What Is the Difference Between cPanel and WHM Documentation on docs.cpanel.net?

Updated

The difference comes down to your role. The cPanel User section covers the account-level interface where a site owner manages email, files, domains, and databases. The WHM User section covers the server-level interface where a reseller or administrator manages accounts, services, and server configuration. Choose the section that matches the login you have; if you have both, start with cPanel for day-to-day tasks and WHM for server administration.

The two documentation tracks at a glance

The docs.cpanel.net homepage presents both tracks side by side, each with its own description and interface documentation.

Dimension cPanel User docs WHM User docs
Described on the homepage as Access your cPanel account, learn cPanel features, navigate cPanel interfaces Access your WHM account, learn WHM features, navigate WHM interfaces
Scope Account-level features and interfaces Server management features and interfaces
Typical reader Site owner or account holder Reseller, administrator, or server operator
Interface documentation cPanel Interface WHM Interface
Version selection Yes, via the interface version selector Yes, via the interface version selector

Both tracks sit alongside shared resources: Knowledge Base, Manage2, Webmail, API, EA4 (EasyApache 4), Installation Guide, Video Tutorials, and Roadmaps. Those shared sections are not split by role, so they are worth checking when your question crosses both interfaces.

Which section should you open?

Use the login you actually have as the deciding factor:

  • You can sign in to cPanel but not WHM. Stay in the cPanel User track. Your tasks — mail accounts, file management, domains, databases — are documented under cPanel features and the cPanel Interface pages.
  • You can sign in to WHM. Use the WHM User track for account creation, package and service management, and server-level settings. The WHM Interface pages document those screens.
  • You hold both logins. Consult cPanel docs for what an account holder sees and WHM docs for what the administrator controls. When a task spans both, such as creating an account in WHM and then configuring it in cPanel, read the WHM page first and follow through to the cPanel page.
  • You are not sure which interface a screen belongs to. Check the page's location in the navigation: pages filed under cPanel Interface describe account-level screens, and pages under WHM Interface describe server-level screens.

The interface version selector matters

Both tracks let you choose your interface version. The homepage shows a selector with Jupiter and Meridian options, and the WHM Interface entry displays a version label (v138 in the current page content). Interface layouts and menu paths can differ between versions, so set the selector to the version your account actually runs before following step-by-step instructions. If a documented menu item does not appear where the page says, a version mismatch is the first thing to check.

Where to go for common needs

  • Learning a specific feature (for example, setting up an email account or managing files): cPanel User docs, then the relevant feature page.
  • Administering accounts or the server (for example, creating a hosting account or adjusting server services): WHM User docs.
  • Installation, EasyApache 4, or API work: the shared sections — Installation Guide, EA4, and API — rather than either user track.
  • Troubleshooting an unfamiliar problem: the Knowledge Base, which is listed separately from both user tracks.

The site also notes that it logs search terms to improve its documentation, so the search box is a reasonable first stop when you know the feature name but not its section.