Honest comparison · 2026

BeAdmin vs ispmanager

Two panels, two philosophies. BeAdmin is a lightweight modular panel with a forever‑free core; ispmanager is a classic all‑in‑one tool with a 14‑day trial. Below — what that means for your server, your sites, and your bill.

See docs

Free core · 512 MB RAM · No site limits

Minimum RAM

−50%
BeAdmin
512 MB
ispmanager
1 GB

Entry price

−€71 / yr
BeAdmin
Free
ispmanager
€5.95/mo

Built‑in VPN

Only BeAdmin
BeAdmin
5 protocols
ispmanager
None

Sites per server

No limit
BeAdmin
Unlimited
ispmanager
10 / 50 / ∞
01 — differences

Key differences

Runs where ispmanager barely fits

BeAdmin runs on 512 MB of RAM — where ispmanager needs 1 GB and recommends 4 GB.

Free core, pay only for extras

BeAdmin's core is free forever; modules from $1/mo as needed. ispmanager starts at €5.95/mo.

Five VPN protocols, zero plugins

Xray, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Outline, and Amnezia are modules in the same UI. ispmanager ships no VPN.

Your VPS sets the ceiling, not the plan

BeAdmin has no per‑site or per‑account cap. ispmanager unlocks unlimited only on Host at €21.07/mo.

02 — features

Feature comparison

Values pulled from each panel’s public docs and pricing pages. Differences are highlighted, not editorialised.

Foundations
7
  • Supported OS
    BeAdmin Debian, Ubuntu
    ispmanager Debian, Ubuntu, AlmaLinux +2
  • Min RAM
    BeAdmin 512 MB
    ispmanager 1 GB
  • Min disk
    BeAdmin 10 GB
    ispmanager 10 GB (50 GB for 10+ sites)
  • Architecture
    BeAdmin x86_64
    ispmanager x86_64
  • Pick‑and‑mix modules
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager No
  • Multi‑server from one UI
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Partial
  • Site limit
    BeAdmin Unlimited
    ispmanager 10 (Lite) / 50 (Pro) / ∞ (Host)
Web & runtimes
7
  • Nginx
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • Apache + Nginx hybrid
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • Multiple PHP versions per site
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • Node.js / Python / Ruby (managed)
    BeAdmin No
    ispmanager Yes
  • LiteSpeed
    BeAdmin No
    ispmanager Yes
  • WordPress one‑click toolkit
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • Docker (managed module)
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes (Pro+)
Data & mail
6
  • MariaDB / MySQL
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • PostgreSQL
    BeAdmin Soon
    ispmanager Yes
  • phpMyAdmin built‑in
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • Self‑managed mail server
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • Webmail (Roundcube)
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • DKIM / SPF / DMARC autoconfig
    BeAdmin Partial
    ispmanager Yes
Security
6
  • Let’s Encrypt automation
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • Fail2Ban / brute‑force shield
    BeAdmin No
    ispmanager Yes
  • WAF (ModSecurity)
    BeAdmin No
    ispmanager Yes
  • Built‑in VPN modules (5 protocols)
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager No
  • Granular per‑task permissions
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • CloudLinux account isolation
    BeAdmin No
    ispmanager Yes
Operations
6
  • Open API for every UI action
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • Built‑in scheduled backups
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Yes
  • WHMCS / Blesta integration
    BeAdmin No
    ispmanager Yes
  • First‑class dark mode
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager Partial
  • Forever‑free tier
    BeAdmin Yes
    ispmanager No
  • Free trial
    BeAdmin Not needed
    ispmanager 14 days
03 — why beadmin

Why pick BeAdmin over ispmanager

LIGHTER FOOTPRINT

Half the RAM, same job

BeAdmin runs on a 512 MB VPS, ispmanager wants 1 GB minimum and 4 GB to feel right. For a side project or a small business box, that is the difference between a cheap cloud plan and a paid upgrade.

NO SITE TAX

Add sites without changing plan

Outgrow ispmanager Lite at 10 sites and you pay €11.91/mo for Pro just to keep going. BeAdmin has no per‑site or per‑account cap — what fits on your VPS, fits in the panel.

VPN INCLUDED

Privacy stack out of the box

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

START FOR ZERO

Free forever, not free for 14 days

BeAdmin’s base panel — web, databases, PHP, mail, file manager — is free without a time limit and without an account. ispmanager gives you 14 days, then the meter starts at €5.95/mo. If you want to take your time deciding, the math is different.

04 — pros & cons

What each panel does well — and where each gives ground

Synthesised from public docs, our own usage, and partner conversations. Your mileage may vary.

BeAdmin

Strengths

  • Forever‑free core — Nginx, MariaDB, PHP, CRON, Mail, file manager
  • Modular by design — disabled module = zero RAM, zero attack surface
  • Five built‑in VPN protocols (Xray, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Outline, Amnezia)
  • No per‑site or per‑account limits
  • Runs comfortably on 512 MB RAM and 10 GB disk
  • One modern UI for admin and end users, first‑class dark mode

Trade‑offs

  • Debian and Ubuntu only — no AlmaLinux, Rocky or CloudLinux yet
  • Younger ecosystem — fewer plugins, smaller community library
  • No CloudLinux account isolation for shared hosting
  • No managed Fail2Ban or ModSecurity modules
  • PostgreSQL not yet a managed module

ispmanager

Strengths

  • Broad OS support — AlmaLinux, Rocky, CloudLinux, Debian, Ubuntu
  • Mature ecosystem — WHMCS / Blesta integrations, partner network
  • Apache + Nginx hybrid, LiteSpeed, Docker (Pro and up)
  • Developed roles and quotas, designed for shared hosting
  • Open API for every UI action
  • 14‑day free trial for evaluation

Trade‑offs

  • No free tier — entry starts at €5.95/mo
  • Per‑site limits: 10 (Lite), 50 (Pro); unlimited only on Host (from €21.07/mo)
  • Minimum 1 GB RAM, 4 GB recommended — tight on a small VPS
  • No built‑in VPN modules
  • Visual style closer to enterprise classic than modern UI
  • x86_64 only
05 — pricing

Pricing for the same workload

BeAdmin keeps the base stack free and charges only for the extras you switch on. ispmanager sells fixed plans by site count.

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 — the process stops and RAM goes free.

ispmanager — tariff plans
  • Lite

    €5.95 / mo

    or €71.39 / year

    • Up to 10 sites
    • ·
    • 1 server
  • Pro

    €11.91 / mo

    or €142.89 / year

    • Up to 50 sites
    • ·
    • 1 server
  • Host

    €21.07 / mo

    or €252.89 / year

    • Unlimited sites
    • ·
    • 1 server

14‑day free trial available

Prices as of May 2026, ispmanager.com/price. Currency conversion not applied.

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
    ispmanager 1 GB
  • Recommended RAM
    BeAdmin 1 GB
    ispmanager 4 GB
  • Minimum disk
    BeAdmin 10 GB
    ispmanager 10 GB (50 GB for 10+ sites)
  • CPU
    BeAdmin 1 core
    ispmanager 1 core (2+ for 10+ sites)
  • Architecture
    BeAdmin x86_64
    ispmanager x86_64
  • Supported OS
    BeAdmin Debian, Ubuntu
    ispmanager Debian, Ubuntu, AlmaLinux +2

Source: docs.ispmanager.com/ispmanager/system-requirements. BeAdmin requirements from internal documentation.

07 — migration

Migrating from ispmanager

Three honest steps. Old panel stays up until you decide to retire it.

01

Install BeAdmin on a new or existing server

One apt command brings up the base panel. It is free, so you can run it next to ispmanager and switch over only when ready.

02

Move sites, databases, and mail

Transfer sites, databases and mailboxes manually or with your own scripts. BeAdmin does not yet ship an automatic importer from ispmanager — that is an honest gap, not a marketing trick. Migration notes live in our docs.

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

Mature WHMCS / Blesta integrations, CloudLinux account isolation, and LiteSpeed. If any of those are critical to your business, that is a fair reason to stay on ispmanager — we would rather say it now than after the migration.

No catch. The free core includes Nginx, MariaDB, PHP, CRON, Mail, and the file manager — enough to host real workloads. Paid pieces are opt‑in modules (VPN family, WordPress Pro) that start at 1 €/mo and switch off any time, freeing the RAM behind them.

There is no equivalent — BeAdmin has no per‑site or per‑account cap. The only limit is what your VPS can carry. The reason you would jump to Pro at €11.91/mo simply does not exist on our side.

Yes. Install BeAdmin on a fresh VPS or a neighbouring server — ispmanager keeps serving production. Verify everything works, then flip DNS. Nothing on the old panel is touched until you are ready.

Not today. BeAdmin runs on Debian and Ubuntu; AlmaLinux and Rocky are on the roadmap. If your stack strictly needs CloudLinux — for instance, for shared‑hosting account isolation — ispmanager covers that case and we do not.

Start managing infrastructure the way you actually want to

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

How to install