Pelican Panel is the closest free replacement for Pterodactyl, because it is a fork that keeps the same panel and Wings layout while adding its own roadmap. PufferPanel and Crafty Controller cost nothing and suit small setups, with PufferPanel covering many games and Crafty Controller focusing on Minecraft. AMP starts at a $10 one-time license for 5 instances, and TCAdmin starts at $7.95 per month with a 30-day trial, so a commercial panel can stay cheap at small scale.
We compared 7 options for pterodactyl alternatives. Each profile below lists the price, free plan, pros and cons as published by the company.
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Pterodactyl alternatives: comparison table
Swipe the table sideways on a phone to see every column.
| # | Name | Best for | Starting price | Free plan / trial | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pelican Panel | Closest free replacement for Pterodactyl | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 2 | PufferPanel | Lightweight panel for a handful of servers | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 3 | Crafty Controller | Minecraft-only servers on Windows, Mac, or Linux | $0 | Yes | Visit |
| 4 | AMP (CubeCoders) | Beginner-friendly panel with many games | $10 one-time | Yes | Visit |
| 5 | Multicraft | Minecraft hosting businesses | quote only | No | Visit |
| 6 | TCAdmin | Hosting providers on Windows or Linux | $7.95 per month | Free trial (30 days) | Visit |
| 7 | Raptor Panel | Hosted panel with no server to maintain | $12 per machine/month | Free trial (30 days) | Visit |
The 7 best pterodactyl alternatives, in detail
Pelican Panel
Best for: Closest free replacement for Pterodactyl
Pelican started as a fork of Pterodactyl and has grown into its own project with its own team and roadmap. It keeps the layout Pterodactyl admins already know: a web panel that talks to Wings, a daemon that runs on each node, and one Docker container per game server. That shared design means eggs built for Pterodactyl stay compatible, so a move from Pterodactyl to Pelican does not force you to rebuild every server from scratch.
- The panel is released under AGPLv3 and Wings under MIT, so the code is open for inspection and the software costs nothing to run.
- The trade-off is maturity.
- Every Pelican release is still a beta, and the install guide warns that things can change or break between beta versions.
- Admins who want a settled release line may prefer to wait, while admins who like new features and a fast-moving project will feel at home.
Pros
- Same panel and Wings layout as Pterodactyl
- Active development and open-source code
- Runs each server in an isolated Docker container
Cons
- Still in beta, so breaking changes can appear between releases
PufferPanel
Best for: Lightweight panel for a handful of servers
PufferPanel is a free, open-source panel written in Go and released under the Apache 2.0 license. It is the lightest panel in this list to install: on supported Linux systems you add its package repository, install one package, create an admin user, and enable the service, or you run a single Docker container. SQLite is the default database, with MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL, and Microsoft SQL Server supported if you need them.
- Templates cover Minecraft, Factorio, Rust, ARK, and Source engine games, and you can add custom templates for other titles.
- The panel suits a personal box or a small group of friends rather than a hosting business.
- Its own FAQ says it provides support for personal use only and does not consider itself the right panel for selling servers.
- Game servers can run directly on the host or inside Docker, and the web interface includes a file manager, live console, server stats, and SFTP access
Pros
- Very light install with SQLite by default
- Written in Go, so it runs fast on small machines
- Templates for Minecraft, Factorio, Rust, and ARK
Cons
- Not built for selling servers, and support is aimed at personal use
Crafty Controller
Best for: Minecraft-only servers on Windows, Mac, or Linux
Crafty Controller 4 is a free, open-source Minecraft panel written in Python and released under GPLv3. It gives you a web dashboard for creating servers, editing settings, watching the live console, managing files, taking backups, and running scheduled tasks. It supports Minecraft Java and Bedrock, and newer versions add Hytale support, with SteamCMD support in an experimental alpha.
- A companion mobile app exists for checking servers away from your desk.
- On Linux, a one-line installer script sets it up, and on Windows, a portable build runs without a Linux machine.
- The main limit is focus.
- Crafty Controller manages Minecraft and little else, so it is the wrong pick if your community also plays Rust, Valheim, or ARK.
Pros
- Free and open source under GPLv3
- Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Clean web dashboard with backups and schedules
Cons
- Minecraft only, so it cannot manage other games
AMP (CubeCoders)
Best for: Beginner-friendly panel with many games
AMP, short for Application Management Panel, is a commercial panel from CubeCoders that runs on Windows and Linux. It is the most polished option in this list for beginners: a single installer script sets it up, and creating a game server takes a few clicks from a list of supported titles that covers Minecraft, Rust, ARK, Valheim, FiveM, and many more. The free tier covers 2 instances, which is enough for a Minecraft server plus one other game while you decide if you like the panel.
- Licenses are sold as one-time lifetime purchases: Standard costs $10 and allows 5 instances, Professional costs $20 and allows 15, and Advanced costs
- The instance cap is the main thing to weigh.
- Every license limits how many game servers you can run, so growing past your tier means buying a larger license, and licenses of the same type can be
- Commercial use, including selling hosting, needs the Enterprise edition, which starts at $20 per month and adds branding, billing integration, and an
Pros
- Free tier covers 2 instances
- One-time lifetime licenses, no monthly fee for home use
- Runs on Windows and Linux with a simple installer
Cons
- Each license caps the number of game server instances
Multicraft
Best for: Minecraft hosting businesses
Multicraft is a commercial panel that has powered Minecraft hosting for well over a decade. It was designed from the start for hosts who sell server slots, with features that match that job: a built-in plugin list, database provisioning, an FTP server, automated backups, scripting options, and a panel that customers find easy to use. Billing modules connect it to WHMCS, Blesta, and FOSSBilling, so orders can flow from checkout to a running server with little manual work.
- Licenses come as hosted licenses priced per user or slot, or owned licenses installed on your own hardware.
- The cost is the hard part to pin down before you talk to the vendor.
- Multicraft does not show license prices on its public site, and the download page offers the software without a price list, so you need to contact the
- That makes it a poor fit for a hobby admin who wants a clear number up front.
Pros
- Long-running panel built for hosts who resell slots
- Billing modules for WHMCS, Blesta, and FOSSBilling
- Built-in plugin list, FTP, and automated backups
Cons
- License price is not shown on the site, and it focuses almost only on Minecraft
TCAdmin
Best for: Hosting providers on Windows or Linux
TCAdmin is a commercial control panel for hosting providers with a long history in game hosting. It deploys, monitors, updates, and sells game and voice servers from one panel on Windows Server, Linux, or a single Docker container. The current version, TCAdmin 3, adds a built-in AI assistant that writes scripts, incremental backups to local disk, FTP, or S3 with one-click restore, single sign-on, and a plugin repository.
- Licenses start at $7.95 per month and rise to $15.95 per month depending on the tier, and every license starts with 30 days free.
- The panel is built for businesses that sell servers, so a home admin with one Minecraft world may find it more than they need.
- The billing, automation, and multi-user features add setup steps that a small personal panel skips.
- The upside is depth: if you plan to sell game servers, TCAdmin covers the whole flow from order to invoice, and it supports a wide range of games thro
Pros
- Runs on Windows, Linux, and Docker
- Built-in billing and automation for selling servers
- Every license starts with 30 days free
Cons
- The panel is aimed at providers, so it can feel heavy for a single home server
Raptor Panel
Best for: Hosted panel with no server to maintain
Raptor Panel takes a different route from every other tool in this list: it is a hosted panel, so there is nothing to install, host, or patch on your own machine. You link a Linux box you own or rent, and Raptor runs your game servers on it from its own cloud panel. The first month is free, and after that it costs $12 per machine per month, with every server on that machine included.
- A card is needed to start, and nothing is charged for 30 days.
- The panel reads Pterodactyl and Pelican eggs, so servers built for those panels can move across with little rework.
- The trade-off is control and cost over time.
- You give up the self-hosted model, so the panel itself runs on Raptor systems and you depend on that service staying up.
Pros
- First month free, then a flat $12 per machine
- No panel to install, host, or patch
- Reads Pterodactyl and Pelican eggs
Cons
- A monthly fee per machine, and it needs a card to start the trial
How we chose
We read each vendor’s own pricing page and docs, and we checked the license terms and the install steps before listing a tool. Free panels were checked against their project pages to confirm the license and the cost, and commercial panels were checked against their own pricing pages. We did not run the panels ourselves, and we did not rank them by test results. The list favors tools with clear pricing, a real homepage, and a track record in game server management. Tools with hidden prices are marked quote only instead of getting a guessed number.
What to check before you buy
- Count your servers first: AMP caps instances per license, Raptor charges per machine, and free panels have no caps, so the cheapest option depends on how many servers you run.
- Match the panel to your games: Crafty Controller and Multicraft are Minecraft-focused, while Pelican, PufferPanel, AMP, TCAdmin, and Raptor cover many titles.
- Check your operating system: Pterodactyl-style panels need Linux and Docker, while Crafty Controller, AMP, and TCAdmin also run on Windows.
- Plan for backups and updates: confirm where backups are stored, how restores work, and who applies security updates, since self-hosted panels leave that work to you.
- Read the license terms: open-source licenses differ on commercial use, and AMP needs its Enterprise edition for selling hosting.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best free Pterodactyl alternative?
Pelican Panel is the closest free match, because it is a fork of Pterodactyl with the same panel and Wings layout, Docker isolation, and compatible eggs. PufferPanel is the lighter pick for one to five servers, and Crafty Controller is the best free pick when you only run Minecraft. All three cost nothing to use, so the choice comes down to how many games you run and how much setup you accept.
Can I move my servers from Pterodactyl to Pelican Panel?
Yes, in most cases, because Pelican keeps the same egg system and panel layout as Pterodactyl. Eggs built for Pterodactyl stay compatible, and the Wings daemon runs each server in its own Docker container the same way. You should still back up every server and test the move on one node first, because Pelican is still in beta and details can change between releases.
Is AMP free to use?
AMP has a free tier that covers 2 instances, which is enough for a Minecraft server plus one other game. Past that, you need a license: Standard costs $10 as a one-time lifetime purchase for 5 instances, Professional costs $20 for 15, and Advanced costs $40 for 50. Commercial use needs the Enterprise edition, which starts at $20 per month.
How much does Multicraft cost?
Multicraft does not publish license prices on its public site, so the cost is quote only and you need to contact the vendor. Licenses come as hosted licenses priced per user or slot, or owned licenses installed on your own hardware. If you need a firm number before you commit, ask for a quote with your server count, or compare TCAdmin, which lists its prices from $7.95 per month.
Do I need Linux to run a Pterodactyl alternative?
Most of them need Linux, including Pelican Panel, PufferPanel, and Raptor Panel nodes, because they rely on Docker. Crafty Controller, AMP, and TCAdmin also run on Windows, which helps if your only spare machine runs Windows. Check the install docs for your pick before you rent a server, since the operating system decides which panel you can use.
Which alternative is best for selling game servers?
TCAdmin and Multicraft are built for hosts who sell servers, with billing, automation, and multi-user controls. Raptor Panel is a hosted option at $12 per machine per month after a free first month. AMP needs its Enterprise edition for commercial use. Free panels such as Pelican and PufferPanel can also host customers who pay, but you must add billing and support yourself.
Sources
- https://pelican.dev
- https://pelican.dev/docs/
- https://pufferpanel.com
- https://pufferpanel.com/
- https://craftycontrol.com
- https://craftycontrol.com/
- https://cubecoders.com/AMP
- https://www.multicraft.org
- https://www.multicraft.org/
- https://tcadmin.com
- https://tcadmin.com/
- https://raptorpanel.net
- https://raptorpanel.net/
Prices and features were read on each company’s own website in November 2026. They change often, so confirm the current offer on the official site before you sign up or buy.