Pterodactyl Panel

Free#11 of 32 in Game Server Control Panels

Pterodactyl Panel: A mature Linux-focused panel for self-hosted game server operations. Ranked #11 of 32 in Game Server Control Panels by our editors (8.2/10); pricing: Free plan; best for mature open-source Linux hosting.

8.2/10Editor score

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At a glance

Editor score
8.2 / 10
Pricing
Free plan
Best for
Mature open-source Linux hosting
Free plan
Yes
Paid from
Free
Supported games
Minecraft, Rust, Terraria, TeamSpeak, Mumble, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Garry's Mod, ARK: Survival Evolved, Factorio, San Andreas: MP, PocketMine-MP, Squad, FiveM, Xonotic, Discord ATLBot
Founded
2015
Facts checked
20 Sep 2026

Where it wins
- Free and MIT-licensed with Docker-container isolation
- Includes nodes, backups, tasks, permissions, files, and databases
- Connects with S3-compatible storage, MySQL, MariaDB, Redis, and Docker
Where it doesn't
- Requires self-hosting on Linux-based infrastructure
- Infrastructure and hosting costs are separate
- Platform coverage is focused on Linux environments

Our verdict on Pterodactyl Panel

Pterodactyl Panel is a free, open-source control panel for managing game servers on self-hosted Linux infrastructure. Its web-based administrator and user interfaces support individuals, gaming communities, networks, and hosting companies. The panel uses Docker-container isolation for game servers and the Wings control plane to operate server nodes, making it suited to deployments that need centralized management across multiple nodes.

The software has no paid tiers: the published model is free and open source, with an MIT license. That removes a software subscription from the cost structure, while infrastructure and hosting remain separate considerations. Core administration covers server provisioning, node management, local and S3-compatible backups, scheduled server tasks, granular subuser permissions, file management, SFTP access, databases, and allocation management. Its ecosystem includes Docker, AWS S3-compatible storage, MySQL, MariaDB, and Redis, supporting common self-hosted infrastructure patterns.

Pterodactyl’s strongest fit is for operators who want broad game-server coverage within a Linux-centered, self-managed environment. Documented supported games include Minecraft, Rust, Terraria, TeamSpeak, Mumble, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Garry’s Mod, ARK: Survival Evolved, Factorio, San Andreas: MP, PocketMine-MP, Squad, FiveM, Xonotic, and Discord ATLBot. Mod and plugin management, scheduled backups, role access controls, and community-provided configurations extend its operating scope. Choose it when open-source control and operational breadth matter more than a vendor-hosted service; it is less suitable for teams seeking a hosted panel or a broader platform focus beyond Linux.

Your product? Our editors can test Pterodactyl Panel in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Pterodactyl Panel pricing

Plans Free planFree Free to use — no paid tier required for the core job.

See plans on pterodactyl.io

Pterodactyl Panel fact sheet

Free plan	Yes
Paid from	Free
Supported games	Minecraft, Rust, Terraria, TeamSpeak, Mumble, Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Garry's Mod, ARK: Survival Evolved, Factorio, San Andreas: MP, PocketMine-MP, Squad, FiveM, Xonotic, Discord ATLBot
Deployment model	Self_hosted
Server provisioning	Yes
Mods and plugins	Yes
Scheduled backups	Yes
Managed server limit	Not verified
Role access controls	Yes
Deployment	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Web, Linux
Compliance & security	2FA
Support	Community, Docs
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate)
Integrations	5 integrations: Docker, AWS S3-compatible storage, MySQL, MariaDB, Redis
Pricing	Free plan
Website	pterodactyl.io
Facts checked	20 Sep 2026

Pterodactyl Panel integrations

Pterodactyl Panel lists 5 integrations on its own site.

Docker
AWS S3-compatible storage
MySQL
MariaDB
Redis

Alternatives to Pterodactyl Panel

See all Pterodactyl Panel alternatives →

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Featured on iTechGuides

Pterodactyl Panel is listed in our Game Server Control Panels directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update