You might be curious to know what is Softaculous? It’s a user-friendly tool that quickly deploys web apps on your website with a single click, making it ideal for Softaculous for beginners. It automates the installation of web applications to a website with predefined scripts. All installations are launched through the website admin area. Softaculous is run within the cPanel control panel (i.e., Softaculous cPanel). This integration makes it easy to access, and it’s also available through other control panels like H-Spehere, DirectAdmin, Plesk, and Interworx.
Table Of Content
This is what a Softaculous interface looks like:
Through Softaculous you can equip your website with a variety of web applications like forums, blogs, eCommerce shopping carts, photo galleries and much more. Softaculous was established in 2009 and since then it has become extremely popular in the web hosting industry due to the wide range of Softaculous benefits it offers to the users.
Softaculous applications are delivered via installation scripts that comprise a wide range of web tools. Softaculous categories include blogging, ad management, CRM, content management, customer support, eCommerce, ERP and more. At present, 325 Softaculous scripts are available.
The installation process of any application through the Softaculous one-click installer is designed to be just one click after entering all the necessary information. Applications can be downloaded through the install tab of the respective application, making the process very intuitive in this Softaculous tutorial.
Softaculous automatically organizes the database configuration, web server files, user permissions and installation.
Softaculous Features Explained
Softaculous is more than a simple one-click installer; it is a powerful tool that can be used by both developers and administrators. It offers many advanced options that help automate important processes, streamlining time-intensive and securing sensitive operations.
- Automated application updates: Keeps software current and secure.
- Scheduled backups: Ensures data is safe and recoverable.
- Website cloning: Creates duplicates for testing.
- Staging environment: Allows for safe experimentation.
- Effortless site management: Streamlined complex tasks.
- With Softaculous, website management is simplified.
First let’s have a look at the main highlights of Softaculous that determine its popularity:
- Easy to use
- One click installation of applications
- Over 300 scripts
- Scripts are updated regularly
- User friendly interface that is ideal for beginners
- All installation settings can be modified through user interface, which is one of the most appreciated Softaculous features
- Backup and restore tool
- Demo scripts available before you install them on the server
- Great technical support and community forums
Getting Started!
‘You can install any application through Softaculous with just a click!’
Does that mean installing Softaculous is also that easy?
Well not really, but Softaculous has strived hard in order to make its installation relatively straightforward.
If you are installing Softaculous by yourself, refer to a proper Softaculous installation guide, and basic knowledge of Linux system administration will be helpful. With the Linux platform, installation of Softaculous can be as simple as entering three one line commands.
On the other hand, if Softaculous is provided by your web hosting company, you don’t have to worry about installation.
How To Use Softaculous For Installing Applications?
In order to start installing web applications through Softaculous, login to Softaculous through cPanel first. You will see a list of Softaculous applications on the left-hand side of the screen—select one of them.
Softaculous has a policy of updating the applications so that the latest stable versions are reflected. User options in Softaculous enable the user to change the language, change the screen display of side menus and redefine the default time zone.
Many applications are associated with scripts created in the standard PHP language. Softaculous also offers Pearl, JavaScript and PHP class functionality for the technically sound people.
Let Others Know What You Think!
Softaculous goes beyond the installation of web applications:
- It provides demo screens ‘See the Demo’ of various applications so that users can get an insight on what the web applications look like.
- It enables the users to rate and review the applications and the users can also provide additional information to others which will help them chose the appropriate application.
If you would like to work with various web applications, then you must have Softaculous—it simplifies everything with its Softaculous one-click installer. The one click install option saves a lot of time and effort spent on integrating the application in your website.
Using Softaculous for WordPress
Wondering what is Softaculous WordPress? It’s a beginner-friendly tool that enables you to take a WordPress website live and handle WordPress in seconds. Softaculous simplifies database management, file installation, and configuration for you, making it perfect for anyone searching for a Softaculous tutorial to get started. It emerges as the one-stop solution if you plan to launch a WordPress website or blog.
Softaculous vs Other One-Click Installers
| Feature | Softaculous | Installatron | Fantastico |
| Installer Type | GUI-based Softaculous one-click installer | One-click installer with basic UI | Legacy one-click installer |
| User Interface | Modern, intuitive interface | Clean but less interactive | Outdated interface |
| Speed of Installation | Very fast (optimized scripts) | Moderate | Slower compared to newer alternatives |
| Number of Scripts | 400+ applications | ~100–120 applications | <100 applications |
| Auto-Upgrade Support | Yes (core + plugins/themes for WordPress) | Yes (limited to core updates) | No |
| Backup & Restore | Built-in manual & automated backups | Available, but not always automated | Manual only |
| Staging Environment | Yes (for supported apps like WordPress) | Limited staging support | Not available |
| Cloning & Migration | Yes, built-in cloning feature | Available, less seamless | Not supported |
| License/Access | Free via most hosts or premium standalone | Usually premium | Bundled with old hosting panels |
| Target User | Beginners to advanced users | Intermediate users | Mostly outdated, not recommended today |
Softaculous is more than a one-click script installer. It serves as a robust tool designed to help users deploy websites and applications irrespective of their skill level. Users ranging from novices launching their first blog to advanced developers managing multiple web applications can enjoy the unmatched convenience Softaculous provides.
The tool’s features, like automatic updates, backups, staging, and app cloning, seamlessly integrate with cPanel and more than 400 scripts, making it the most versatile one-click installer in the web hosting ecosystem. Everything is made simple, and complex tasks and functions are done with ease. It is no secret that Softaculous offers advanced functions, which truly make it a high-caliber tool for modern website management.
FAQs
1. Is Softaculous a standalone application or need something else to run?
Softaculous is a well-known plugin for its auto-installation capability that effortlessly works with different hosting control panels like DirectAdmin, cPanel, InterWorx, etc. It enables quick installation of over 400 applications backed by a hosting environment with the support of a control panel.
2. Is Softaculous only for WordPress, or does it support other platforms?
Generally, people associate Softaculous mostly with WordPress, but its scope is far more extensive. It covers CMS Solutions, e-commerce frameworks, discussion forums, and more. To make clear what is Softaculous WordPress, it’s a versatile auto-installer supporting WordPress and beyond.
3. Does Softaculous offer demo versions of the applications it can install?
Indeed, with Softaculous, you get demo versions of several applications, so you can test them before configuring. You can explore the app’s interface and features before installation; all you need to do is click on the “See the Demo” option. This makes it easy to decide which tool best suits your website’s needs.
4. Does Softaculous provide automatic updates for installed applications?
Yes. Many of the apps installed using Softaculous support automatic updates. It eliminates manual intervention by enabling auto-updates. This feature is one of the core reasons users find it convenient and reliable for managing web applications.
