Panelica vs OpenPanel
OpenPanel is the most direct architectural rival to Panelica — both put isolation first. OpenPanel uses one Docker context per user; Panelica uses 5 kernel layers (cgroups v2 + namespaces + chroot + FPM + Unix perms). Different trade-offs, same goal.
What you actually pay each month
Both projects have a free community edition and a paid Enterprise/Professional tier.
Where Panelica wins, where OpenPanel wins
Feature presence on each platform without third-party add-ons. Partial means the feature exists but is limited or requires a paid extension.
| Feature | Panelica | OpenPanel |
|---|---|---|
| Isolation primitive | 5 kernel layers (cgroups + ns + chroot + FPM + perms) | ✓ Rootless Docker per user |
| Isolation overhead | ✓ Native kernel, ~120 MB total | Docker daemon + per-user containers |
| Mail server included | ✓ Postfix + Dovecot + DKIM + spam | External / add-on |
| DNS server included | ✓ BIND + zone manager | External / minimal |
| Built-in AI co-pilot | OpsAI · 15 experts | , |
| Native iOS & Android apps | ✓ in App Store / Google Play | , |
| Multi web engine per domain | ✓ Apache, nginx, hybrid | ✓ Nginx, OLS, Apache, OpenResty |
| Coraza / ModSecurity WAF | ✓ ModSecurity + OWASP CRS | ✓ Coraza WAF |
| Multi-language UI | 31 languages, native | English primary |
| One-click migration in | ✓ cPanel/Plesk/DirectAdmin/CyberPanel/HestiaCP | cPanel-only importer |
| REST API surface | 246 documented endpoints | ✓ OpenCLI 100+ commands |
| White-label in free tier | ✓ All editions | Enterprise only |
| Mature ecosystem | Released 2026, active | Younger project, fewer reviews |
When each one is the right choice
OpenPanel and Panelica are the two most isolation-serious modern hosting panels. OpenPanel bets on Docker containers; Panelica bets on kernel primitives.
Choose Panelica when…
- You want native kernel isolation (cgroups v2 + namespaces) without a Docker daemon in the critical path.
- You need built-in mail (Postfix + Dovecot + DKIM) and built-in DNS (BIND) without a second stack.
- You want white-label, reseller mode and migration importer free in every tier.
- You want an AI co-pilot and native iOS/Android apps for on-call ops.
- You serve 31 languages and need true native i18n.
Choose OpenPanel when…
- You explicitly want every user inside their own Docker namespace with a per-user docker-compose.yml.
- You prefer the OpenLiteSpeed/OpenResty engine choices and OpenCLI command surface.
- You only need basic mail/DNS or already run them externally.
- You are comfortable maintaining a per-user Docker fleet over time.
Move from OpenPanel in one click
The Panelica importer connects to your OpenPanel server, discovers every user/site, then copies files, MySQL/MariaDB databases, mailboxes (if used), DNS zones and SSL certificates while preserving every password hash byte-for-byte. End users never reset a password.
Free forever. Really.
Use the full feature set for 14 days. After that, you keep one domain forever, free, with no credit card, no expiry, no degraded functionality. Move up to Professional ($4.99/mo) only when you outgrow it.
Real prices, verifiable on our pricing page. No hidden upgrades, no add-on fees, no account-based tiering.
About switching from OpenPanel
Is OpenPanel really free?
The Community Edition is free for basic use. Enterprise is €14.95/month and unlocks white-label, advanced features and premium support. Add-ons are sold separately.
How is OpenPanel isolation different from Panelica?
OpenPanel gives each user a dedicated rootless Docker context: their own web server container, database container, PHP-FPM container, private network and storage volume. Panelica enforces isolation directly with kernel primitives (cgroups v2 + namespaces + chroot + per-user PHP-FPM + Unix perms) without a Docker daemon in the critical path. Both deliver VPS-level separation on shared hardware; OpenPanel costs more RAM overhead, Panelica costs less but has fewer 'visible' container boundaries.
Can I migrate from OpenPanel to Panelica?
Yes. Panelica's importer connects to your OpenPanel server, copies files, MySQL/MariaDB databases, mailboxes, DNS zones and SSL certificates while preserving SHA512-CRYPT email and MySQL password hashes byte-for-byte. End users never reset a password.
What does OpenPanel do better than Panelica?
Containers as the visible isolation boundary. Operators who already think in Docker / docker-compose find OpenPanel's per-user Docker context very natural. It also bundles OpenResty as one of its engine choices, which Panelica does not currently target.
Why pick Panelica over OpenPanel?
Lower overhead (no Docker daemon per user), built-in mail (Postfix + Dovecot + DKIM) and DNS (BIND), free white-label and reseller in every tier, 31-language native UI, AI co-pilot and native mobile apps. Plus a wider migration importer (cPanel, Plesk, DirectAdmin, CyberPanel, HestiaCP — not just cPanel).