{"id":11859,"date":"2025-08-21T11:54:11","date_gmt":"2025-08-21T11:54:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/?p=11859"},"modified":"2026-02-09T12:25:29","modified_gmt":"2026-02-09T12:25:29","slug":"install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install Softaculous on cPanel\/WHM (2026 Guide)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Running a VPS or dedicated server with <strong>cPanel\/WHM<\/strong>? Then you probably know the pain of setting up apps manually\u2014creating databases, uploading files, tweaking permissions\u2026 it\u2019s time-consuming and error-prone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s exactly where <strong>Softaculous<\/strong> comes in. Think of it as the <strong>\u201capp store\u201d for your hosting panel<\/strong>. With one click, you can deploy WordPress, Joomla, Magento, Laravel, or over <strong>400+ popular apps<\/strong> without lifting a finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this guide, I\u2019ll show you:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>What Softaculous is and why it\u2019s worth installing<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The exact <strong>prerequisites<\/strong> before starting<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Step-by-step installation<\/strong> on both SSH &amp; WHM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>How to <strong>verify, configure, and secure<\/strong> it after setup<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Troubleshooting tips<\/strong> if something goes wrong<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s get your server working smarter, not harder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#What_is_Softaculous_and_Why_You_Should_Care\" >What is Softaculous (and Why You Should Care)?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#Prerequisites_Before_Installing_Softaculous\" >Prerequisites Before Installing Softaculous<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#Step_1_Install_Softaculous_on_Your_Server\" >Step 1: Install Softaculous on Your Server<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#Method_A_SSH_Fastest_Most_Reliable\" >Method A: SSH (Fastest &amp; Most Reliable)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#Method_B_WHM_Point-and-Click\" >Method B: WHM (Point-and-Click)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#Step_2_Verify_Your_Installation\" >Step 2: Verify Your Installation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#Step_3_Configure_Smart_Defaults_Highly_Recommended\" >Step 3: Configure Smart Defaults (Highly Recommended)<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#Troubleshooting_Common_Issues\" >Troubleshooting Common Issues<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#Why_Softaculous_is_a_Must-Have_on_cPanel\" >Why Softaculous is a Must-Have on cPanel<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#Final_Thoughts\" >Final Thoughts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/#FAQs_Installing_Softaculous_on_cPanel\" >FAQs: Installing Softaculous on cPanel<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Softaculous_and_Why_You_Should_Care\"><\/span><strong>What is Softaculous (and Why You Should Care)?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever set up <a href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/wordpress-hosting\">WordPress<\/a> or Magento manually, you know it can take <strong>20\u201330 minutes<\/strong> and several steps. Softaculous cuts that down to <strong>under a minute<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here\u2019s what makes it awesome:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>One-click installs<\/strong> \u2013 deploy apps instantly<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Auto-updates<\/strong> \u2013 keep scripts and plugins secure without manual work<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Automated backups<\/strong> \u2013 restore websites in a click<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Huge library<\/strong> \u2013 400+ apps covering blogs, eCommerce, CRMs, frameworks, and more<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Great for resellers<\/strong> \u2013 hosting clients love easy installs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For developers, agencies, or small businesses managing websites, <strong>Softaculous isn\u2019t just convenient\u2014it\u2019s a game changer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prerequisites_Before_Installing_Softaculous\"><\/span><strong>Prerequisites Before Installing Softaculous<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we jump in, make sure you\u2019ve got:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>VPS or dedicated server<\/strong> running cPanel\/WHM<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Root access<\/strong> (<a href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/ssh-explained-secure-remote-access\/\">SSH<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/whmcs-tool-for-web-hosting-businesses\/\">WHM<\/a> root login)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>A valid <strong>cPanel license<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>PHP + ionCube Loader enabled<\/strong> (Softaculous requires it)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Quick Tip: If you\u2019re with <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\">MainVPS.net<\/a><\/strong>, our VPS plans are already optimized for cPanel + Softaculous, so setup is a breeze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_1_Install_Softaculous_on_Your_Server\"><\/span><strong>Step 1: Install Softaculous on Your Server<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\u2019ve got two easy ways to install\u2014pick whichever you prefer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_A_SSH_Fastest_Most_Reliable\"><\/span><strong>Method A: SSH (Fastest &amp; Most Reliable)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log into your server via SSH: <code>ssh root@your_server_ip<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Download the installer: <code>wget -N https:\/\/files.softaculous.com\/install.sh<\/code><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Run the script: <code>chmod 755 install.sh .\/install.sh<\/code><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>That\u2019s it! The installer takes care of everything automatically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Method_B_WHM_Point-and-Click\"><\/span><strong>Method B: WHM (Point-and-Click)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Prefer using WHM\u2019s GUI? Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to <strong>WHM<\/strong> as root.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to: <strong>WHM \u2192 Plugins \u2192 Softaculous Instant Installs<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>Install Softaculous<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Wait a minute or two, and you\u2019re done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_2_Verify_Your_Installation\"><\/span><strong>Step 2: Verify Your Installation<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>After installation, log into your <strong>cPanel account<\/strong>. Scroll down, and you should see a section called <strong>\u201cSoftaculous Apps Installer.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From here, you can install:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>WordPress for blogging or business sites<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Joomla or Drupal for CMS setups<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Magento or <a href=\"https:\/\/prestashop.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">PrestaShop<\/a> for eCommerce<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/deploy-laravel-unmanaged-vps-guide\/\">Laravel<\/a>, Symfony, and other frameworks for devs<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Click \u2192 Fill in a few details \u2192 Hit Install. Done in seconds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Step_3_Configure_Smart_Defaults_Highly_Recommended\"><\/span><strong>Step 3: Configure Smart Defaults (Highly Recommended)<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is where most admins drop the ball. Softaculous works out of the box, but tweaking a few settings in WHM makes it <strong>far safer and easier for clients<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Go to <strong>WHM \u2192 Softaculous Settings<\/strong> and enable:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Auto-update scripts<\/strong> (no more outdated WordPress installs!)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Auto-update plugins &amp; themes<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Daily backups<\/strong> for quick recovery<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>These little changes can save you (or your clients) from major security headaches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Troubleshooting_Common_Issues\"><\/span><strong>Troubleshooting Common Issues<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even with a smooth installer, you might hit a few bumps. Here\u2019s how to fix them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Softaculous not showing in WHM?<\/strong><br>Run:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>\/usr\/local\/cpanel\/whostmgr\/bin\/whostmgr2 --updatelicense\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>IonCube Loader missing?<\/strong><br>Enable it in WHM \u2192 EasyApache 4 \u2192 PHP Extensions \u2192 Install <strong>ionCube Loader<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Installation stuck?<\/strong><br>Restart cPanel services:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\"><code>service cpanel restart\n<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n<p>If all else fails, re-run the installer or check Softaculous logs in <code>\/var\/softaculous\/<\/code>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_Softaculous_is_a_Must-Have_on_cPanel\"><\/span><strong>Why Softaculous is a Must-Have on cPanel<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>At the end of the day, Softaculous is about <strong>time, security, and simplicity<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Without it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You spend hours managing installs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clients constantly ask for help<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Updates get skipped (hello, hacked sites)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>With it:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Installs take 1 click<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Updates happen automatically<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clients are happier (less support, more uptime)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>For VPS admins, resellers, or agencies\u2014it\u2019s a no-brainer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Final_Thoughts\"><\/span><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The installation of&nbsp;<strong>Softaculous on the cPanel\/WHM<\/strong>&nbsp;takes only some minutes, but it pays off for many years.&nbsp;If you&#8217;re using the software on your own or managing clients&#8217; web sites Softaculous offers&nbsp;<strong>speed as well as security and security<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re in search of a\u00a0<strong>VPS that is optimized for cPanel or Softaculous<\/strong>\u00a0look no further than\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/\"><strong>MainVPS.net<\/strong><\/a>.\u00a0We provide high-performance, <a href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/vps\">low-cost VPS plans<\/a> which make hosting easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs_Installing_Softaculous_on_cPanel\"><\/span><strong>FAQs: Installing Softaculous on cPanel<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q1: Do I need a license for Softaculous?<\/strong><br>Yes. The free version works, but the premium license unlocks 400+ apps and advanced features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q2: How long does installation take?<\/strong><br>Usually less than 5 minutes via SSH or WHM.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q3: Can I use Softaculous on shared hosting?<\/strong><br>Only if your hosting provider has enabled it. On a VPS or dedicated server, you control it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q4: Does Softaculous work with CloudLinux or AlmaLinux?<\/strong><br>Yes, it supports the operating systems in cPanel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q5 What is different in Softaculous as well as Installatron?<\/strong><br>Softaculous has more applications is faster to update and provides more backup options, making it the most powerful option.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Running a VPS or dedicated server with cPanel\/WHM? Then you probably know the pain of setting up apps manually\u2014creating databases, uploading files, tweaking permissions\u2026 it\u2019s time-consuming <a class=\"read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/install-softaculous-on-cpanel-whm\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":11863,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11859","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-web-hosting"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11859","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11859"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11859\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12281,"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11859\/revisions\/12281"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11863"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11859"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11859"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/mainvps.net\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11859"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}