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Plesk Obsidian (WebPros Edition)

$16.99/mo (Admin) | $29.99/mo (Pro) | $62.99/mo (Host)

VS

DirectAdmin (Evolution Era)

$5/mo (Personal Plus) | $15/mo (Lite) | $29/mo (Standard)

Analysis

A high-end, unified control panel for Linux and Windows. The 2026 edition features AI-driven site building, 360-degree server monitoring, and a specialized Laravel/Node.js toolkit. While its UX and extension marketplace are the best in the industry, the 2026 price hikes and complex licensing for multiple domains make it restrictive for budget-conscious developers.

Analysis

The industry's fastest and most resource-efficient commercial control panel. The 2026 edition (v1.69+) features the 'Evolution' skin, native OpenLiteSpeed support, and the 'Pro Pack' which includes a full WordPress Manager and Git integration. While it is significantly cheaper than cPanel and uses 50% less RAM, its transition away from legacy lifetime licenses in July 2026 has been a point of friction.

The Breakdown

FeaturePlesk Obsidian (WebPros Edition)DirectAdmin (Evolution Era)
CategoryWeb Hosting Control PanelWeb Hosting Control Panel
Subscription Cost$16.99/mo (Admin) | $29.99/mo (Pro) | $62.99/mo (Host)$5/mo (Personal Plus) | $15/mo (Lite) | $29/mo (Standard)