Key takeaways
- FASTPANEL's Standard licence is free with no expiry, but the panel is closed source and activated per server IP, while HestiaCP is open source under GPLv3.
- FASTPANEL lists nginx, Apache and PHP FPM with WordPress support, and keeps extras like Prometheus metrics and Node.js support in the paid Extended tier.
- HestiaCP bundles web, mail, DNS, an API and backups in one install, with Apache and PHP FPM by default.
- Both ask you to check mail and backup details in their own docs, because their landing pages say little about them.
FASTPANEL and HestiaCP both promise a free way to manage websites on your own VPS. They are quite different products. HestiaCP is an open source project you install from GitHub. FASTPANEL is a vendor panel with a free licence and paid tiers above it. This comparison uses each project's own pages, read on 30 October 2026, and flags where those pages say nothing.
FASTPANEL vs HestiaCP at a glance
| FASTPANEL | HestiaCP | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Standard licence free, no expiry; Extended 4.20 euros a month; Lifetime 399 euros once | Free |
| Source | Licence ordered and activated for the server IP | Open source, GPLv3 |
| Web stack | nginx, Apache, PHP FPM | Apache by default, PHP FPM, optional MultiPHP |
| WordPress | Described as WordPress friendly, listed in the knowledge base | Runs WordPress as a PHP app; no installer in the page we read |
| Mail server listed | Exim, Dovecot, optional SpamAssassin and ClamAV | |
| Backups | Backup plans in the knowledge base | Backup and restore in the docs |
| Systems | Debian 9 to 12, Ubuntu 18.04 to 24.04, CentOS 7, AlmaLinux 8, Rocky 8 | Debian 12 and 13, Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04, 26.04 |
| Minimum RAM | 1 GB, 5 GB disk | 1 GB without filtering, 4 GB recommended |
Sources: the FASTPANEL licence page, FASTPANEL home page, its knowledge base and the HestiaCP getting started guide, as of 30 October 2026.
Licence: what free means
FASTPANEL says it is free for end users and hosting providers, and its Standard licence costs nothing with no expiry. Both Standard and Extended say unlimited domains and accounts. Extended adds a metrics exporter, white label, Prometheus monitoring, built in Node.js support and Telegram or Slack notifications. There is also a one time Lifetime Membership with services bundled in. The licence is ordered for your server's IP address, so expect to handle it again if the IP changes.
HestiaCP is open source under GPLv3, with no paid tier. You can read the code, and there is no vendor to ask for permission. The flip side is that there is no vendor to call either, only community support.
Stack
FASTPANEL's knowledge base lists nginx, Apache and PHP FPM. HestiaCP installs Apache with PHP FPM by default, MariaDB, and offers MySQL 8 and PostgreSQL as options, plus MultiPHP for several PHP versions. Neither page gives performance figures, so we will not claim one is faster. For more free options, see our free control panel for a VPS overview.
WordPress
FASTPANEL calls itself WordPress friendly and lists WordPress among its topics, but the pages we opened do not detail the tools. HestiaCP can host WordPress like any PHP site. Check each docs set for the exact installer and staging features you want before choosing, because that is the part that differs most in daily use.
Mail and backups
HestiaCP's mail stack is Exim and Dovecot with SpamAssassin and ClamAV as options, and its docs have backup and restore sections. FASTPANEL's knowledge base has sections for email accounts and backup plans, and the main page does not say which mail software it uses. For either panel, mail delivery depends on SPF, DKIM and reverse DNS more than on the panel, so read how to set up a mail server the right way. And keep a copy of your backups on another machine whichever you choose.
Security and support
HestiaCP installs Fail2Ban and iptables and has an API. FASTPANEL's knowledge base lists a firewall and security recommendations. FASTPANEL advertises professional support around the clock; the free Standard tier details were not on the pages we read, so ask before you rely on it. HestiaCP support is its forum and GitHub.
Where RespireCloud fits
RespireCloud is a commercial panel with flat per server prices, and a free plan with limits shown on the pricing page. We have a side by side page for HestiaCP. If your main worry is lock-in to a vendor licence, HestiaCP's open source model is a real advantage that RespireCloud does not match; if you want an assistant, migration tools and support, a commercial panel may fit better.
Which one should you pick
- You want open source and no vendor: HestiaCP.
- You want a vendor panel with a free licence and paid support options: FASTPANEL Standard, then Extended if you need metrics or Node.js.
- You run an older system such as Debian 10 or CentOS 7: FASTPANEL lists them; HestiaCP does not.
- You want the newest Ubuntu LTS: HestiaCP lists 26.04; FASTPANEL's page tops out at 24.04.
- You run mail on the same box: test both with your real domain first, since the pages say little about the mail details.
Questions
Is FASTPANEL really free?
Its licence page lists a Standard licence at no cost with no expiry and no stated site limit. Extended costs 4.20 euros a month, as of 30 October 2026. Check the page before you buy.
Is HestiaCP open source and FASTPANEL not?
HestiaCP is licensed under GPLv3. The FASTPANEL pages we read describe a licence you order and activate for your server IP, and do not publish a source license.
Which is better for WordPress?
FASTPANEL describes itself as WordPress friendly and its knowledge base lists WordPress. HestiaCP can host WordPress on its web stack like any PHP app, and the docs we read list no one click installer.
Can I move from one to the other?
Yes, by moving sites, databases and mail with standard tools, but there is no official converter. Plan a test move with one site first and lower your DNS TTL beforehand.
