They told you: "This host has a slick custom panel — so modern!"

They told you: "This host has a slick custom panel — so modern!"

Pretty dashboard, glowing review. But what does ditching cPanel actually cost you?

The tradeoff:
— cPanel: ugly, ubiquitous, and its full-account migration export works at almost any other cPanel host. Portability built in.
— Custom panel: locks your config, backups, and email in a format only THEY read. Leaving means rebuilding from scratch.

The "modern UX" is often just a moat. A panel you can't export from is a panel designed to keep you.

Ask before you sign: can I one-click export my whole account and import it elsewhere?

Reality: a proprietary panel is a velvet exit door — comfortable until you try to walk through it.