A control panel for a virtual private server also called a VPS is essential for the daily operation, such as it handles domain names, email addresses, MySQL (PHPMyAdmin), and user accounts in a any more of a user-friendly environment. It also allows the administrator or admin to be able to add and remove different add-ons, auto installers, etc.
There are plenty of free and paid control panels out there, and some free are better than others and the same applies to paid control panels as well but either require a one time payment for that version or a lifetime subscription or some such a sea panel require a monthly or yearly subscription in which they give you a license key.
Over the past 15 years, I have been able to try different control panels, some free, and some paid such as cPanel, but regards, if it is free or paid, some of the basic functions are boiled down to pretty much the same thing. The only difference is how the user interface is configured and organized.
Most control panels regardless if they are free or paid is going to have at least one user account usually the administrator account or known as admin account, and some may allow a few users while others will allow an unlimited number of users. It will also allow you to add domain names, email addresses, MySQL (PHPMyAdmin), and enable auto installers.
Finally, the control panel also handles the security for logging how many failed attempts have been made whether it is directly to the control, panel itself, trying to access email, logging into FTP or MySQL (PHPMyAdmin).
Free
First, we’re going to cover free control panels that you can use them absolutely free although some give you the option to purchase an additional bells and whistles, either by paying a one time license fee or a monthly or yearly subscription.
control-webpanel.com/cwppro – Free with the option to purchase a subscription on a monthly or yearly basis, to enhance the features of the Control panel. To install see this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvRu0AxsjWw.
ISPConfig.org – Free Control panel that has three different user interface admin, resellers, and users.
aapanel.com – is a free Control panel that has the option to purchase a Subscription to enhance the
Vesta Control Panel – is a free control panel that has the option To purchase a lifetime subscription of accessing files to the online file manager.
myvestacp.com – is more of a clone of VestaCP, it is also free.