Comparison
Compare a traditional server control panel with an open-source, container-native deployment platform.
| Feature | FlatRun | Plesk |
|---|---|---|
| License model | Free Forever | Paid commercial plans |
| Domain pricing | No per-domain fee | Depends on the license tier |
| Open Source | Yes (MIT License) | No (Proprietary) |
| Docker-Native | Yes | Partial (Docker Extension) |
| Deployment format | Standard Compose projects | Proprietary platform configuration |
| One-Click WordPress | Yes | Yes |
| SSL/TLS Management | Yes | Yes |
| Database Management | Yes | Yes |
| File Manager | Yes | Yes |
| REST API | Yes (Full Access) | Yes (Limited) |
| Resource Monitoring | Yes (metrics, alerts, self-healing) | Yes |
| Email Hosting | Roadmap | Yes |
| DNS Management | Yes (self-hosted or via your provider) | Yes |
FlatRun has no panel license or per-domain charge. You still pay for the servers and services you choose.
Plesk's Docker support was bolted onto legacy architecture. FlatRun was built Docker-native from day one: portable, modern, and future-proof.
Your FlatRun deployments are standard docker-compose files. Export them anytime. Plesk uses proprietary formats that keep you dependent on their platform.
FlatRun doesn't charge per domain. Host 1 site or 1,000 and your license cost stays the same: nothing.
Automate everything with FlatRun's complete REST API. No artificial restrictions, no premium tiers for automation features.
FlatRun is MIT licensed. Contribute features, fix bugs, or fork it entirely. You're not at the mercy of corporate roadmaps.
Ask any change for a preview and read what it will do before it runs: every resource, before and after. Mark a client's production site so changes cannot skip that review.
Metrics, alert rules that can restart a sick deployment, scheduled backups, and offsite copies to S3-compatible storage. All in the box, none of it a separate tier.
The infrastructure bill remains yours in both cases
Panel license
Commercial license
Back up your sites from Plesk. Standard files, databases, and configs.
One command installs FlatRun on a supported server.
Use FlatRun templates to recreate your sites. Import databases and files.
Update your DNS records. FlatRun handles SSL automatically.
Join the growing community of agencies saving money with FlatRun.