Hestia Control Panel
Hestia Control Panel: A free, self-hosted panel covering websites, email, DNS, databases, apps, backups, and SSL. Ranked #20 of 33 in Web Hosting Control Panels by our editors (6.9/10); pricing: Free plan; best for no-cost open-source hosting panels.
At a glance
- Editor score6.9 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forNo-cost open-source hosting panels
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- OS supportLinux
- Facts checked23 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Covers websites, email, DNS, databases, applications, backups, and SSL
- Offers both web and command-line administration
- Includes DNSSEC, firewall, and brute-force attack protection
Where it doesn't
- Requires a self-hosted Linux server
- Administration spans multiple hosting components
- Less suited to teams seeking managed hosting software
Our verdict on Hestia Control Panel
Hestia Control Panel is GPLv3 open-source software for administrators managing self-hosted Linux servers. It provides web and command-line interfaces for websites, domains, mail accounts, DNS zones, databases, SSL certificates, users, and backups. The published platform details include web, Linux, API, and self-hosted environments, while the supported operating systems described are Debian and Ubuntu. It is aimed at people who want to operate hosting services from their own server rather than use a hosted management service.
The main strength is breadth within a no-cost hosting panel. Hestia combines website and domain management with hosted email and webmail, DNS records and zones, clustering, DNSSEC, MariaDB, MySQL and PostgreSQL database management, one-click application installation, and backup creation, download, restoration, and exclusions. Let's Encrypt SSL certificate support, firewall protection, and brute-force attack protection extend the panel beyond basic site administration. This makes it a practical fit for administrators who want one interface for common hosting workloads while retaining command-line access.
Hestia's self-hosted model also defines its trade-offs. The operator is responsible for running the panel on a supported Linux server and managing the surrounding hosting environment, including web, mail, DNS, database, and security components. User capacity is configurable through user packages rather than a published paid-plan limit, and the software is presented as free GPLv3 software rather than a tiered commercial service. Choose Hestia if open-source licensing, broad hosting coverage, and server control matter most. Choose another option if your priority is a managed service that removes server administration from the workflow.
Your product? Our editors can test Hestia Control Panel in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Hestia Control Panel pricing
Hestia Control Panel fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| OS support | Linux |
| Email management | Yes |
| DNS management | Yes |
| Database management | Yes |
| Backup tools | Yes |
| App installer | Yes |
| Account limit | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted, Cloud |
| Platforms | Web, Linux |
| Compliance & security | 2FA |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Solo, Small business, Mid-market (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | hestiacp.com |
| Facts checked | 23 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Hestia Control Panel
- PleskA mature control panel covering hosting operations from websites and DNS to backups and security.9.4
- cPanelA familiar Linux control panel with broad hosting tools, but no perpetual free plan.9.2
- DirectAdminA low-cost Linux control panel with broad hosting administration features.9.0
See all Hestia Control Panel alternatives →
Also Ranked In
Hestia Control Panel is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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