With cPanel licensing costs continuing to rise, server administrators and web hosts are constantly on the lookout for solid alternatives. I recently took Reqad for a spin to see if it’s ready to challenge the big players in the web hosting space.
While the interface is a breath of fresh air, the panel currently feels a few key features short of being a true cPanel competitor. Here is my breakdown of what to expect, what works, and where it falls short.
🛠️ The Installation Experience & Gotchas
If you are planning to test Reqad, be prepared for a few surprises during setup:
- SSH Key Lockout: The installer automatically adds SSH keys and disables password authentication. This caught me off guard—I’ve never had a panel lock me out of standard SSH password login without warning during initial setup. Pro tip: Make sure you generate and save your SSH keys before running the installer.
- Post-Install Tweaks: Don’t expect a one-click deployment where everything “just works.” You will likely need to adjust configuration settings via the command line to get your first site running properly.
- DNS Prerequisites: Double-check your PTR (reverse DNS) records before installing. Forgetting this bit created an avoidable headache during my setup.
💚 What Works Well
Despite the setup hiccups, there is a lot to like about the core user experience once you get inside:
- Clean, Modern UI: The layout is uncluttered and visually appealing.
- Intuitive Navigation: The menu structure is logical, making it easy to find your way around without getting lost in nested submenus.
- Streamlined Account Creation: Adding new accounts is refreshingly simple and straightforward.
- Solid Backup Capabilities: Built-in support for nightly local backups and offsite server transfers gives great peace of mind right out of the box.
⚠️ Key Pain Points & Missing Features
If Reqad wants to win over traditional cPanel users, there are several essential hosting features and workflows that need attention:
1. Essential Hosting Tools are Missing
- No FTP Server: For web hosts targeting classic cPanel users, native FTP access is a non-negotiable requirement.
- File Manager Restrictions: You currently cannot move files directly inside the file manager, which severely limits basic site maintenance.
- Broken PHP Version Switching: Changing PHP versions via the GUI didn’t seem to apply or work properly during testing.
- No Web Host / Package System: There is no way to create hosting packages/tiers. Adding an optional toggle for account limits and packages would immediately make this viable for resellers and small hosts.
2. “Hidden” Feature Modules
- Email & Database Services: While documentation mentions mail server support, there was no visible option in the control panel to manage or configure email.
- Manual Dependencies: Roughly a third of the advertised features (including MariaDB and phpMyAdmin) require manual SSH installation rather than being deployable via a simple toggle in the dashboard.
3. Documentation & Community Support
- Surface-Level Knowledge Base: The docs claim features like migration are supported, but they lack step-by-step guides on how to perform them.
- No Official Community Forum: There is currently no central forum to leave feedback, report bugs, or engage with other administrators.
💡 The Verdict
Reqad has huge potential thanks to its clean aesthetic and lightweight design. However, forcing admins back into the SSH terminal to install core services (like database tools and mail) defeats the main purpose of using a control panel in the first place.
Until native file management, automated component deployment, and web hosting packages are built directly into the UI, Reqad won’t be able to compete directly with established panels like cPanel or DirectAdmin. It’s definitely a project to watch, but it needs a few more updates before it’s ready for production web hosting environments.
