Alpha vs Master vs Super Alpha Reseller Hosting: What’s the Difference?
Reseller, master, alpha, super alpha. If you’ve shopped for reseller hosting, you’ve seen these names stacked on top of each other, usually with very little explanation of what actually changes from one to the next. The short version: each level can create the level below it. The longer version decides what you can sell, and to whom.
This guide explains each tier in plain words, shows the real account limits on ShoHost’s reseller, master and alpha plans, and helps you pick the one that fits the business you want to build. Plan prices change from time to time, so we’ve left them out; each plan page shows today’s price.
Reseller vs master vs alpha vs super alpha at a glance
| Tier | What you can create | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Reseller | cPanel accounts | Designers and agencies hosting their own clients’ sites |
| Master reseller | WHM reseller accounts and cPanel accounts | People who want to sell reseller hosting to others |
| Alpha reseller | Master reseller accounts, WHM reseller accounts and cPanel accounts | Hosting businesses building a network of resellers |
| Super alpha reseller | Alpha accounts, plus everything below | Operators running several top-level reseller brands |
Super Alpha runs on your own WHM server with Sho MultiReseller. The alpha, master and WHM reseller levels below it are covered by ShoHost hosting plans (RH, MRH and ARH), and the WHM reseller level creates the cPanel accounts your end clients use.
Why reseller hosting has extra levels
cPanel’s own guide to reseller accounts describes a reseller as a cPanel account owner who also sells cPanel accounts, using a limited version of WHM. That is one level. cPanel’s docs also say they don’t support resellers creating other resellers natively, so the extra levels come from WHM plugins:
- WHMreseller by Deasoft adds Alpha and Master levels on top of normal WHM resellers (plugin page).
- Sho MultiReseller, ShoHost’s own WHM plugin, builds a five-level tree: Super Alpha, Alpha, Master, WHM reseller and cPanel (plugin page).
- Either way, your clients still log in to normal WHM and cPanel. The plugin only controls who can create whom, and how much disk and bandwidth each branch gets.
Reseller hosting: sell cPanel accounts
A plain reseller plan gives you WHM to create and brand cPanel accounts for your clients. You can’t hand anyone their own WHM. ShoHost’s reseller hosting comes in three sizes:
| Plan | cPanel accounts | Storage | WHM reseller accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| RH-1 | 30 | Unlimited NVMe | None |
| RH-2 | 60 | Unlimited NVMe | None |
| RH-3 | Unlimited | Unlimited NVMe | None |
New to reselling? Our reseller hosting India guide covers the basics, from WHM packages to branding.
Master reseller hosting: sell reseller accounts
A master reseller can create WHM reseller accounts, so the people you sell to can run their own small hosting business under you. They create cPanel accounts; you set their limits. ShoHost’s master reseller plans:
| Plan | cPanel accounts (total) | WHM reseller accounts |
|---|---|---|
| MRH-1 | 100 | 5 |
| MRH-2 | 200 | 10 |
| MRH-3 | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Alpha reseller hosting: sell master reseller accounts
An alpha reseller sits one step higher. You create master resellers, they create WHM resellers, and those resellers create cPanel accounts for their clients. It is the top hosting tier ShoHost sells, built for a business that wants other hosting sellers underneath it.
| Plan | cPanel accounts (total) | WHM reseller accounts | Master reseller accounts |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARH-1 | 100 | 10 | 3 |
| ARH-2 | 220 | 20 | 10 |
| ARH-3 | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Super alpha reseller: the top of the tree
A super alpha can create alpha accounts too, so it sits above everything else. At the time of writing, ShoHost doesn’t list a super alpha hosting plan; alpha is its top hosting tier. If you run your own cPanel/WHM server and want a super alpha level, that’s what Sho MultiReseller is for.
- Turns a normal WHM server into a Super Alpha → Alpha → Master → WHM reseller → cPanel tree.
- Pooled disk and bandwidth limits roll up each branch, with optional overselling per tier.
- A watchdog can suspend accounts automatically when a branch goes over its pool.
- Needs cPanel/WHM 11.110 or newer. One licence covers one WHM server: $2.42/mo (all fees included) or $100 lifetime, payable in ₹ or USD on license.shohost.com.
- You can try it free for 15 days before you buy.
- As a ShoHost in-house product, it comes with a 7-day refund, unlike third-party licences such as cPanel.
To install it, log in to your WHM server as root and run the installer. Without a licence key it runs as a trial; add your key from the ShoHost client area when you buy.
curl -fsSL https://files.shodns.in/sho-multireseller/install | bash
Alpha vs master vs reseller limits side by side
| Plan | Tier | cPanel accounts | WHM reseller accounts | Master reseller accounts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RH-1 | Reseller | 30 | — | — |
| RH-2 | Reseller | 60 | — | — |
| RH-3 | Reseller | Unlimited | — | — |
| MRH-1 | Master | 100 | 5 | — |
| MRH-2 | Master | 200 | 10 | — |
| MRH-3 | Master | Unlimited | Unlimited | — |
| ARH-1 | Alpha | 100 | 10 | 3 |
| ARH-2 | Alpha | 220 | 20 | 10 |
| ARH-3 | Alpha | Unlimited | Unlimited | Unlimited |
Which reseller tier should you choose?
Pick the tier by what you want to sell, not by the biggest name. Say you run a design agency in Coimbatore with 25 client sites, and two freelancers you work with want to host their own clients. RH-1 covers your 25 sites, but it can’t give the freelancers a WHM of their own. MRH-1 can: 100 cPanel accounts in total and up to 5 WHM reseller accounts, so each freelancer gets a branded WHM and you stay in charge of their limits.
| If you want to… | Choose | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Host your own clients’ websites | Reseller | RH-1 (30 accounts), RH-2 (60) or RH-3 (unlimited) |
| Sell reseller hosting to other designers | Master reseller | MRH-1 (5 WHM resellers) |
| Let your resellers sell reseller hosting too | Alpha reseller | ARH-1 (3 master, 10 WHM resellers) |
| Run several reseller brands on your own server | Super alpha | Sho MultiReseller on your WHM server |
What every ShoHost reseller tier includes
- WHM and cPanel, with unlimited NVMe SSD storage
- White-label branding: your clients see your brand and your private nameservers, not ShoHost
- Reseller panel API, and overselling allowed
- Softaculous one-click installs for WordPress, Joomla, Magento and more, plus free SSL
- CloudLinux account isolation and a 98.5% uptime guarantee
- Renewals at the same price as your first term, and a 7-day money-back guarantee
- Unlimited free website migration, within your plan’s limits
- WhatsApp support on +91 94880 91432
WHMCS and the WhatsApp module are not included with any reseller plan. If you want billing automation, add a WHMCS licence separately. Prefer to pay once? Each tier also comes as a one-time lifetime reseller plan; read lifetime hosting explained before you decide.
How to launch your first reseller on a master or alpha plan
Once your master or alpha plan is set up, getting your first reseller online takes four steps. These happen inside your own WHM, so the screens differ from account to account.
- Create a package. In WHM » Packages » Add a Package, set the disk, bandwidth and account limits you plan to sell.
- Set the privileges (ACL). Match what the reseller can do to what your MRH or ARH plan allows.
- Create the reseller. Make the new WHM reseller (or master reseller on an alpha plan) and assign the package. The menu for this comes from the multi-reseller plugin, so its name can differ; ask on WhatsApp if you can’t find it.
- Share the WHM login. Send the login privately, never in a group chat. Your reseller can now create cPanel accounts under their own brand.
Set up your private nameservers with support after the plan is provisioned, so every account you create carries your brand from day one.
FAQs
What is the difference between a master and an alpha reseller?
A master reseller can create WHM reseller accounts and cPanel accounts. An alpha reseller can do all of that and also create master reseller accounts, so it sits one level higher.
Is super alpha reseller hosting better than alpha?
Only if you need to create alpha accounts. Super alpha adds one more level on top; if you don’t plan to sell alpha accounts, an alpha or master plan does the job.
Does ShoHost sell super alpha reseller hosting?
Not at the time of writing. Alpha is ShoHost’s top hosting tier. If you run your own WHM server, Sho MultiReseller adds a super alpha level for $2.42/mo (all fees included) per server or $100 lifetime.
Is WHMCS included with master or alpha plans?
No. WHMCS and the WhatsApp module are sold separately on every reseller plan, including lifetime plans.
Will my clients see the ShoHost name?
No. Reseller, master and alpha plans are white-label: your clients see your brand and your own private nameservers.
Can you move my existing reseller accounts?
Yes. Unlimited free website migration, within your plan’s limits. Message WhatsApp support on +91 94880 91432 to plan the move.
Pick your reseller tier
- Reseller: sell cPanel accounts under your brand
- Master: sell WHM reseller accounts too
- Alpha: build a network of master resellers
- Super alpha: run your own tree with Sho MultiReseller
Plan limits checked on 19 October 2026 on shohost.com.
