Runcloud.io↗︎ is a SaaS that helps set up, configure, manage, and monitor your Virtual Private Servers from a beautifully designed control panel. With Runcloud you have the option of two different server stacks, OpenLiteSpeed and Nginx.
Runcloud has some fantastic features for WordPress users which include staging websites, application cloning, free SSL, internal backups, built-in cache, object cache, and a lot of other advanced features and tools for developers.
Runcloud is not exclusive to WordPress and you can install any PHP-based application or Node.JS apps such as Ghost CMS.
Runcloud Alternatives
RunCloud was once at the top of its game, but many users now feel the service has plateaued. With no significant new features, the long-promised agency offering still absent, and recent price increases, competitors have stepped up, making the market more competitive and offering better pricing options.
XCloud
Plans From: $5 p/server – Visit Website
Just like RunCloud, xCloud is a cloud hosting and server management platform designed to simplify the deployment and management of WordPress websites and other apps.
It allows users to connect their own VPS or opt for xCloud’s managed servers, providing a unified dashboard to monitor server performance, security, and updates. The platform offers features such as one-click WordPress installations, built-in caching, object cache full root access, and team collaboration tools.
Ploi
Plans From: €8 p/server – Visit Website
Ploi, just like Runcloud, helps manage any type of PHP application and offers a neat and easy-to-use one-click WordPress installer.
Unlike RunCloud, which has introduced a range of useful site management and performance tools, Ploi offers far fewer options in that area. Users get the basics such as free SSL certificates, staging environments, and file backups, but not much beyond that.
Ploi is geared more towards Laravel developers rather than general-purpose hosting users.
SpinupWP
Plans From: $12 – Visit Website
SpinupWP is a WordPress only hosting control panel that developers describe as ‘a remote control for your server, designed for WordPress’.
SpinupWP was built by the Delicious Brain team, so you can expect professional guidance from WordPress experts.
SpinupWP offers a fine-tuned Nginx stack that includes full-page cache, object cache, free SSL certificates powered by Let’s Encrypt, an external backups facilitator, WP-Cli preloaded and security.
GridPane
Plans From: $19 – Visit Website
Gridpane is also a WordPress-only hosting control panel but with a higher price tag.
Gridpane is aimed at agencies and offers advanced features such as 7G, or ModSecurity 3+ WAF, server hardening, hourly backups, malware scanners, bespoke engineering, and advanced staging features.
GridPane has the option of two stacks, OLS and NGINX. They also offer complete managed WordPress hosting.
ServerPilot
Plans From: $5 p/server – Visit Website
ServerPilot is one of the oldest SaaS hosting control panels around and just like RunCloud, ServerPilot is not strictly aimed at WordPress but does have a one-click WordPress installer.
ServerPilot is a basic, no-thrills type of control panel that caters to all types of PHP applications. It offers very little feature-wise compared to the rest on this list but is very secure.
Forge
Plans From: $12 – Visit Website
Forge (by Lavarel) allows you to provision and deploy unlimited PHP applications on any cloud hosting provider. Like ServerPilot it too offers a simple no-thrills user interface to manage your servers.
Forge is aimed at developers and includes a one-click WordPress installer, free SSL certificates, and database backups if you are a business user.
Server Avatar
Plans From: $9 – Visit Website
Server Avatar offers three stacks, LAMP, LEMP and OLS.
The panel caters for all types of PHP apps and does not just focus on WordPress.
Having said that, the panel does have handy tools which WordPress users will appreciate, such as application cloning, staging websites and SSL management.
CloudPages
Plans From: $10 – Visit Website
Cloud Pages is a WordPress management platform built on the OpenLiteSpeed stack, offering features similar to RunCloud with some extras like MySQL Optimizer, Bubblewrap, and LiteSpeed stats. Led by Usman Nasir, the creator of CyberPanel, it’s a serious contender for developers and agencies seeking a powerful, managed server control panel.
Cloud Hosting Control Panels Explained
SaaS cloud hosting control panels are a popular way to manage your WordPress site. They allow you to leverage the speed and reliability of leading cloud providers like DigitalOcean, Amazon Lightsail, and Linode, without the high cost of premium managed services like Kinsta or WPEngine.
These control panels take full charge of managing your virtual servers, eliminating the ongoing costs of hiring experts to configure and maintain your infrastructure. They simplify WordPress deployment and come pre-configured with lightweight, optimised server stacks that include every essential tool your site needs.
Expect features like automated backups, free SSL certificates, WordPress optimisation, caching (including object caching), staging environments, robust security, and a suite of developer tools. Together, these make managing your WordPress website straightforward, efficient, and hassle-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Still have questions about cloud control panels? Here are some quick answers to the most common ones.
Can I use a cloud control panel with any cloud provider?
Most cloud control panels support popular cloud providers like DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS, and others, but compatibility may vary depending on the panel. Always check if your preferred cloud provider is supported.
Do cloud control panels require technical knowledge?
Cloud hosting control panels are designed to simplify server management and reduce the need for deep technical knowledge. However, basic understanding of cloud hosting and server concepts is helpful, especially if you opt for self-hosted versions.
How do cloud control panels help reduce costs?
By automating server management and maintenance, cloud control panels eliminate the need to hire professional sysadmins or managed hosting services, lowering your overall hosting costs.
Image was generated using Google’s Nano Banana.
