HestiaCP review (2026): is it any good?
Free open-source web server control panel
HestiaCP report card
Good · out of 4.0 · graded Nov 13, 2026
Best for a free open-source panel on a fresh Debian or Ubuntu server
Hestia is a free control panel for Debian and Ubuntu servers covering web domains, mail, DNS, databases and backups. Support is the community forum only, and you install, run and patch the server yourself.
Who HestiaCP is for
- Fits if you run a Debian or Ubuntu VPS and want a panel with no licence cost
- Works for people who are happy to rely on a community forum
Who HestiaCP is not for
- Skip it if you want paid support, because there is none and help comes from the forum
- Not for you if you run another OS, as only Debian 12 or 13 and Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04 are supported
- Tight if you use a 32-bit CPU, since only AMD64 and ARM64 are supported
- Watch out: you patch and secure the server yourself, and it is software, not hosting
Why HestiaCP gets a 2.6
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- CValue for moneyFree under GPLv3 with no paid editions, but it only runs on a server you rent and manage, so it counts as C rather than A.
- AFree plan and trialEntirely free and open source, with no paid tier and no cap listed. The project asks for donations.
- BFeaturesWeb domains and PHP, mail, DNS, MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL, users, backups and a REST API. Nothing in the listing shows a gap in the panel's core job.
- DEase of useNo store rating on record. It needs a fresh Debian or Ubuntu install and command-line setup.
- BPlatforms and integrationsWeb only, with a REST API, Roundcube, phpMyAdmin, Rclone, WordPress and Nextcloud support, and Let's Encrypt.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Hestia Control Panel's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/hestiacp#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/hestiacp.svg" alt="HestiaCP: 2.6 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>Where HestiaCP stands among web hosts
HestiaCP's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 114 of the 122 other web hosts we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 121 of 122) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
HestiaCP has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4, and no tool on the category's chart scores higher without costing more.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 123 web hosts we grade, cut by the letter each got. HestiaCP’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 122, level with 65
- AFree plan and trialAbove 121 of 122, level with 1
- BFeaturesAbove 86 of 122, level with 36
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122, level with 39
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 57 of 122, level with 65
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 111 web hosts. Further left costs less, and higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Point at a dot to see which tool it is.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
Keep HestiaCP, or make your own?
Keep it
HestiaCP is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 2.6 is higher than 114 of the 122 other web hosts we grade.
What you could not
- It plugs into other products, Roundcube, phpMyAdmin and Rclone among them, and has an API.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. HestiaCP’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
What is HestiaCP?
Hestia Control Panel is a free, open-source control panel for Debian and Ubuntu servers, released under the GPLv3 license. It manages web domains, mail, DNS, databases and users, and the project is funded by donations rather than license fees.
Worth knowing
- It must go on a fresh Debian 12 or 13, or Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04, install; other systems get no support.
- Only 64-bit AMD64 and ARM64 processors are supported.
- Support comes from the community forum, not a paid support plan.
- You run and patch the server yourself; Hestia is software, not hosting.
Key features
- Web domains and PHP
- Multiple domains per server with per-domain TLS certificates, Nginx caching, and PHP versions from 5.6 to 8.3.
- Self-hosted mail
- Runs Exim and Dovecot with Roundcube webmail, Let's Encrypt for mail domains and rate limits per user or mailbox.
- DNS server
- Host your own nameservers, set up DNS clusters and enable DNSSEC on domains.
- MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL
- Database support with phpMyAdmin and phpPgAdmin included.
- Users and security
- Share access with other users under resource limits, with SFTP and SSH chroot jails, SSH keys and two-factor login for the admin panel.
- Backups and REST API
- Automated backups to SFTP, FTP or any of 50+ cloud providers via Rclone, and a REST API for third-party software.
HestiaCP pricing
As of Nov 13, 2026, HestiaCP is free to use.
- Starts at
- Free
- Free plan
- Entirely free and open source under the GPLv3 license, with no paid editions.
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Hestia Control Panel | $0 | Free and open source; you install it on your own server. The project asks for donations by PayPal or cryptocurrency. |
Read from hestiacp.com on Nov 13, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with HestiaCP before you buy.
Works with
- Roundcube
- phpMyAdmin
- Rclone
- WordPress
- Nextcloud
- Let's Encrypt
HestiaCP alternatives
- HestiaCP vs CyberPanel
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
- HestiaCP vs Virtualmin
Free plan · from $7.50/mo
- HestiaCP vs cPanel
Free trial · from $27.46/mo
- HestiaCP vs Plesk
Free trial · from $15.57/mo
Common questions
Does HestiaCP have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. HestiaCP is listed for Web.
Does HestiaCP have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. HestiaCP is listed for Web.
Is HestiaCP open source?
Yes. HestiaCP is open source, according to its own site. It can also be run on a server of your own.
Does HestiaCP have an API?
Yes. HestiaCP offers a public API, according to its own site.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Nov 13, 2026.