Key takeaways
- ISPConfig can manage one or more servers from a single panel and has administrator, reseller and client levels, which HestiaCP's own docs do not describe.
- HestiaCP is quicker to install and lighter for one server, with web, mail, DNS, backups and an API in one package under GPLv3.
- Both are free, but neither comes with a vendor support contract, so you rely on documentation and community.
- Pick ISPConfig for selling hosting across several servers, and HestiaCP for running your own sites on a single server.
ISPConfig and HestiaCP are two of the best known free hosting panels. They look similar from far away: both run web, mail and DNS on Linux, both are open source and both are free. They are built around different ideas, though. This comparison uses each project's own pages, read on 30 October 2026, and says where a page was silent instead of guessing.
ISPConfig vs HestiaCP at a glance
| ISPConfig | HestiaCP | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost and license | Free, BSD license | Free, GPLv3 |
| Servers per panel | One or more, from one panel | Single server in the docs we read; DNS clusters documented |
| Access levels | Administrator, reseller, client | Not stated on the getting started page |
| Postfix, Dovecot, spam and virus filtering, DKIM | Exim, Dovecot, optional SpamAssassin and ClamAV | |
| DNS | Zones, BIND import, DNSSEC, master and slave | BIND, DNS clusters and DNSSEC in the docs |
| Systems | Debian 11 to 13, Ubuntu 22.04 and 24.04, AlmaLinux and Rocky 8 to 10, CentOS 8 | Debian 12 and 13, Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 and 26.04 |
| Install | Autoinstaller, Debian recommended | Two command script, 1 GB RAM minimum, 4 GB recommended |
Sources: the ISPConfig 3 page, the ISPConfig documentation page and the HestiaCP getting started guide, as of 30 October 2026.
Architecture: multi server or single server
This is the biggest difference. ISPConfig says it manages one or more servers from a single control panel, on physical machines or virtual machines. Its documentation has multiserver and cluster tutorials, for example for Ubuntu 22.04 and Debian 10 and 11. If you run a web server, a separate mail server and a DNS server and want one place to manage all of them, that is what ISPConfig was designed for.
HestiaCP is designed around one server that runs everything. Its getting started page does not mention multi server management at all, so the safe reading is that each server gets its own panel. It does have a section on DNS clusters, which covers sharing zones between servers.
Clients and resellers
ISPConfig has three access levels: administrator, reseller and client. That makes it a natural fit if you sell hosting and want customers to log in to their own part of the panel, with resellers who manage their own customers.
HestiaCP has user accounts with their own sites, mail domains and databases, and an API. The page we read does not describe a reseller level, so if you plan to resell, read the current HestiaCP docs on users and packages before you commit.
Both ship a full mail stack. ISPConfig uses Postfix for SMTP and Dovecot for POP3 and IMAP, with spam filtering, virus filtering, DKIM signing and mailing lists. HestiaCP uses Exim and Dovecot, with SpamAssassin and ClamAV as install options. The HestiaCP docs say the 1 GB RAM minimum assumes you skip SpamAssassin and ClamAV, so plan for more memory if you want filtering.
Whichever panel you pick, mail only works well when your DNS records are right. Our guide to setting up a mail server the right way covers SPF, DKIM and reverse DNS.
DNS
ISPConfig manages zones and records, has a zone wizard, a BIND zone file import, DNSSEC and master and slave setups. HestiaCP uses BIND and documents DNS clusters and DNSSEC. For a single server with a few domains both are fine. If you want your own nameservers on two machines, ISPConfig's master and slave support is described more directly.
Installing and living with them
HestiaCP installs with two commands as root: download hst-install.sh and run it. It supports Debian 12 and 13 and Ubuntu LTS releases, on AMD64 or ARM64. It installs Apache with PHP-FPM by default and MariaDB, with options for MySQL 8 and PostgreSQL.
ISPConfig has an autoinstaller, and its docs recommend Debian. It supports Apache and nginx, and it runs on the Red Hat family too (AlmaLinux and Rocky). Expect a longer first setup, because you decide more things, especially on a multi server layout.
On a day to day basis HestiaCP feels like a lighter panel for one server, while ISPConfig exposes more options because it serves more roles. Neither has a vendor support contract; you rely on forums and documentation.
Where RespireCloud fits
RespireCloud is a different kind of tool: a commercial panel with flat per server pricing, and a free plan whose limits are on the pricing page. If you want to see how HestiaCP compares in detail, we keep a page at HestiaCP compared. If neither project suits you, free control panels for a VPS lists more options.
Which one should you pick
- You run your own sites on one VPS: HestiaCP. It is quicker to install, lighter, and has what a single server needs.
- You sell hosting and want resellers and clients: ISPConfig, because the reseller and client levels are documented.
- You have separate web, mail and DNS servers: ISPConfig, for the single panel over several servers.
- You run a Red Hat family system: ISPConfig lists AlmaLinux and Rocky; HestiaCP lists Debian and Ubuntu only.
- You want the newest Ubuntu LTS: HestiaCP lists 26.04; check ISPConfig's current page before you rely on it.
Questions
Is ISPConfig or HestiaCP easier to install?
HestiaCP has a two command install script and a short list of supported systems. ISPConfig has an autoinstaller too, but it has more moving parts and its docs recommend Debian.
Can HestiaCP manage several servers from one panel?
The HestiaCP getting started page does not describe multi server management. It does document DNS clusters. If you need one panel for many servers, ISPConfig is the documented choice.
Do ISPConfig and HestiaCP cost anything?
No. ISPConfig is published under the BSD license and HestiaCP under GPLv3. You pay for the server and for any support you buy elsewhere.
Which one is better for resellers?
ISPConfig has a reseller level between administrator and client. HestiaCP's getting started page does not mention one, so check its current docs before you promise reseller accounts.
