cPanel 138 ships AI tools, unpriced Nova credits

cPanel has released cPanel & WHM 138, bringing AI-driven features to its control panel platform. The update includes a redesigned interface, an AI assistant, and hosting capabilities for AI-generated applications, though one component remains restricted to partners with unclear pricing terms.

What’s in the release

The update, promoted to the RELEASE tier on September 17, introduces Meridian, a new interface theme that replaces the traditional feature grid with six task-focused workspaces: Websites, Email, Files, Databases, Security, and Performance. Administrators can enable Meridian during account creation or set it as the default for hosting packages, though users cannot switch back to the legacy Jupiter theme once assigned to Meridian.

Alongside Meridian, cPanel AI includes three additional components: the AI Assistant, AI App Hosting, and the Multi-Context Protocol (MCP). The AI Assistant, available only within Meridian, provides step-by-step guidance and can execute tasks on behalf of users after explicit confirmation. AI App Hosting allows deployment of applications built using third-party AI tools like Claude or Replit, controlled via a WHM feature flag. MCP enables AI agents to operate within a user’s account under a standing access grant, though administrators must configure permissions carefully to avoid unintended actions.

All four components are included in standard cPanel licenses at no additional cost, covering tiers from Solo to Premier. However, Nova, a conversational site builder, remains exclusive to cPanel Partners and is billed in AI credits. Neither cPanel nor its parent company, WebPros, has disclosed the wholesale cost of these credits or what actions consume them, leaving resellers to set retail pricing based on competitor offerings rather than a published rate card.

Deployment and pricing decisions

Hosting providers face two distinct choices with this release. The first is whether to enable the free components—Meridian, the AI Assistant, AI App Hosting, and MCP—which are included in existing licenses. Administrators can control rollout via WHM Feature Lists, allowing gradual adoption or targeted deployment to specific user groups. The second decision involves Nova, which requires partners to commit to a pricing model without knowing the underlying cost structure. Resellers have already set retail plans, such as Siteocity’s tiers ranging from $0 to $54.99 per month, but these are based on competitor benchmarks rather than a vendor-provided rate sheet.

The lack of transparency around Nova credits has drawn attention, particularly as WebPros also offers Nova through its own hosting services. Some providers have raised concerns about competing with their own vendor, given that WebPros reserves the right to sell directly to end users under its license terms. However, cPanel has emphasized that providers retain control over customer access and AI-agent permissions, framing the release as a way to capture growing demand for AI-assisted workflows.

What to watch

The immediate impact for providers is operational. Meridian’s onboarding flow is designed to guide new users from login to a live website in under ten minutes, which could reduce support overhead for hosts targeting non-technical customers. However, the inability for users to revert to Jupiter once assigned to Meridian means providers must carefully consider default settings for hosting packages. Meanwhile, the AI Assistant’s evolving confirmation model—updated in recent plugin releases—suggests ongoing adjustments to how it interacts with users, which could affect support workflows.

For Nova, the lack of published credit pricing leaves partners in a reactive position, relying on trial-and-error pricing rather than cost-based planning. If WebPros introduces a wholesale rate sheet, it could shift the economics for resellers, particularly smaller providers with limited pricing flexibility. Additionally, the planned expansion of Nova to WHMCS MarketConnect and Plesk may broaden its reach, but it remains unclear whether the partner-exclusive model will persist across those platforms.