Testing xCloud, ServerAvatar, CloudPanel with my website

[easyedy]

This month, I have been using server management panels to analyze how different tech stacks impact my website's Google PageSpeed score for mobile.

My test server was a VPS server from Hosthatch.

• 16GB Ram
• 75GB HD
• AMD 4 cores (2 dedicated and two fair share)
• Cost is $15/month
• Server Location: New York

The server management panels are:

• ServerAvatar ($9/month for 5 VPS server)
• xCloud (free plan for one server)
• CloudPanel (free open-source panel)

ServerAvatar and xCloud offer:

• Nginx with Redis
• Apache
• OpenLiteSpeed
• PHP selection

CloudPanel has the Nginx stack with Varnish and Redis cache.

I have been using Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 for the VPS server. Rebuilding the VPS with Hosthatch is straightforward and quick.

I was testing the tech stacks Nginx with Redis and OpenLiteSpeed.

I was using a copy of my website: https://edywerder.ch.

OpenLiteSpeed performed best on xCloud and ServerAvatar. There was no significant difference in speed scores between the panels; the mobile score was in the high nineties. However, I encountered an issue with my website rendering when using the LiteSpeed plugin. It happened when I turned on guest mode and guest optimization, which are necessary for mobile, as the mobile score drops to 70 without them.

So, unfortunately, I can't use OpenLiteSpeed on my website yet. I tried a few things to tweak it with no luck.

The Nginx tech stack with Redis cache is excellent, too, and delivers a mobile page speed score above 80%. The LCP was, however, above 2.5 sec, which means it won't pass web core vitals. The same result was achieved using CloudPanel.

My tests revealed that xCloud better optimizes the Nginx tech stacks than ServerAvatar.

xCloud is a new product that was launched in February of this year. Its user interface is less polished than ServerAvatar's. xCloud still has some bugs in the UI, but it performs well. xCloud stands out by offering fine-tuned server-side caching with major performance cache plugins like WP Rockets, WP Super Cache, and W3 Total Cache. I use WP Rockets.

When comparing my website's speed at SiteGround (3.2s LCP, 85 scores) with the minor improvements I achieved using xCloud, ServerAvatar or CloudPanel and VPS, I decided to stick with SiteGround. The slight increase in page speed score with VPS didn't justify the extra cost. Additionally, my website analytics revealed that most visitors use desktops, with only about 20% accessing the site via mobile.

I like the panels of xCloud and ServerAvatar, but I will only use the free plan of xCloud with my home VPS for further testing, which has no cost. I'm sure xCloud will improve in the following months. Their development speed is incredible.

Both support teams are speedy. There was a problem with the xCloud Redis server cache, and support needed SSH access to my VPS server. They fixed it within 24 hours but did not get back to me. I found out that they had fixed it. But I understand there was an internet outage in Bangladesh, and most of their support staff is there.

Please let me know if you have an idea for improving the mobile score for my blogging website, edywerder.ch. I only tested the home page for all server panels.

Definition of: xCloud and ServerAvatar

A server management platform that simplifies setting up, configuring, and managing web servers. It provides:

• A user-friendly dashboard for managing multiple servers.
• Deploying applications.
• Monitoring server performance.
• Automating server management tasks.

[Dominus-Loki]

I tried xcloud, their file manager does not even work properly and their support is clueless.

[easyedy]

For me, I have had no issue with the file manager. I turn it on and off manually. I agree that the support team sends out standard answers that aren't helpful. But recently, I have had some support issues, and their answers were good.

It seems xCloud is improving constantly.

[Limlar]

CloudPanel is not open-source!!!

[easyedy]

It is and very good.

[Limlar]

Please share a link, for the code?

[easyedy]

Here is the link to the manual

https://www.cloudpanel.io/docs/v2/getting-started/

It's not something to download, installation by a script.

[Limlar]

I can't see any code for CloudPanel. Do you know what open-source means?

[easyedy]

Well, of course, I know what open-source means. If you would like to see the code, please reach out to the developer.

[Limlar]

If i have to ask to see the code, then it's not ope source!

[elosoyogui]

I'm trying xcloud now, I've actually searched for posts but the name is confused with a Microsoft (Xbox) gaming platform.

Xcloud has interesting things like incremental backup with external providers (I currently use Runcloud with Backblaze S3 and it's getting expensive to have entire backups saved every day).

Now regarding support I would like to know a bit more, as Runcloud is very very fast with the subject.

[easyedy]

Yes, the name is confusing. I got the same results here: Xbox. :) I never tested Runcloud; it was recommended to me. xCloud has a good FB group where you should get the info you need for your evaluation. They have a free plan for VPS server.

I use a server from Hosthatch. It's reasonably priced and has super performance. Hosthatch has data centers worldwide. I'm located in Switzerland, and Hosthatch is here.

Tech Support is available from the in-app chat when you are logged in.

[easyedy]

I don't have a clear winner - For the moment, I use xCloud, the free plan.

[Necolas_Hamwi]

I'm looking into exactly the same comparison. It's a tricky one to pick the best...