Proxmox VE
Proxmox VE: A capable self-hosted KVM/LXC manager with broad infrastructure features and optional paid support. Ranked #2 of 33 in Virtualization Management Software by our editors (9.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for cost-conscious KVM/LXC infrastructure teams.
At a glance
- Editor score9.2 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forCost-conscious KVM/LXC infrastructure teams
- Free planYes
- Paid from€120/unit/yr
- Deployment modelSelf-hosted
- Founded2005 · Vienna, Austria
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Free open-source edition with KVM and LXC management
- High availability, live migration, backup, and disaster recovery
- REST API plus Ansible, Terraform, OpenTofu, and Ceph integrations
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires teams to manage the environment
- Paid subscriptions are priced per occupied physical CPU socket
- Premium and Standard support availability changes during 2026
Our verdict on Proxmox VE
Proxmox VE is a self-hosted, open-source virtualization and management platform for IT teams and data centers. It combines KVM virtual machines with Linux Containers (LXC) in a web-based interface, with clustering, high availability, live migration, software-defined storage and networking, backup and restore, ZFS replication, and Ceph integration. The core software is free under the GNU Affero General Public License, and it can run on bare-metal systems or an existing Debian installation. It suits teams that want direct control over virtualization infrastructure and support for both virtual machines and containers.
The pricing structure keeps the entry point accessible while separating commercial support by subscription tier. The Community plan costs €120 per CPU socket per year and includes stable updates, Enterprise Repository access, and community support. Basic costs €370 per CPU socket per year and adds all Proxmox VE features, stable and secure updates, and three support tickets with a one-business-day response time. Standard costs €550 per CPU socket per year and includes 10 support tickets, a four-hour response time, 24/7 support, SSH remote support, offline updates and key activation, and Enterprise Repository access. Premium costs €1,100 per CPU socket per year and adds unlimited support tickets and a two-hour response time. Premium 24/7 support is listed from October 19, 2026, while Standard 24/7 support is listed by the end of 2026.
Its ecosystem fit is a significant strength for infrastructure teams. Proxmox VE provides a REST API and API tokens, and integrates with Ceph, Proxmox Backup Server, Ansible, Terraform, OpenTofu, Active Directory, LDAP, OpenID Connect, iSCSI, and Fibre Channel. That breadth supports automation, identity integration, storage management, and disaster-recovery workflows. Teams should choose it when they want a broad KVM/LXC platform with free core software and optional enterprise support. It is less suitable for organizations seeking a hosted service that removes responsibility for the underlying deployment environment.
Your product? Our editors can test Proxmox VE in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
Proxmox VE pricing
All 4 Proxmox VE plans and prices →
Proxmox VE fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | €120/unit/yr |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted |
| Supported hypervisors | KVM, LXC |
| Managed host limit | Not verified |
| Live migration | Yes |
| High availability | Yes |
| Disaster recovery | Yes |
| API access | Yes |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Tickets, Community |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 10 integrations: Ceph, Proxmox Backup Server, Ansible, Terraform, OpenTofu, Active Directory … |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | proxmox.com |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Proxmox VE integrations
Proxmox VE lists 10 integrations on its own site.
- Ceph
- Proxmox Backup Server
- Ansible
- Terraform
- OpenTofu
- Active Directory
- LDAP
- OpenID Connect
- iSCSI
- Fibre Channel
Alternatives to Proxmox VE
- Apache CloudStackA capable self-hosted choice for organizations managing varied virtualized environments.9.3
- Nutanix Prism CentralA centralized control plane for managing enterprise Nutanix clusters, workloads, and operations.8.9
- VMware Cloud DirectorA broad VMware platform for providers managing tenants, infrastructure, automation, and recovery.8.8
See all Proxmox VE alternatives →
Proxmox VE vs the competition
- Proxmox VE vs Apache CloudStack
- Proxmox VE vs Nutanix Prism Central
- Proxmox VE vs VMware Cloud Director
- Proxmox VE vs Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager
- Proxmox VE vs Virtuozzo Infrastructure
- Proxmox VE vs VMmanager
Compare Proxmox VE with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Proxmox VE is ranked in 4 of our directories.
Used Proxmox VE? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Proxmox VE for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Proxmox VE is listed in our Virtualization Management Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/proxmox-ve/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/proxmox-ve.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update