The HestiaCP Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about HestiaCP in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
HestiaCP
The Insider’s Guide
Free open-source web server control panel
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among web hosts, read from HestiaCP’s own pages.
Made by Hestia Control Panel · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from HestiaCP’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on HestiaCP’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 114 of the 122 other web hosts we grade
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.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about HestiaCP, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Support is the community forum only, and you install, run and patch the server yourself.
- 1
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.
- 2
It is free
HestiaCP has no paid plan at all. Entirely free and open source under the GPLv3 license, with no paid editions.
- 3
It runs on Web
Web.
- 4
Web domains and PHP
Multiple domains per server with per-domain TLS certificates, Nginx caching, and PHP versions from 5.6 to 8.3.
- 5
Self-hosted mail
Runs Exim and Dovecot with Roundcube webmail, Let's Encrypt for mail domains and rate limits per user or mailbox.
- 6
DNS server
Host your own nameservers, set up DNS clusters and enable DNSSEC on domains.
- 7
A 2.6 GPA, above 114 of 122
That is against the other web hosts we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
HestiaCP is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
HestiaCP at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Hestia Control Panel, since 2019
- Category
- Web Hosting
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
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.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Free 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. |
| Free plan and trial | A | Entirely free and open source, with no paid tier and no cap listed. The project asks for donations. |
| Features | B | Web 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. |
| Ease of use | D | No store rating on record. It needs a fresh Debian or Ubuntu install and command-line setup. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web only, with a REST API, Roundcube, phpMyAdmin, Rclone, WordPress and Nextcloud support, and Let's Encrypt. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
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 it 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
Good to know
Good for
- Self-hosters and small agencies running several sites on one VPS
- People who want a no-cost panel with no license tiers
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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
HestiaCP is free to use.
Entirely free and open source, with no paid tier and no cap listed.
Hestia Control Panel
$0
Free and open source; you install it on your own server. The project asks for donations by PayPal or cryptocurrency.
The free plan
Entirely free and open source under the GPLv3 license, with no paid editions.
Read from hestiacp.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Free open-source web server control panel. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, public API.
Web domains and PHP, mail, DNS, MySQL, MariaDB and PostgreSQL, users, backups and a REST API.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Roundcube
- phpMyAdmin
- Rclone
- WordPress
- Nextcloud
- Let's Encrypt
HestiaCP is made by Hestia Control Panel, and has been around since 2019.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
114/122
Other web hosts it is graded above
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
- AFree plan and trialAbove 121 of 122
- BFeaturesAbove 86 of 122
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 57 of 122
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 111 web hosts. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. HestiaCP is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
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.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
CyberPanel, CloudPanel, Virtualmin, cPanel and Plesk
The 5 tools HestiaCP is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
CyberPanel
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Free OpenLiteSpeed control panel with paid add-ons.
- CyberPanel also covers file management.
- 2.4GPA
CloudPanel
Free
Free server control panel for PHP, Node.js and Python sites.
- HestiaCP is open source, according to its own site.
- CloudPanel also covers managed WordPress.
- 2.2GPA
Virtualmin
Free plan · from $7.50/mo
Open-source hosting control panel with a paid Pro edition.
- Virtualmin also covers file management.
- 2.2GPA
cPanel
Free trial · from $27.46/mo
Web hosting control panel licensed per server, by account count.
- HestiaCP has a free plan. cPanel does not, though it has a free trial.
- HestiaCP is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- cPanel also covers managed WordPress.
- 2.2GPA
Plesk
Free trial · from $15.57/mo
Web hosting and server control panel licensed per server.
- HestiaCP has a free plan. Plesk does not, though it has a free trial.
- HestiaCP is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Plesk also covers managed WordPress and dMARC.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is HestiaCP free?
Yes. HestiaCP is free to use.
How much does HestiaCP cost?
HestiaCP lists one plan. Hestia Control Panel: $0.
What platforms does HestiaCP work on?
HestiaCP is available on Web.
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.
Does HestiaCP have an API?
Yes. HestiaCP offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does HestiaCP integrate with?
HestiaCP's listing names Roundcube, phpMyAdmin, Rclone, WordPress, Nextcloud and Let's Encrypt.
Who makes HestiaCP?
HestiaCP is made by Hestia Control Panel. It dates from 2019.
What are the alternatives to HestiaCP?
The closest alternatives to HestiaCP in our directory are CyberPanel, CloudPanel, Virtualmin, cPanel and Plesk.
How does HestiaCP compare with other web hosts?
HestiaCP's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 114 of the 122 other web hosts we grade, and level with 5.
Is HestiaCP good value for money?
ToolGPA grades HestiaCP C for value for money. HestiaCP has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of HestiaCP?
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.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from HestiaCP’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. 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.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Hestia Control Panel. Prices change, so check hestiacp.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- HestiaCP, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/hestiacp
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "HestiaCP: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/hestiacp
Know someone choosing between web hosts?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/hestiacp/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
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- Web Hosting Insider's GuideEvery one of the 123 web hosts we grade, compared
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- GitHub Pages Insider's GuideStatic site hosting built into GitHub repositories2.8 GPA
- Netlify Insider's GuideGit-based hosting for sites and web apps, priced by monthly credits2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what HestiaCP’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. HestiaCP is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Hestia Control Panel. Prices and plans change: check hestiacp.com before you buy.