ArduMaker vs Easypanel
A per-server panel license or a VPS with the panel included?
Verdict
12–8
ArduMaker wins
Criteria won: ArduMaker 4, Easypanel 0. Tied on 8.
Only criteria that resolve to yes, partial or no are counted. Price has no single winner: it depends on each case.
Comparison table
| Criterion | ArduMaker | Easypanel | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of service | VPS with panel and MCP | Self-hosted Docker panel | Depends |
| Starting price | From €5.00/month, flat | From $10.90/month per server | Depends |
| Root and SSH | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Server included | Yes | No | ArduMaker |
| Deploy from Git | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Docker and one-click apps (n8n) | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Databases | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Automatic SSL | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Backups | Yes | Depends on plan · Database backups on paid plans | ArduMaker |
| Teams and permissions | Yes | Depends on plan · Multiple users from Growth | ArduMaker |
| MCP and AI management | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Panel maintenance | Yes | Manual · Panel and server are yours | ArduMaker |
| Open source | No | No | Tie |
| Start for free | Partial · Free tools, paid VPS | Partial · Free up to 3 projects | Tie |
Easypanel is a Docker panel you install on your server, free up to 3 projects. ArduMaker includes the VPS and adds email, DNS, WordPress and MCP with OAuth.
Quick summary
ArduMaker
- Who it is for: Freelancers and teams who want the server and the panel in one account, with email and WordPress alongside Docker.
- Biggest strength: No separate panel license: the VPS, the panel, the weekly backup and teams come with the plan.
Easypanel
- Who it is for: People who already pay for a server and want a friendly interface to deploy containers and templates.
- Biggest strength: A free plan that never expires for up to 3 projects, and full freedom to choose provider and region.
The main difference: With Easypanel you pay a provider for the server and, beyond the free plan, a license per server; with ArduMaker one plan covers server and panel.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-17
Key differences
Per-server license vs a plan with the server
Easypanel charges for every server it runs on, and you pay another provider for that server. On ArduMaker the plan already includes the VPS with root and the panel, so there is a single bill.
Everything as a container vs native services
Easypanel runs each app, database or template as a Docker service on Swarm, with Traefik in front. ArduMaker also runs Docker and Compose, but adds native WordPress sites with PHP-FPM and MySQL, mailboxes on your domain and DNS zones in the panel.
MCP with a user key or OAuth
Easypanel's MCP uses a panel user's API key and splits tools into read, change and destructive; its docs suggest a dedicated user to limit which projects an agent reaches. ArduMaker connects the agent over OAuth, and the platform asks for human approval on sensitive actions.
Features tied to the license
On Easypanel, scheduled backups come with a paid plan and multiple users with Growth. On ArduMaker every VPS is in the weekly backup cycle, and companies have admins, members and per-project roles with no separate panel license.
Pricing and costs
Easypanel is free for up to 3 projects. Beyond that, the license costs $10.90 (Hobby), $16.90 (Growth, with multiple users) or $29.90 (Business) per server per month, with up to 33% off when paid yearly. Add the server you rent elsewhere, external storage for backups and the time to maintain the system. On ArduMaker the fixed plan covers server, panel and weekly backup.
| Item | ArduMaker | Easypanel |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | VPS with panel from €5.00/month | Free (3 projects) or Hobby $10.90/month per server |
| Server | Included | Separate, from the provider you choose |
| Team with multiple users | Included in the company, no license fee | Growth: $16.90/month per server |
| Backups | Weekly full VPS backup included | From a paid plan, plus external storage |
| Maintenance | Panel maintained by the platform | Panel, Docker and OS are on you |
Assumptions: Easypanel prices checked on October 17, 2026 at easypanel.io/pricing, in US dollars, monthly billing, no taxes stated. Another version of their site shows different figures, so confirm them at checkout. Server cost not included. ArduMaker: list price of the entry plan.
Real-world scenarios
Side project on a tight budget
On ArduMaker: You take the entry plan and deploy from GitHub with a database and domain; there is no separate server to get.
On Easypanel: If you already have a VPS, the free plan covers up to 3 projects, though without scheduled backups.
n8n for a client
On ArduMaker: One-click n8n with workers, PostgreSQL and Redis, and the client invited as a member with access to their project.
On Easypanel: The n8n template with its runner and an HTTPS domain; giving the client access requires the Growth plan.
WordPress site with domain email
On ArduMaker: Native WordPress with staging and backups, plus mailboxes on your domain with guided SPF, DKIM and DMARC.
On Easypanel: WordPress as a Docker service; email goes to another service or a mail server template you configure yourself.
An agent that checks and restarts services
On ArduMaker: The agent signs in to the MCP server over OAuth and the platform asks for human approval before sensitive changes.
On Easypanel: You create a dedicated user, generate its API key and point the client at /api/mcp; the client can ask for confirmation on destructive actions.
When Easypanel is the better fit
- You already have a server and the free plan for up to 3 projects is enough.
- You want to freely choose provider, region and server size.
- You prefer a Docker-centric interface with builders like Railpack, Nixpacks or Buildpacks.
- You need its template catalog to spin up self-hosted tools.
- On Business you want clustering (alpha) or white-labeling to offer the panel to clients.
When ArduMaker is the better fit
- You don't want to pay for the server and the panel license separately.
- You want a full VPS backup without setting up external storage.
- You need native WordPress with staging and email on your domain.
- You want companies with admins, members and per-project roles without a separate license.
- You'd rather have the platform maintain the panel for you.
How to migrate from Easypanel to ArduMaker
Easypanel services are containers, so they move with their image or repo, their variables and their data. Do the cutover with both platforms running.
- Review projects and services: For each project, note the apps, databases, templates, domains and volume mounts, and which builder each app uses.
- Prepare the VPS: Create an ArduMaker VPS with RAM and disk headroom for everything running on your Easypanel server today.
- Export variables: Copy each service's environment variables and load them into the matching app's deploy configuration.
- Dump and restore databases: Use an Easypanel backup or a pg_dump, mysqldump or mongodump, create the database on ArduMaker and restore it. PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB and Redis install from the panel.
- Deploy the apps: GitHub apps link by repo and branch; apps built from a Dockerfile or an image install as Docker apps.
- Copy files and volumes: Move the data from volume mounts, such as uploads or n8n files, over SSH to the app's paths on the VPS.
- Switch DNS and SSL: Lower the TTL, point the records at the ArduMaker VPS and publish each domain so its certificate is issued.
- Cutover and rollback: Check responses, jobs and logs. If something fails, point DNS back to the Easypanel server; cancel the license once everything is stable.
Frequently asked questions
Is Easypanel free?
It has a free plan with no expiry for up to 3 projects, with unlimited services and deployments. Database backups, unlimited projects and multiple users come with the paid plans, which are billed per server.
How much does Easypanel cost?
Its pricing page lists Hobby at $10.90, Growth at $16.90 and Business at $29.90 per server per month, with up to 33% off yearly. The server is not included: you rent it separately.
What server do I need for Easypanel?
Its docs ask for a fresh Ubuntu install with at least 2 GB of RAM and ports 80 and 443 free. The script, run as root, installs Docker, enables Docker Swarm and starts the panel.
Does Easypanel have MCP for AI agents?
Yes, since version 2.33.0 it includes a remote MCP at /api/mcp that acts with the permissions of the user who owns the API key. ArduMaker uses OAuth with human approval and also covers email, DNS and WordPress.
Can I install Easypanel on an ArduMaker VPS?
It's not verified. Easypanel expects a clean Ubuntu with Docker Swarm and ports 80 and 443 free, while an ArduMaker VPS is a system container with its own nginx and Docker in userns-remap mode. The intended way to deploy apps is the ArduMaker panel.
Does Easypanel do backups?
It runs scheduled logical backups of MySQL, MariaDB, PostgreSQL and MongoDB to storage you configure, with a license that includes them; Redis is excluded. ArduMaker takes a weekly full backup of each VPS and keeps the last 4.
Sources
Easypanel data checked on 2026-10-17 on its official pages. Prices change: confirm them before deciding. Logos belong to their owners and are shown only to identify each service.