How to Create Hosting Packages in WHM

If you manage a web hosting server, knowing how to create hosting packages in WHM is one of the most essential skills you can develop. WHM (Web Host Manager) is the administrative control panel that sits behind cPanel, giving resellers and server administrators the tools they need to manage hosting accounts efficiently. By creating well-structured hosting packages, you can standardise the resources allocated to your clients, streamline account creation, and ensure your server remains stable and properly managed.

In this guide, we will walk you through everything you need to know about how to create hosting packages in WHM, from understanding what packages are to configuring every available option. Whether you are a seasoned server administrator or just getting started as a hosting reseller, this tutorial will give you the confidence to set up packages that suit your business needs.

What Are Hosting Packages in WHM?

Before diving into the steps to create hosting packages in WHM, it is worth understanding exactly what a hosting package is. In WHM, a package (sometimes referred to as a plan or account plan) is a predefined set of resources and permissions that you apply when creating a new cPanel account. Rather than manually configuring resource limits every time you create an account, you simply assign a package and all the settings are applied automatically.

Packages typically define limits such as:

• Disc space (storage allowance)
• Monthly bandwidth
• Number of email accounts
• Number of databases
• Number of subdomains and add-on domains
• FTP accounts
• PHP and cPanel feature access

By creating packages in advance, you save time, reduce configuration errors, and make it far easier to manage multiple clients at scale.

How to Access the Package Manager in WHM

To get started, you will need to log in to your WHM control panel. This is typically accessed via yourdomain.com:2087 or yourdomain.com/whm. You will need root or reseller-level access to manage packages.

Once logged in, follow these steps:

1. Look at the left-hand navigation menu.
2. Click on the Packages section to expand it.
3. Select Add a Package from the dropdown options.

You can also use the search bar at the top of the navigation panel and type “package” to quickly locate the relevant options.

Step-by-Step Guide to Create Hosting Packages in WHM

Step 1: Name Your Package

The first field you will encounter is the package name. Choose a clear, descriptive name that reflects the plan tier, such as “Starter”, “Business”, or “Professional”. If you are a reseller, note that WHM may automatically prefix your username to the package name to keep things organised across the server.

Step 2: Set Disc Space and Bandwidth Limits

Next, you will configure the resource limits. Enter the disc space in megabytes (MB). For example, if you want to offer 10 GB of storage, enter 10240. Similarly, set the monthly bandwidth limit in MB. If you want to offer unlimited bandwidth, you can tick the Unlimited checkbox where available, though it is generally advisable to set reasonable limits to protect server performance.

Step 3: Configure Account Limits

This section allows you to define how many of each resource the account holder can create. The key fields include:

• Max FTP Accounts – The number of FTP users the client can create.
• Max Email Accounts – How many email addresses they can set up.
• Max Mailing Lists – The number of mailing lists permitted.
• Max SQL Databases – The total number of MySQL or MariaDB databases allowed.
• Max Sub Domains – How many subdomains can be added.
• Max Parked Domains – The number of parked (alias) domains permitted.
• Max Addon Domains – How many additional domains can be hosted under one account.

Setting these limits carefully helps prevent any single account from consuming too many server resources.

Step 4: Set the Maximum Email Send Rate

WHM allows you to limit how many emails per hour an account can send. This is an important setting for preventing spam and protecting your server’s email reputation. A common setting for shared hosting accounts is between 200 and 500 emails per hour, though this will depend on your clients’ needs.

Step 5: Choose the Shell Access Option

You can decide whether accounts on this package will have shell (SSH) access. For most shared hosting clients, it is best to leave this disabled for security reasons. Only enable it for packages designed for developers or technically advanced users who specifically require command-line access.

Step 6: Assign a Feature List

Feature lists control which cPanel features are visible and accessible to the account holder. You can create custom feature lists in WHM under Packages > Feature Manager. For example, you might want a basic package to exclude advanced features like Softaculous, while a premium package offers full access. Select the appropriate feature list from the dropdown menu in the package creation form.

Step 7: Select the Hosting Theme

WHM allows you to choose the cPanel theme that will be applied to accounts using this package. The default and most commonly used theme is Jupiter, which is modern and user-friendly. Unless you have a specific reason to change this, leaving it on the default is perfectly fine.

Step 8: Set the Locale

You can specify the default language for cPanel accounts on this package. If your clients are primarily based in the United Kingdom, you may wish to select English (UK) to ensure date formats and language preferences align with their expectations.

Step 9: Save the Package

Once you have configured all the settings to your satisfaction, scroll to the bottom of the page and click the Add button. Your new hosting package will now be saved and available to use when creating new cPanel accounts.

How to Edit or Delete a Package in WHM

If you need to make changes to an existing package, navigate to Packages > Edit a Package in the WHM navigation menu. Select the package you wish to modify, make your changes, and click Save Changes. Any accounts already using that package will be updated to reflect the new limits automatically.

To remove a package that is no longer needed, go to Packages > Delete a Package, select the package from the list, and confirm the deletion. Note that deleting a package does not delete the accounts that were created using it — it simply removes the package template from the system.

Best Practices When Creating Hosting Packages in WHM

To make the most of WHM’s package management system, keep the following best practices in mind:

• Keep your package names clear and consistent – Use a naming convention that makes it easy to identify the tier and purpose of each plan.
• Avoid setting everything to unlimited – While it may seem attractive to offer unlimited resources, doing so can lead to server instability if one account uses disproportionate resources.
• Review your packages regularly – As your hosting business grows, your package structures may need updating to reflect new pricing, technology, or client demands.
• Test packages before assigning them to clients – Create a test account using the new package to ensure everything works as expected.

For more helpful tutorials and guides on managing hosting environments, be sure to visit the DA Manager blog, which covers a wide range of topics for hosting professionals and server administrators.

Conclusion

Learning how to create hosting packages in WHM is a fundamental part of running a successful hosting business or managing a shared server environment. By taking the time to configure your packages thoughtfully — setting appropriate resource limits, selecting the right feature lists, and following best practices — you can deliver a consistent and reliable experience to all of your clients.

Whether you are offering basic shared hosting or premium managed plans, WHM’s package management system gives you the flexibility and control you need. Now that you understand the full process, you can confidently create hosting packages in WHM that reflect your service offerings and keep your server running smoothly.