After setting up hosting, most users open Plesk for a few familiar tasks: adding a domain, creating a mailbox, uploading files, or opening a database. Their introduction to the panel often ends there. Meanwhile, it includes tools that can replace a separate website builder and simplify WordPress management, SSL certificate installation, project migration, and code deployment.
Calling them free requires some clarification. Some are included in the Plesk license, others are installed as free extensions, while access to certain features depends on the panel edition and the hosting provider’s settings. This is why the available set of buttons may differ between plans.
Sitejet Builder Creates a Website Directly in Plesk
The most noticeable tool in this selection is Sitejet Builder. It is a visual builder where you can assemble a website from ready-made sections, change the design, add pages, forms, and images, as well as configure basic SEO settings. There is no need to work with code.
The AI Website Generator is particularly interesting. The user enters the company name, its field of work, and a short description of the future website. The system then creates the page structure, a responsive layout, relevant sections, and initial copy. The result opens in the Sitejet editor, where it can be changed and published straight away.
You still do not get a completely finished business website in a few seconds. AI does not know the real prices, terms of service, company specifics, or the requirements of a particular niche. It is better to treat the generated version as a starting point. The next step is to check the facts, remove generic phrases, add your own photos, contact details, and legal pages, and test the forms.
Sitejet Builder is suitable for a service website, portfolio, presentation page, or small corporate website. Its capabilities may not be enough for a complex online store, user account, or service with custom logic. Plesk describes the builder as free with its licenses, but the provider may choose not to make it available. The Sitejet Commerce module for creating an online store is activated separately.
A Free SSL Certificate Through Let’s Encrypt
Plesk allows you to issue a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate without using the command line. The Let’s Encrypt and SSL It! extensions can protect the domain, subdomains, webmail, and the www address, while also renewing the certificate automatically.
SSL It! shows which addresses are already protected, allows you to enable HTTP-to-HTTPS redirection, and provides control over certain TLS settings. The extension itself is free, but that does not make every certificate available through its interface free. Commercial SSL certificates are paid for separately.
WP Toolkit for WordPress Websites
When a website runs on WordPress, some routine tasks can be handled through WP Toolkit. From a single window, WordPress can be installed, automatic update settings can be changed, existing websites can be connected, and plugins and themes can be managed. This is especially convenient when several projects are hosted on one server.
WP Toolkit is not automatically free in every edition. It is included with Plesk Web Pro and Web Host, while Web Admin users need to pay for it separately. Some advanced features, including Smart Updates, also belong to a paid tier.
Git and Docker for Project Deployment
The free Git extension is useful for those who store their code on GitHub, Bitbucket, or another repository. Plesk can retrieve files from it and deploy them to the website directory manually or automatically after an update. This reduces the number of operations involving archives, FTP, and manual copying.
Docker in Plesk allows containers to be launched through a graphical interface and supports ready-made images and Docker Compose. Local Docker use is included in the free extension, while remote Docker node management is sold separately. This feature may not be available on ordinary shared hosting because it requires the appropriate server permissions.
Plesk Migrator for Moving Websites
Moving to another server involves transferring not only files, but also databases, mail, domains, and related settings. The free Plesk Migrator is designed for this purpose. It runs a preliminary check, shows the migration stages, and can verify the operation of key services after the migration.
The tool is intended mainly for server administrators. A user on a standard hosting plan may not see it in their account, even when the website is hosted through Plesk. In that case, the provider’s technical support team handles the migration.
What to Know About Plesk Features
Plesk makes it possible to handle many everyday tasks without switching between different services. The panel can be used to work with websites, domains, SSL certificates, WordPress, code, and project migration. The exact set of free tools depends on the Plesk edition, hosting type, and provider settings, so the available features should be checked separately for each plan.
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