If you’re managing websites through a cPanel hosting account, you might have come across the term “addon domains” or ability to add additional domains to the hosting service. This feature can be incredibly convenient for hosting multiple websites on a single plan, but it also comes with its own set of advantages, disadvantages, and potential risks.
In this article we’ll explore what addon domains are, when to use them, and the challenges you may face.
What Are Addon Domains?
Addon domains allow you to host additional, separate websites under a single cPanel account. Unlike subdomains, these websites are entirely independent, with their own unique domain name and files. They are stored in separate folders within the main account’s directory structure.
For example, if your primary domain is example.com and you add mynewsite.com as an addon domain, cPanel will create a folder such as /mynewsite to store the new website’s files. Despite being part of the same hosting account, the addon domain functions as its own distinct website.
For reasons unknown but highly suspected to be excessive drug use within the cPanel UX department , in recent versions of cPanel the term ‘Addon Domain’ and ‘Alias Domain’ was merged into the ‘Domains’ tool, only further adding to the confusion. The functionality and principles of how it works are the same though. Thanks cPanel!
Advantages of Addon Domains
Cost-Effective
Addon domains let you host multiple websites without purchasing additional hosting plans or consuming additional cPanel licenses. This can be especially appealing for individuals or small businesses looking to save money.
Centralized Management
Since all your websites share the same cPanel account, managing them becomes more streamlined. You can access everything through a single dashboard, making updates and maintenance more straightforward.
Personal Use
If you’re managing non-critical websites or projects that don’t require heavy resources, addon domains can be a practical solution as it easily allows you to add more websites as needed.
Disadvantages of Addon Domains
Shared Resources
All websites hosted as addon domains share the same server resources—CPU, memory, disk space, inodes, I/O and bandwidth. If one site experiences high traffic or resource usage, it can affect the performance of all other websites on the account. Hosting multiple WordPress sites and in particular Woocommerce Stores is a quick way to eat up all the resources on a service.
Security Vulnerabilities
Since all domains and addon domains are hosted under a single cPanel account, they share the same Linux user and file system. A security breach in one website can compromise all the others. For example, an attacker exploiting a vulnerability in one site’s code could gain access to files for all sites in the account.
Limited User Access
cPanel does not allow you to create separate login credentials for individual addon domains. This limitation can be problematic if you want to grant someone access to only one websites file and database.
Backup Challenges
Backing up or migrating an addon domain is less straightforward compared to a standalone cPanel account. You cannot easily generate a backup for just one addon domain—the backup will include all websites under the account.
Risk of Suspension
If one website exceeds server quotas or violates hosting provider policies, your entire account, including all addon domains, may be suspended. This brings all your websites offline simultaneously.
This is very common if one website or email account is compromised, which if you have been around WordPress for any length of time, happens more frequently than it should.
When Should Addon Domains Be Used?
Addon domains are suitable in the following scenarios:
- Domain Aliases: Where you have multiple domains for the site redirecting to the main site
- Personal Projects: If the websites are non-critical and managed by the same person or organization.
- Minimal Resource Usage: When all websites have predictable and consistent resource requirements.
- Technical Integration: If websites share databases or files, such as in a WordPress Multisite setup.
- No Sensitive Data: Avoid using addon domains for websites that handle sensitive user or business data.
- Small-Scale Operations: For hosting a few personal blogs or hobby sites without needing extensive security or management features.
When to Avoid Addon Domains
Business-Critical Websites
For businesses or e-commerce platforms, it’s often worth the extra cost to host each website on its own plan. This reduces risks associated with shared resources and security vulnerabilities.
High Resource Demands
If any of your websites require significant resources or are prone to traffic spikes, hosting them as addon domains can lead to performance issues or sites not loading.
Multi-User Access Requirements
In situations where multiple users or developers need access to specific websites and their cPanel accounts, standalone hosting plans or reseller accounts are far better suited.
Alternatives to Addon Domains
Reseller Hosting
Reseller hosting allows you to create multiple, independent cPanel accounts. Each website is isolated, reducing the risks of shared resources and security vulnerabilities. While this option is more expensive than using addon domains, it’s ideal for agencies or businesses managing multiple client websites.
For Australian Reseller hosting, checkout Synergy Wholesale who have a very scalable cost effective platform for Web Professionals of any size or DreamIT Host if you are after some more traditional cPanel or DirectAdmin Reseller plans. If you want to host in the United States, Interserver has some sweet reseller deals.
Separate Hosting Plans
For the highest level of security, flexability and performance, consider hosting each website on its own plan. This option provides complete isolation between sites, ensuring one website’s issues don’t affect the others.
Common Misconceptions
“Unlimited Websites”
Many hosting providers market plans as allowing unlimited addon domains. However, “unlimited” refers to the count of domains, not the resources available. Resource limits like storage, bandwidth, and CPU usage still apply.
“Separate and Independent Sites”
While addon domains function as independent websites, they are not truly isolated. Security and performance issues with one site affect all sites on the account.
“Addon Domains Are Ideal for Resellers”
Addon domains may seem like a cost-effective option for resellers and those getting into the hosting scene, but the inability to provide clients with independent cPanel access and shared resource issues make them unsuitable for this purpose.
“You Can Easily Upgrade Addon Domains to Separate Accounts Later”
While it’s technically possible to split a cPanel addon domain into its own standalone account later, the process is not as straightforward as it might seem and can cause several complications. One common issue arises from database names, various configurations and almost always requires the assistance of the hosting provider which depending on their competence, can be problematic.
Wrap Up
Addon domains are a practical solution for hosting multiple websites under a single account, but they come with trade-offs and limitations that are not immediately obvious .
Understanding the benefits and limitations of addon domains ensures you make informed decisions about your hosting strategy, balancing convenience and security effectively.
If you have any questions or thoughts about Addon Domains, please leave a comment below