As impressive as the many default features of cPanel are, many web hosts try to differentiate their
hosting packages by adding a new look or new features to their plans. This article will cover most
common cPanel additions, and you will discover:
• Many popular cPanel themes and learn about what makes them unique
• A number of popular third-party add-ons for cPanel and learn how they work
cPanel Themes: New Look, New Features
cPanel themes provide a new look and feel for cPanel and may also add new features not typically
available in cPanel's default XSkin theme. The screenshots in this guide show the XSkin theme.
Although many web hosts use the XSkin theme because it is cPanel's default theme and is
constantly updated to support all of cPanel's features, there are hosts that choose to use a different
theme in order to provide enhanced features or distinguish their hosting plans from other hosts.
Since some hosts use the themes exclusively it is important that you see what they look like and
what, if any, special features they offer compared to cPanel's default XSkin theme. Keep in mind
that not all themes support all third-party add-ons or all cPanel features.
cPanel's Other Themes
Although cPanel's default theme is XSkin, it isn't the only theme cPanel Inc. offers for free with
cPanel. These themes are not updated as often as XSkin but allow hosts some different choices
without forcing them to pay a third party.
Blue Lagoon
Blue Lagoon looks similar to the various Xskin themes except that it uses fewer graphics and so
will load faster than XSkin. It supports cPanel Pro and many third-party add-ons.
Each major section of features has a single graphic followed by a plain text link to each feature.
Blue Lagoon has been around for many years, though it used to look very different in the past. For
example, the header of this theme used to be similar to the one that was used by XSkin.
Monsoon
Monsoon is another theme that is light on graphics. It is the most recent theme added by cPanel
Inc. and it requires cPanel 8.4.0E96 or later. It incorporates some of the look of the old-style Blue
Lagoon theme along with modern cPanel features.
Monsoon supports cPanel Pro and many third-party add-ons. It also comes in two colors, blue
(which is more gray than blue) and red (which is more pink than red). Clicking on one of the
colors in the header allows the user to switch between them at will.
Xmail
Xmail is a theme based on XSkin except that it only offers the user e-mail-related features.
Xmail does not support cPanel Pro or any third-party add-ons. However, you do have the ability
to access all e-mail-related features including forwarders, web mail, auto-responders, and so on.
X2
X2 is an alternative form of cPanel's standard XSkin theme. It looks almost the same as XSkin.
X2 supports cPanel Pro and many third-party add-ons. X2 removes some information from the
standard XSkin theme that some web hosts don't like to offer to clients.
Third-Party Themes
Since cPanel Inc. does not provide many themes with cPanel and since themes are not easy for
web hosts to create, many other companies have stepped up to provide themes that not only
change the look of cPanel but in some cases also add new features not available in cPanel's own
themes. What follows is a discussion of all of the actively supported themes that I have been able
to find, listed in alphabetical order. There may be others and your web host may have created their
own themes.
7Dana
Publisher: 7Dana (http://7dana.com/ )
Supports: cPanel Pro
Special Features: Sidebar with collapsible tree of links to cPanel features
7Dana is a free cPanel theme released on cPanel.net's support forum. This theme has a center bank
of icons like XSkin but it also has collapsible tree of links to every feature in the sidebar.
Information about your account appears at the bottom of the screen.
Ace
Publisher: cpSkins (http://cpskins.com/)
Supports: cPanel Pro, some third-party add-ons
Special Features: Theme changer (cpSkins themes only), fast loading, support for multiple languages
Ace is a clean primarily white theme with few graphics (except the header). As with most cpSkins
themes, your web host can enable a theme switcher that will allow you to choose from other
cpSkins themes.
BlueCrush
Publisher: cpSkins (http://cpskins.com/)
Supports: cPanel Pro, some third-party add-ons
Special Features: Theme changer (cpSkins themes only), fast loading, support for multiple languages
This is one of the few dark cPanel themes available. It doesn't have many graphics and supports
the cpSkins theme changer.
CoolBreeze
Publisher: Netenberg (http://netenberg.com/)
Supports: cPanel Pro, Fantastico
Special Features: Fast loading, support for multiple languages
This is another theme that is designed to be quick loading and focused on providing every link and
piece of information you need on one, easy-to-read screen.
CPANEL XP Evolution
Publisher: CpanelSkinDepot (http://cpanelskindepot.com/)
Supports: cPanel Pro, some third-party add-ons
Special Features: Theme changer (CPANEL XP Evolution and XSkin and X2 themes only),
customizable by host and resellers, tool tips (optional), flash tutorial integration
CPANEL XP Evolution (Evo) is a theme that is reminiscent of the default blue theme for
Microsoft Windows® XP. It also tries to extend cPanel in a number of ways. It supports a wide
variety of languages, is completely customizable by web hosts and their resellers via a special web
application called CPAPP, includes a basic help desk feature, and integrates with a number of
third-party products and scripts.
cpSkins
Publisher: cpSkins (http://cpskins.com/)
Supports: cPanel Pro, some third-party add-ons
Special Features: Theme changer (cpSkins themes only), quick loading, many theme colors,
direct web mail login from the main screen, support for multiple languages
cpSkins is designed to be quick loading while allowing the user to choose from a number of
different colors for the interface.
RVSKIN
Publisher: RVSKIN (http://rvskin.com/)
Supports: cPanel Pro, all third party add-ons that follow cPanel Pro guidelines
Special Features: Theme changer (RVSKIN themes only), support for multiple languages, every
item is customizable by both web hosts and resellers, sub-reseller feature, up-sell feature, integration
with nearly any item through custom pages and links, complete control over every offered feature by
resellers, updated constantly to work with all recent versions of cPanel, custom themes
RVSKIN was created to allow web hosts and resellers as much flexibility as possible while still
supporting via regular automated updates every new feature cPanel adds. RVSKIN isn't just a set
of themes, it is an entire cPanel management system. Resellers love RVSKIN because they can
customize any feature or even add entirely new links or pages to cPanel.
RVSKIN permits up-selling. Up-selling allows a web host or reseller to place links in cPanel to
features that won't work until the user pays for them. RVSKIN integrates with your billing software
to allow a user to pay for additional features, space, bandwidth, and so on right from cPanel.
Sub-reselling allows resellers to offer basic reseller plans of their own using RVSKIN. The
features sub-resellers have are somewhat limited compared to the standard cPanel/WHM reseller
interface, but it works as advertised.
Support for many languages is another strongpoint for RVSKIN. It offers true multilingual support
for almost every item in the cPanel interface. Resellers and web hosts can easily add their own
languages if they wish and even post news in multiple languages (that gets displayed depending on
the user's language preference).
RVSKIN is currently the only theme to provide automated support for both cPanel Pro's default
features and any third-party add-on that conforms to cPanel Inc.'s standards. | 
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