Multicraft vs Pterodactyl: Which control panel should I choose for your server?
Introduction: More than just hosting
Today I want to talk about a topic that sooner or later confronts every game server owner: choosing a control panel. At first glance, it may seem that this is not as important as choosing a processor or RAM, but in fact, it depends on this decision how convenient, stable and scalable your project will be. The control panel is your command center, and if it's inconvenient or unreliable, it will quickly turn your hobby into a routine. Of course, if you are an expert, you can simply use the server shell itself to configure it, but it will be more convenient to use the control panel because many people use Cpanel and other panels to manage their server for a reason.
There are two main market leaders in game control panels — Multicraft and Pterodactyl. One of them is a time—tested veteran, while the other is modern and rapidly developing.
But what to choose? In this article, I will analyze in detail the pros and cons of each, and tell you which option is ideal for beginners.
Multicraft: a reliable veteran
Multicraft is perhaps the most famous commercial control panel for game servers. It has been on the market for many years, and its reputation is based on stability and reliability. If you type in the search engine, it immediately becomes clear that Multicraft is one of the most popular control panels.
Advantages of Multicraft:
Proven stability. Multicraft's main asset is its long history. Users note that the panel has few bugs, and everything just "works" out of the box. It is ideal for large projects and multi-domain architecture, where stability is a critical factor. Of course, because of its long history and its popularity, it has its own community that can help you solve problems (if they suddenly arise).
Professional support. Since this is a commercial product, you can count on professional technical support. Although some users consider it slow, it still exists and helps solve problems that may arise. Slow tech support is bad, but even that is tech support.
Flexibility. Multicraft is very flexible in terms of scaling. One dashboard can manage thousands of servers, which makes it an ideal choice for large hosting providers and even more so for you if you are going to make money on gaming servers.
An open interface. The source code of the frontend is not confusing, which allows experienced administrators to configure and add new functions to the interface, as well as change themes. This is a big plus because you can always add uniqueness to your interface and add what is necessary and not provided initially.
Disadvantages of Multicraft:
Cost. This is the biggest disadvantage for those who have a limited budget. Multicraft is a paid panel, and licenses can be quite expensive. For example, a dynamic license for 500 servers can cost $810 per month, and it's clear that it's expensive, but don't forget that this professional panel is designed for those who want to earn money on servers.
Slow development. Many in the community believe that Multicraft is becoming obsolete and development has slowed down. This means that new features don't appear as often as we would like. There is nothing more to add here except that you can add everything you need yourself and this closes this disadvantage.
The complexity of installation and updates. Installing Multicraft can be quite a complex and multi-step process, and updates require manual intervention, which can lead to server downtime.
The focus is on Minecraft. Multicraft is mainly focused on Minecraft, and support for other games is almost non-existent. This is the biggest disadvantage because you will not be able to add the same GTA online, although Minecraft is popular and will be a popular game for a long time, but adding other games would be great for investment.
Pterodactyl: young and ambitious
Pterodactyl is a more modern and, most importantly, a free alternative to Multicraft. It has gained huge popularity due to its flexibility and modern approach to architecture. And of course, thanks to the fact that it is free. That is why many companies or individual server creators consider it one of the best control panels at the moment. (Only for gaming purposes)
Advantages of Pterodactyl:
Free and open source. The most important advantage of Pterodactyl is that it is completely free. This makes it an ideal solution for beginners and those who want to save money on licenses.
Modern architecture. Pterodactyl uses Docker containers to isolate each server, which increases security and allows you to clearly limit resources.
Flexibility and customization. Since this is an open-source project, it can be easily customized and adapted to your needs.
An active community. A large community has formed around Pterodactyl, and you can always find help on their Discord server or in other communities.
Support for different games. Unlike Multicraft, Pterodactyl is not limited to Minecraft only, but can be used to host many other games. This is a very big plus and the reason why many people use Pterodactyl as a control panel, because game servers are not limited to one game.
Disadvantages of Pterodactyl:
Instability and bugs. Like any project that is developed by volunteers in their free time, Pterodactyl may have bugs and stability issues. In some cases, they can be "unprecedented" under heavy loads.
Support. Support is provided through the community, which means there are no official guarantees and sometimes a longer problem-solving process.
The complexity of the setup. The initial setup can take a long time (up to 48 hours for a beginner), as it requires certain technical knowledge.
Minor overhead costs. Using Docker can create a small overhead, although it is "minimal", amounting to about 0.5%.
What to do with a limited budget?
If your budget is limited, the answer is obvious — start with Pterodactyl. It's free, has a modern interface, and allows you to start building your community right away. The main thing is to be ready to spend time studying and configuring, because thanks to the large community you will be able to quickly learn everything you need.
The key point here is that the overhead of the control panel itself is minimal. The main resources are consumed by the game server itself, not the panel, so the difference in resource usage between Multicraft and Pterodactyl will be insignificant. Therefore, your budget should be primarily focused not on a license, but on high-quality hardware. However, if your servers focus on Minecraft and you are going to earn money from it, then it is better to buy a license in order to have permanent technical support.
Result
Multicraft and Pterodactyl are excellent control panels, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Multicraft is the choice for large, commercial projects that value time—tested stability. Pterodactyl is an ideal option for startups, small communities, and enthusiasts who want to get a modern and flexible tool for free.
In any case, your success will depend on the quality of the hardware running the server. Our Ryzen-based NVMe VDS servers are a fast and reliable foundation that will allow you to unlock the full potential of any control panel you choose and create a truly outstanding gaming server.
Author: Anatolii Cohaniuc