
Improved scalability – Easily add new clients or websites as your business grows
Enhanced security – Isolate clients in their own accounts, set limits, and enforce best practices
Time savings – Automate routine tasks like backups, package creation, and account provisioning
Professional hosting experience – Offer branded hosting solutions to clients with full separation and autonomy

Challenges of using WHM

WHM is powerful, but with great power comes … a few learning curves and limitations:

Steeper learning curve – Beginners may feel overwhelmed by the interface and terminology.
Not included with shared hosting – It requires a VPS, dedicated server, or reseller plan.
Can affect multiple sites – Misconfiguring global settings may impact every cPanel account on your server.
Resource responsibility – You’re responsible for updates, security, and performance unless you choose managed hosting.

Next steps for learning WHM

Learning WHM can set you up for success with scalable, secure, and client-ready hosting.

If you’re managing multiple websites or offering hosting to clients, WHM is a must-have tool. It gives you full control and customization over how your cPanel accounts work—without needing to manage every detail manually.

The next step is to choose a hosting solution that fits your needs, and that’s where Liquid Web comes in. We offer the industry’s fastest and most secure VPS and dedicated servers—for Windows or Linux, unmanaged or fully managed.

Click below to explore options or start a chat with one of our hosting experts now.