Honest comparison · 2026

BeAdmin vs ApisCP

ApisCP is a mature, engineering‑led platform — API‑first to the core, with self‑healing config, jailed sites and a strong adaptive firewall. BeAdmin keeps a free core, charges only for the modules you switch on, runs on 512 MB of Debian or Ubuntu, and ships a VPN. Below — where the two really differ, said plainly.

See docs

Free core · 512 MB RAM · Debian & Ubuntu

Entry price

No licence fee
BeAdmin
Free core
ApisCP
$39.60/mo

Minimum RAM

−75%
BeAdmin
512 MB
ApisCP
2 GB

Built‑in VPN

Only BeAdmin
BeAdmin
5 protocols
ApisCP
None

OS family

Broader
BeAdmin
Debian/Ubuntu
ApisCP
RHEL only
01 — differences

Key differences

Free core, not a paid licence

ApisCP is a paid platform — licences start near $39.60/mo, with a 30‑day trial. BeAdmin keeps a free core and charges only for the modules you switch on, from $1/mo. No licence, no trial clock.

Runs on a fraction of the RAM

BeAdmin starts at 512 MB. ApisCP asks for 2 GB — 1 GB only in a low‑memory mode with services trimmed — so a small VPS that fits BeAdmin sits below the ApisCP floor.

Five VPN protocols, zero plugins

Xray, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Outline and Amnezia are modules in the same UI. ApisCP ships no VPN — that part you would build and run yourself.

Native on Debian and Ubuntu

ApisCP installs only on the RHEL family — Rocky, AlmaLinux, RHEL 8/9/10 — and not inside containers. BeAdmin targets the Debian and Ubuntu images most VPS providers default to.

02 — features

Feature comparison

Values pulled from each panel’s public docs. ApisCP is the more engineering‑led platform — self‑healing, jailing, an adaptive firewall and PostgreSQL; BeAdmin is lighter, free at the core, Debian‑native and ships a VPN. We mark each row plainly, including the ones ApisCP wins.

Foundations
7
  • Supported OS
    BeAdmin Debian, Ubuntu
    ApisCP Rocky, AlmaLinux, RHEL 8–10
  • Min RAM
    BeAdmin 512 MB
    ApisCP 2 GB
  • Min disk
    BeAdmin 10 GB
    ApisCP 20 GB
  • Architecture
    BeAdmin x86_64
    ApisCP x86_64
  • Pick‑and‑mix modules
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP No
  • Multi‑server from one UI
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Partial
  • Domain limit
    BeAdmin Unlimited
    ApisCP Tied to plan (10/30/∞)
Web & runtimes
7
  • Nginx
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Partial
  • Apache + Nginx hybrid
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP No
  • Multiple PHP versions per site
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Yes
  • Node.js / Python / Ruby (managed)
    BeAdmin No
    ApisCP Partial
  • LiteSpeed
    BeAdmin No
    ApisCP No
  • WordPress one‑click
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Yes
  • Docker (managed module)
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP No
Data & mail
6
  • MariaDB / MySQL
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Yes
  • PostgreSQL
    BeAdmin Soon
    ApisCP Yes
  • phpMyAdmin built‑in
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Yes
  • Self‑managed mail server
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Yes
  • Webmail (Roundcube)
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Yes
  • DKIM / SPF / DMARC autoconfig
    BeAdmin Partial
    ApisCP Yes
Security
6
  • Let’s Encrypt automation
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Yes
  • Fail2Ban brute‑force shield
    BeAdmin No
    ApisCP Yes
  • Malware scan / firewall
    BeAdmin No
    ApisCP Yes
  • Built‑in VPN modules (5 protocols)
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP No
  • Site isolation (jailing)
    BeAdmin Partial
    ApisCP Yes
  • Self‑healing config checks
    BeAdmin No
    ApisCP Yes
Operations
6
  • Open API for every UI action
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Yes
  • Full CLI control
    BeAdmin Partial
    ApisCP Yes
  • Built‑in scheduled backups
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP Yes
  • WHMCS billing out of the box
    BeAdmin No
    ApisCP Partial
  • Forever‑free tier
    BeAdmin Yes
    ApisCP No
  • Free trial
    BeAdmin Not needed
    ApisCP 30 days
03 — why beadmin

Why pick BeAdmin over ApisCP

NO LICENCE FEE

A free core instead of a licence

ApisCP is paid — licences start near $39.60/mo for the entry plan and rise with the domain count, on a 30‑day trial. BeAdmin keeps the core free and charges only for the modules you switch on, from $1/mo, with no licence and no trial clock.

LIGHTER FOOTPRINT

Fits a small VPS

BeAdmin runs on 512 MB. ApisCP asks for 2 GB, dropping to 1 GB only in a low‑memory mode with services disabled. The cheap box that comfortably hosts BeAdmin sits below the ApisCP floor.

VPN INCLUDED

Privacy stack out of the box

Xray, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Outline, Amnezia — turn any of them on with a single click. ApisCP has no VPN at all; you would build and maintain that part yourself outside the panel.

DEBIAN & UBUNTU

Runs where most VPS images do

ApisCP installs only on the RHEL family — Rocky, AlmaLinux, RHEL 8/9/10 — and not inside containers. BeAdmin runs natively on the Debian and Ubuntu images most providers default to, with no OS switch required.

04 — pros & cons

What each panel does well — and where each gives ground

ApisCP is the more engineering‑led platform with a stronger security stack; BeAdmin is lighter, free at the core and Debian‑native. Synthesised from public docs and our own usage — your mileage may vary.

BeAdmin

Strengths

  • Free core plus modules from $1/mo — no licence, no trial clock
  • Runs comfortably on 512 MB RAM
  • Native on Debian and Ubuntu
  • Five built‑in VPN protocols (Xray, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Outline, Amnezia)
  • No limit on domains or sites on any plan
  • Modern UI with first‑class dark mode

Trade‑offs

  • No bundled Fail2Ban, adaptive firewall or malware scanning
  • No jailing or self‑healing config checks
  • PostgreSQL not yet a managed module; no native WHMCS
  • API and CLI cover the basics, not the API‑first depth of ApisCP
  • No Node.js / Python / Ruby; smaller ecosystem

ApisCP

Strengths

  • API‑first to the core — panel, CLI and remote all run on the same API
  • Self‑healing config integrity checks keep a server from drifting
  • Adaptive firewall, Fail2Ban, jailing and malware scans on by default
  • Apache Event MPM + PHP‑FPM for high throughput, plus PostgreSQL
  • Mature mail stack and flexible DNS (PowerDNS, CloudFlare)
  • Actively developed, with resource limits and site isolation

Trade‑offs

  • RHEL family only — no Debian, Ubuntu or container hosts
  • Paid licence from about $39.60/mo, on a 30‑day trial
  • 2 GB RAM minimum, 1 GB only in a trimmed low‑memory mode
  • No built‑in VPN and no Docker support
  • Apache‑only web stack; domain count tied to the plan
05 — pricing

Free core vs a paid licence

ApisCP charges a licence per machine, with the domain count tied to the plan. BeAdmin keeps a free core and bills only for the modules you switch on.

BeAdmin — free core + modules

Free core

0 € forever, no account required
  • Nginx, MariaDB, PHP, CRON
  • Mail server
  • File manager, users, roles
  • Backups, scheduler, monitoring

Add modules à la carte

From 1 €/mo. Enable only what you need, disable any time — no domain cap. The VPN family lives here.

ApisCP — per machine
  • Mini

    $39.60

    per month

    • 10 domains
    • ·
    • 1 machine
  • Startup

    $63.60

    per month

    • 30 domains
    • ·
    • 1 machine
  • Pro

    $199.60

    per month

    • Unlimited domains
    • ·
    • 1 machine

Prices shown reflect a promotional discount; the billing period and base rates may differ. A 30‑day trial is functionally identical to a paid licence, but there is no forever‑free tier. Each plan ties the domain count to the licence.

ApisCP pricing from apiscp.com (2026; promos may differ). BeAdmin module pricing from beadmin.com.

06 — requirements

System requirements

The smallest VPS each panel will comfortably run on. Numbers are vendor‑stated minimums and recommendations.

  • Minimum RAM
    BeAdmin 512 MB
    ApisCP 2 GB (1 GB low‑mem)
  • Recommended RAM
    BeAdmin 1 GB
    ApisCP 2 GB+
  • Minimum disk
    BeAdmin 10 GB
    ApisCP 20 GB
  • CPU
    BeAdmin 1 core
    ApisCP 1 core
  • Architecture
    BeAdmin x86_64
    ApisCP x86_64
  • Supported OS
    BeAdmin Debian, Ubuntu
    ApisCP Rocky, AlmaLinux, RHEL 8–10

Source: ApisCP install docs (docs.apiscp.com). BeAdmin requirements from internal documentation.

07 — migration

Migrating from ApisCP

ApisCP runs on the RHEL family, so the move means a fresh Debian or Ubuntu box. The old panel stays up until you retire it.

01

Install BeAdmin on a Debian or Ubuntu server

ApisCP only runs on Rocky, AlmaLinux or RHEL, so plan a fresh Debian or Ubuntu box — there is no in‑place OS switch. One apt command brings up the free BeAdmin core; run it alongside ApisCP and switch over only when ready.

02

Move sites, databases, and mail

Transfer vhost configs, databases (mysqldump) and mailboxes manually or with your own scripts. BeAdmin does not import ApisCP backups directly — that is an honest gap, not a marketing trick. PostgreSQL has to wait for the upcoming module, so plan around it.

03

Switch DNS, watch the traffic

Flip DNS when you are comfortable. If anything looks off, revert DNS to the old server — the rollback is just one record change.

08 — questions

Frequently asked questions

ApisCP is an excellent, API‑first platform, and if its self‑healing, jailing and adaptive firewall are central to you, it is a strong choice. The case for BeAdmin is cost, weight and OS: a free core plus modules from 1 €/mo against a licence from about $39.60/mo, 512 MB instead of 2 GB, Debian or Ubuntu instead of RHEL‑only, and a built‑in VPN. If those matter, the comparison above shows the differences plainly.

No. BeAdmin is Debian and Ubuntu only. ApisCP is the opposite — it installs only on the RHEL family (Rocky, AlmaLinux, RHEL 8/9/10) and not inside containers. If your fleet is standardised on RHEL, that is a genuine reason to weigh ApisCP; BeAdmin targets the Debian and Ubuntu images most VPS providers default to.

No. ApisCP ships no VPN, so you would set one up and maintain it yourself outside the panel. BeAdmin includes five protocols — Xray, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Outline and Amnezia — as modules in the same UI, each enabled with a single click.

ApisCP ships those out of the box — Fail2Ban, an adaptive firewall, site jailing and malware scans, plus self‑healing config checks — and its security stack is objectively stronger than ours. BeAdmin does not bundle them yet. Its differentiators are cost, footprint, the Debian/Ubuntu base and the built‑in VPN, not security maturity.

Yes. BeAdmin runs on 512 MB, where ApisCP asks for 2 GB and drops to 1 GB only in a trimmed low‑memory mode. The lighter footprint means a cheaper VPS. PostgreSQL is the one thing to plan around — it is a coming module in BeAdmin, while ApisCP ships it today.

Start managing infrastructure the way you actually want to

The panel core is free. Pay only for the modules you connect.

How to install