Honest comparison · 2026

BeAdmin vs Virtualmin

Virtualmin is a mature open‑source veteran on the Webmin base — a full GPL core plus a Pro subscription. BeAdmin shares the free‑core idea but adds a built‑in VPN, a modern UI, and a Debian‑first focus. Below — where the two really differ.

See docs

Free core · Built‑in VPN · Modern UI

Entry price

Both free
BeAdmin
Free core
Virtualmin
GPL free / Pro

Built‑in VPN

Only BeAdmin
BeAdmin
5 protocols
Virtualmin
None

Interface

Easier to learn
BeAdmin
Modern UI
Virtualmin
Webmin classic

OS focus

Debian default
BeAdmin
Debian‑native
Virtualmin
RHEL‑first
01 — differences

Key differences

Five VPN protocols, zero plugins

Xray, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Outline and Amnezia are modules in the same UI. Virtualmin ships no VPN at all — you would build that part yourself outside the panel.

A modern UI, not the Webmin classic

Virtualmin sits on Webmin — capable and dense, but visually dated, with a steeper learning curve. BeAdmin is a clean, modern interface with first‑class dark mode.

Free core plus à‑la‑carte modules

Both have a full free core. BeAdmin charges only for the modules you switch on, from $1/mo; Virtualmin layers a Pro subscription on top for resellers, more scripts, and cloud backups.

Debian‑first and light to start

BeAdmin is native on Debian and Ubuntu, with a 512 MB core. Virtualmin is RHEL‑first historically; its basic install also fits 512 MB, but a full mail stack with ClamAV and SpamAssassin wants 4 GB+.

02 — features

Feature comparison

Values pulled from each panel’s public docs. Virtualmin is the broader, more mature platform; BeAdmin adds a VPN and a modern UI — we mark each row plainly.

Foundations
7
  • Supported OS
    BeAdmin Debian, Ubuntu
    Virtualmin RHEL/Alma/Rocky, Debian, Ubuntu
  • Min RAM
    BeAdmin 512 MB
    Virtualmin 512 MB (basic)
  • Min disk
    BeAdmin 10 GB
    Virtualmin ~10 GB
  • Architecture
    BeAdmin x86_64
    Virtualmin x86_64 + ARM64
  • Pick‑and‑mix modules
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Partial
  • Multi‑server from one UI
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Domain limit
    BeAdmin Unlimited
    Virtualmin Unlimited (GPL)
Web & runtimes
7
  • Nginx
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Apache + Nginx hybrid
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Partial
  • Multiple PHP versions per site
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Node.js / Python / Ruby (managed)
    BeAdmin No
    Virtualmin Partial
  • LiteSpeed
    BeAdmin No
    Virtualmin No
  • WordPress one‑click toolkit
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Docker (managed module)
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin No
Data & mail
6
  • MariaDB / MySQL
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • PostgreSQL
    BeAdmin Soon
    Virtualmin Yes
  • phpMyAdmin built‑in
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Self‑managed mail server
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Webmail (Roundcube)
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • DKIM / SPF / DMARC autoconfig
    BeAdmin Partial
    Virtualmin Yes
Security
6
  • Let’s Encrypt automation
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Fail2Ban module
    BeAdmin No
    Virtualmin Yes
  • WAF (ModSecurity)
    BeAdmin No
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Built‑in VPN modules (5 protocols)
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin No
  • Granular per‑task permissions
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Antivirus / antispam (ClamAV, SpamAssassin)
    BeAdmin No
    Virtualmin Yes
Operations
6
  • Open API for every UI action
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Built‑in scheduled backups
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • WHMCS billing out of the box
    BeAdmin No
    Virtualmin Partial
  • First‑class dark mode
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Partial
  • Forever‑free tier
    BeAdmin Yes
    Virtualmin Yes
  • Free trial
    BeAdmin Not needed
    Virtualmin GPL free
03 — why beadmin

Why pick BeAdmin over Virtualmin

VPN INCLUDED

Privacy stack out of the box

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

MODERN INTERFACE

A UI built for today

Virtualmin runs on Webmin — powerful, but dense and visually dated, with a steeper onboarding. BeAdmin is a clean, modern interface with first‑class dark mode, so day‑to‑day tasks take fewer clicks to find.

TRANSPARENT MODULES

Free core, modules à la carte

Both panels are free at the core. BeAdmin then charges only for the modules you switch on, from $1/mo — no subscription tier to pick. Virtualmin keeps extras like resellers and cloud backups behind a Pro plan.

DEBIAN‑FIRST

Native on the OS your VPS ships

BeAdmin is built around Debian and Ubuntu, the default image on most providers, with a light 512 MB core. Virtualmin is historically RHEL‑first and grows heavy once the full mail stack is on, so its sweet spot differs from ours.

04 — pros & cons

What each panel does well — and where each gives ground

Virtualmin is the broader, more mature platform; BeAdmin adds a VPN and a modern UI. Synthesised from public docs and our own usage — your mileage may vary.

BeAdmin

Strengths

  • Five built‑in VPN protocols (Xray, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Outline, Amnezia)
  • Modern UI with first‑class dark mode
  • Free core plus modules from $1/mo — no subscription tier
  • Native on Debian and Ubuntu, light 512 MB core
  • Managed Docker out of the box
  • Lower learning curve to get started

Trade‑offs

  • PostgreSQL not yet a managed module
  • No bundled Fail2Ban, ModSecurity, ClamAV or SpamAssassin
  • API and DNS less deep than Virtualmin’s mature tooling
  • No reseller hierarchy on the scale of Virtualmin Pro
  • x86_64 only — no ARM64

Virtualmin

Strengths

  • Mature veteran on the Webmin base, 20+ years
  • Full free GPL core with no domain limit
  • Powerful Remote API and CLI
  • Strong DNS, full mail stack, ClamAV + SpamAssassin
  • PostgreSQL, resellers (Pro), Fail2Ban and ModSecurity modules
  • Wide OS coverage (RHEL family + Debian/Ubuntu) and ARM64

Trade‑offs

  • No built‑in VPN
  • Webmin UI is capable but dated and dense
  • Full mail stack gets heavy (4 GB+)
  • No managed Docker
  • Cloudmin for multi‑server is a separate product
  • Steeper learning curve for newcomers
05 — pricing

Free core either way

Both panels are free at the core. BeAdmin bills only for the modules you switch on; Virtualmin layers a Pro subscription on top for scale and support.

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 per‑account fee. The VPN family lives here.

Virtualmin — GPL + Pro
  • GPL

    $0

    open source, GPLv3

    • Unlimited domains
    • ·
    • Full web/mail/DNS core
  • Pro 10

    $75

    per year (10 domains)

    • 60+ scripts
    • ·
    • Resellers, backups
  • Pro 50–∞

    Higher

    by domain tier

    • 50/100/250/∞
    • ·
    • Same Pro features

The GPL edition is a full, uncrippled panel — Pro adds convenience, scale and support rather than unlocking the basics. Exact higher‑tier prices are listed on virtualmin.com.

Virtualmin pricing from virtualmin.com (2026). 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
    Virtualmin 512 MB (basic)
  • Recommended RAM
    BeAdmin 1 GB
    Virtualmin 1–2 GB (4 GB+ full)
  • Minimum disk
    BeAdmin 10 GB
    Virtualmin ~10 GB
  • CPU
    BeAdmin 1 core
    Virtualmin 1 core
  • Architecture
    BeAdmin x86_64
    Virtualmin x86_64 + ARM64
  • Supported OS
    BeAdmin Debian, Ubuntu
    Virtualmin RHEL/Alma/Rocky 8–10, Debian 12/13, Ubuntu LTS

Source: Virtualmin install docs (virtualmin.com). BeAdmin requirements from internal documentation.

07 — migration

Migrating from Virtualmin

If your Virtualmin runs on Debian or Ubuntu, the OS stays. On a RHEL‑family box you start on a fresh Debian or Ubuntu server. The old panel stays up until you retire it.

01

Install BeAdmin on Debian or Ubuntu

One apt command brings up the free BeAdmin core. If Virtualmin already runs on Debian/Ubuntu, reuse the OS family; if it runs on RHEL, Alma or Rocky, the move starts on a new box.

02

Move sites, databases, and mail

Transfer vhost configs, databases (mysqldump) and mailboxes (Maildir/Dovecot) manually or with your own scripts. BeAdmin does not import Virtualmin backups directly — that is an honest gap, not a marketing trick.

03

Switch DNS, watch the traffic

Move DNS zones over and 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

Both have a full free core, so it is not about price. BeAdmin adds five built‑in VPN protocols, a modern UI with a lower learning curve, a Debian‑first focus, and à‑la‑carte modules from $1/mo. Virtualmin is the broader, more mature veteran — if its depth of DNS, resellers and scripts is what you need, that is a fair reason to stay.

No. Virtualmin ships no VPN — you would install and maintain one yourself outside the panel. BeAdmin turns on Xray, WireGuard, OpenVPN, Outline or Amnezia from the same UI with a single click.

Not yet. PostgreSQL is on our roadmap as a managed module; today MariaDB and MySQL are supported. Virtualmin already manages PostgreSQL, so if your app needs it now, that is a genuine Virtualmin strength.

Not today. Virtualmin runs on both x86_64 and ARM64; BeAdmin currently targets x86_64. If you are committed to an ARM server, that is a fair reason to stay on Virtualmin — better said now than after the move.

Not directly. BeAdmin has no native importer for Virtualmin backups, so sites, databases, mail and DNS move over manually or with your own scripts. We would rather say that plainly than promise compatibility we do not have.

Start managing infrastructure the way you actually want to

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

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