
Hestia Control Panel
Free, open-source web hosting control panel for Debian and Ubuntu servers.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Self-hosted, Linux
Is Hestia Control Panel free?
Yes, free and open source
- License:
- GPL-3.0
Checked on Hestia Control Panel's site Nov 8, 2026
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All 6- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 6
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Hestia Control Panel
Hestia Control Panel (HestiaCP) turns a fresh Debian or Ubuntu server into a small web host. From a browser you create users, add domains, issue Let's Encrypt certificates, run mail and DNS servers, and set up MySQL or PostgreSQL databases, without editing Nginx, Apache or Exim configs by hand. It also installs common apps such as WordPress, Nextcloud and Laravel in one click, and backs up to SFTP or cloud storage through Rclone. It is aimed at freelancers, small agencies and hobbyists who want cPanel-style hosting on their own VPS without a licence fee. Unlike Webmin or Cockpit, which manage a whole Linux system, Hestia focuses on hosting sites, mail and DNS for several users. The project is free and GPL-licensed, funded by donations, and must be installed on a clean server running a supported LTS release. There is a REST API and command-line tools for automation.
Best for: Freelancers and small hosts who want free cPanel-style site, mail and DNS hosting on their own VPS..
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and GPL-licensed with no per-server licence
- Runs web, mail, DNS and databases from one panel
- One-click installs for WordPress, Nextcloud and more
- Light enough for a 1 GB VPS without spam filtering
Why people leave
- Only supports Debian and Ubuntu LTS releases
- Must be installed on a fresh server, not an existing one
- Community forum support only, no paid support plan
Hestia Control Panel vs Webmin, Plesk and Cockpit
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | Hestia Control Panel | Webmin | Plesk | Cockpit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Open source | Open source | Paid | Open source |
| Verified price | — | — | €12.04 a month (Web Admin, VPS) | — |
| Free plan | Free app | Free app | No | Free app |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Self-hosted, Linux | Linux, Self-hosted, Web | Self-hosted, Linux, Windows, Web | Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
Top Hestia Control Panel alternatives
See all 6- 1
Webmin68.8Covers the whole Linux system through modules, for admins who need more than site, mail and DNS hosting.
- 2
Plesk64.8Commercial panel with paid support, Windows server support and a large extension catalogue.
- 3
Cockpit61.8Red Hat-backed web console for managing services, storage and containers rather than hosting sites.
- 4
Laravel Forge59.4Paid service that provisions and deploys PHP apps on your cloud servers, with no panel to maintain yourself.
- 5
Coolify52.6Modern self-hosted PaaS for deploying apps and databases from Git, rather than classic PHP hosting.
Why people left Hestia Control Panel
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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Reviews
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Hestia Control Panel: common questions
What is Hestia Control Panel?
Hestia Control Panel: Free, open-source web hosting control panel for Debian and Ubuntu servers. Best for freelancers and small hosts who want free cPanel-style site, mail and DNS hosting on their own VPS. Available for Linux, and you can host it yourself.
Is Hestia Control Panel free?
Yes. Hestia Control Panel is free, open-source software that you can host yourself.
Is Hestia Control Panel open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at hestiacp/hestiacp. You can also run it on your own server.
What platforms does Hestia Control Panel run on?
Hestia Control Panel is available for Self-hosted and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to Hestia Control Panel?
The highest-ranked Hestia Control Panel alternatives right now are Webmin, Plesk and Cockpit. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
Hestia Control Panel vs Webmin: what's the difference?
Both Hestia Control Panel and Webmin are free and open source. Only Webmin runs on Web.