This overview explains what game server panels are, what they do, and which ones we cover on HostingBuff. Find the right panel for your hosting needs.

01 // What Are Game Server Panels?

Game server panels are web-based management interfaces that allow you to easily create, configure, and manage multiple game servers from a single dashboard. They simplify the process of hosting game servers by providing a user-friendly interface for common tasks like:

  • Creating and deleting game servers
  • Starting, stopping, and restarting servers
  • Editing server configuration files
  • Monitoring server performance and player activity
  • Installing mods and plugins
  • Managing user accounts and permissions

02 // Supported Panels

HostingBuff provides comprehensive guides for setting up and using the most popular game server panels. Here are the panels we currently cover:

Free & Open Source

Pterodactyl Panel

The most popular open-source game server management panel. Supports over 200 games with Docker-based servers.

Beginner Friendly
 NEW • Comparison & Migration

Pterodactyl vs Pelican 2026

The honest comparison. Pelican forked Pterodactyl in 2024, Pterodactyl Wings shipped again in Jan 2026. Decision wizard, verified versions, security advisories and a full migration walkthrough.

10 sections · 18 min read
 NEW • Security & Hardening

Pterodactyl Security Hardening 2026

Lock down panel + Wings against the real-world threats. 2FA, UFW, fail2ban, Cloudflare Tunnel, CVE/GHSA tracking and a 20-point audit checklist. Same hardening applies to Pelican.

13 sections · 22 min read
 NEW • One-liner Install

Pterodactyl Install Script (2026)

The honest review of every community install script — which to trust (pterodactyl-installer.se with verified GPG signatures), which to avoid, and the 8 hardening steps every script skips. Panel running in 15 minutes.

9 sections · 12 min read
 Free • CLI • 100+ Games

LinuxGSM (Linux Game Server Manager)

The lightest panel that exists — pure bash scripts, zero daemons, 100+ supported games. Includes interactive game picker, systemd unit, cron automation, Discord alerts, and 10 common-problem fixes.

18 sections · 18 min read
 Commercial • Polished

AMP by CubeCoders

Premium game server panel with 100+ supported games, one-line installer, and commercial support. Works on Linux and Windows.

Beginner Friendly
 Free • Open Source • Modern

Pelican Panel

Modern Pterodactyl fork with browser-based installer wizard, PHP 8.3 + Laravel 11. First-party Pterodactyl migration command included.

19 sections • 45 min read
 Free • Windows • GUI

WindowsGSM

Free, GUI-based game server manager for Windows. Zero Linux knowledge required. Run Minecraft, Rust, ARK, CS2, Valheim & more with point-and-click simplicity.

Beginner Friendly

03 // Choosing the Right Panel

When selecting a game server panel, consider these factors:

  • Technical Expertise — Some panels like Pterodactyl are beginner-friendly with web interfaces, while others like LinuxGSM require command-line knowledge.
  • Number of Servers — If you're running multiple game servers, a panel with multi-server support is essential.
  • Game Support — Ensure the panel supports the specific games you want to host.
  • Hosting Requirements — Some panels have higher system requirements than others.
  • Features Needed — Consider if you need features like automatic backups, mod management, or player banning.
Tip

Start with Pterodactyl if you're new to game server panels. It's the most user-friendly with the best community support.

04 // Hosting Requirements

  • Operating System — Most panels require a Linux VPS (Ubuntu 20.04+ recommended).
  • RAM — Minimum 8GB for the panel itself, plus additional RAM for each game server.
  • CPU — Modern multi-core processor recommended.
  • Storage — Minimum 20GB NVMe storage, more for multiple servers.
  • Network — 100Mbps+ dedicated bandwidth for good player experience.

05 // What we run our panels on

Every panel above needs a Linux VPS underneath it. We've hosted Pterodactyl, Pelican, AMP and LinuxGSM on a handful of providers over the years; the one we keep coming back to for our own test servers is Hostinger's KVM 2 plan — 8GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 100GB NVMe, €8.49/mo. It's enough to run any panel here plus 1–2 small game servers without thrashing.

If you're hosting a panel for a community or running 5+ game servers off it, step up to KVM 4 (16GB RAM) instead — the extra headroom is worth the €4.50.

What we use

Hostinger KVM 2 — the panel-host workhorse

Same plan we use for our own panel test rigs. Full root, NVMe storage, EU and US datacenters. The link below is an affiliate link — if you sign up through it we earn a small commission, which keeps these guides free. You pay the same price either way.

Hostinger KVM 2 → Read our review

If managing a Linux VPS sounds like more than you signed up for, the panel route may not be the right fit at all. Our individual game server guides link to fully-managed hosts (Shockbyte, Nitrado, Physgun, ZAP) where the panel work is done for you.