DirectAdmin is a web hosting control panel: a browser-based dashboard for managing everything inside your hosting account without using the command line.
What you do in it
- Upload and edit website files with the File Manager
- Create email accounts, forwarders and autoresponders
- Create MySQL/MariaDB databases and open phpMyAdmin
- Add and edit DNS records
- Check and manage SSL certificates
- Change the PHP version for a domain
- Install WordPress and other apps with Softaculous
- Schedule cron jobs, read logs and create backups
DirectAdmin vs cPanel
Both do the same job. cPanel is more widely known; DirectAdmin is lighter and less expensive to license, which is part of how hosting stays at £0.99 a month. If you’ve used cPanel, the ideas carry over directly — only the menu names and layout differ.
| cPanel name | DirectAdmin equivalent |
|---|---|
| Zone Editor | DNS Management |
| Email Accounts | E-mail Accounts |
| MySQL Databases | MySQL Management |
| SSL/TLS Status | SSL Certificates |
| Redirects | Site Redirection |
| Backup | Create/Restore Backups |
The Evolution interface
Traxio uses DirectAdmin’s Evolution theme. Features are grouped into sections such as Account Manager, E-mail Manager, Advanced Features, System Info & Files and Extra Features, and there’s a search box at the top that finds any feature by name. A tour of the DirectAdmin dashboard
Want to try DirectAdmin for yourself? Traxio’s DirectAdmin free trial is free for 30 days with no card needed.
New to Traxio? Hosting is 30 days free with no card needed, then £0.99 a month. See what’s included