A Softaculous licence lets you add the Softaculous auto-installer to your own server, so you and your hosting customers can install WordPress, Joomla, Drupal, Magento and hundreds of other applications in a few clicks from the control panel. You only need one if you run your own VPS or dedicated server; ordinary hosting plans already include it. Tremhost supplies a shared Softaculous licence for $17 a year, and its cPanel licences include Softaculous at no extra charge.
What Softaculous does
Installing a web application by hand means downloading files, creating a database and user, editing a configuration file and running the installer. Softaculous does all of that from a form: choose the app, the domain and an admin username, and it handles the rest. Beyond installation, it helps maintain apps over time:
- Auto-upgrade: turn it on for an installation and Softaculous upgrades it automatically when a new version is available.
- Staging and cloning: copy a live site to a staging area, test changes, then push them back.
- Backups and restore: back up an installation’s files and database and restore it later.
- Remote import: bring an existing installation from another server under Softaculous management.
- WordPress Manager: manage plugins, themes, upgrade settings and wp-config values for all WordPress sites in one place, without logging in to each admin panel.
Softaculous works with several control panels, including cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, InterWorx, ispmanager and Webuzo.
Do you need your own Softaculous licence?
Probably not, if you use shared, WordPress or reseller hosting. The provider holds the licence for its servers. On Tremhost web hosting, Softaculous is included on every plan.
You need your own licence when you run a control panel on a server you manage, for example a VPS or dedicated server with cPanel, Plesk or DirectAdmin, and you want your customers or your team to have one-click installs.
If you buy a cPanel licence from Tremhost, check before ordering Softaculous separately: Tremhost’s cPanel licences already include free Softaculous, the SitePad website builder and FleetSSL. A separate Softaculous licence is most useful with other control panels.
Tremhost Softaculous licence
Tremhost supplies Softaculous as a shared licence that receives official vendor updates, priced at $17 a year in US dollars as listed on the live Softaculous licence page. It can be paid by EcoCash, InnBucks, ZimSwitch, Omari, Visa, Mastercard, Bitcoin, Tron or Litecoin.
Related licences from Tremhost include SitePad, a drag-and-drop site builder, at $17 a year or $9 for six months, and the cPanel and WHM licence from $5 a month.
How an install works
Once Softaculous is active on your server, installing an application from cPanel or another panel takes a few minutes:
- Open Softaculous from the control panel and pick the application, such as WordPress.
- Choose the domain or subdomain and, if needed, a folder. Leave the folder blank to install at the root of the domain.
- Choose HTTPS if the domain already has an SSL certificate.
- Set the site name, admin username, a strong password and the admin email address.
- Pick auto-upgrade and backup options, then click Install.
Softaculous creates the database and configuration for you and lists the new installation, so you can manage, clone or remove it later.
Using Softaculous well
An auto-installer makes it easy to install software, and just as easy to forget about it. A few habits keep sites safe:
- Turn on auto-upgrades for core updates at least, and decide whether minor and major versions should upgrade automatically.
- Use staging for big changes. Clone the site, test plugin or version updates, then push them live.
- Remove what you do not use. Old test installations are a common way into a server because nobody updates them.
- Back up before upgrades, and store a copy away from the server.
- Use strong, unique admin passwords and avoid the username “admin”.
- Keep PHP current. Many apps drop support for old PHP versions; check compatibility before switching.
Softaculous and server security
Softaculous installs and upgrades applications; it is not a security tool. On a server you run, pair it with account isolation such as CloudLinux, a malware scanner and firewall such as Imunify360, and backups with a tool such as JetBackup. Tremhost sells each of these licences separately and in bundles; all are listed on the Tremhost licences page.
Who uses a Softaculous licence
- Hosting companies and resellers on their own servers, who want customers to install apps without opening support tickets.
- Agencies that build many WordPress sites and want staging, cloning and central management.
- Developers who run a VPS with a control panel and want quick installs for test sites.
Frequently asked questions
Is Softaculous included in Tremhost web hosting?
Yes. Every Tremhost web hosting plan includes Softaculous, so you can follow the Help Centre guide to install WordPress without buying a licence.
What is a shared Softaculous licence?
It is a licence supplied by a licence provider, Tremhost here, rather than bought directly from Softaculous by you. It runs the same software and receives official vendor updates.
Does Softaculous work with Plesk?
Yes. Softaculous integrates with Plesk as well as cPanel, DirectAdmin and other panels.
Can Softaculous update my WordPress plugins?
Its WordPress Manager lets you manage and update plugins and themes across installations from one screen.
Next step
If you run your own server with a control panel that does not already include it, order it on the Tremhost Softaculous licence page, or ask on WhatsApp on +263 73 563 9917, Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00 CAT, whether your setup needs it.
