Game Server Control Panels Explained (Pterodactyl, TCAdmin and Custom Panels)
By Linus Pierre · Updated November 2026
The control panel is the part of a host you use every week. This guide shows what is in a typical panel, how Pterodactyl, TCAdmin, Multicraft and custom panels differ, and what to check before you buy.
A control panel is the website you use to run a rented game server: start and restart it, change settings, edit files, take backups and add other admins. Most hosts use Pterodactyl, TCAdmin, Multicraft or a panel they built themselves. The brand matters less than the features the host switches on, so check for backups, schedules, sub-users and full file access before you pay.
- Pterodactyl: free and open source, widely customised.
- TCAdmin and Multicraft: older, established panels.
- Custom: built by the host, judge it on features.
What a game server control panel is
A control panel is the website you use to run a rented game server. Instead of logging in to the machine and typing commands, you open the panel in your browser and use buttons and menus to start the server, change settings, upload files and take backups. It is the part of a host you will use every week, so it is worth knowing what is in one before you buy.
[Server] World loaded, listening for players
[Server] Player joined: Sam
[Server] Autosave complete
- 1Console: the server’s live log, plus a box to type commands.
- 2Files: a file manager in the browser, and usually SFTP login details.
- 3Settings: server name, password, player limit and game version.
- 4Backups: take a copy now, or restore an older one.
- 5Schedules: automatic restarts, backups and commands.
- 6Users: give friends or moderators their own login.
- 7Mods: one-click installers, where the host offers them.
- 8Network: the IP address, ports and sometimes databases.
If you are new to renting a server, our guide to what a game server is explains where the panel fits in. This guide goes through what each part does, the main types of panel and what to check before you pay.
The tools you will use most, and what to look for
These are the parts of a panel that matter day to day. The names change between hosts, but the jobs are the same.
1Console and power buttons
The console shows what the server is doing right now: worlds loading, players joining, errors when something goes wrong. Most panels also let you type server commands here, the same commands an admin types in game. Check that the console is live and that you can send commands, not just read a log.
2File manager and SFTP
A file manager lets you edit config files and upload worlds in the browser. SFTP (a secure way to move files with a program such as FileZilla) is quicker for big uploads like a whole world or a modpack. Full file access matters if you ever want to move to another host or bring a world from home.
3Settings and startup options
Most panels turn the main settings into a form: server name, password, player limit, game version and so on. Good panels still let you edit the underlying config file when the form does not have the option you need.
4Backups
Look for backups you can take yourself, restore yourself and, ideally, schedule. Check how many copies you get and whether they are stored away from the server. Our backups guide explains how often to back up and how to restore safely.
5Scheduled tasks
Schedules run jobs for you: a nightly restart, a backup before peak time, a warning message before a restart. A regular restart keeps many games running smoothly, so this saves you remembering to do it.
6Sub-users and permissions
Sub-users let a friend or moderator log in with their own account and only the rights you give them, such as console access but not billing. It is much safer than sharing your own login, and pairs well with two-factor sign-in. See game server security for the other basics.
7Mod and modpack installers
Many hosts add one-click installers for mods, plugins or modpacks for popular games. They save time, but check that your game and your favourite mods are covered before you rely on it. Our guide to mods and plugins on a hosted game server explains how mods load and a safe way to add them.
8Network, ports and databases
This shows the address players connect to and the ports the server uses. Some games or plugins need a database, and some panels let you create one here.
Pterodactyl, TCAdmin, Multicraft and custom panels
Almost every panel you meet is one of four kinds. Knowing which one a host uses tells you roughly what to expect before you sign up.
A free, open-source panel that runs each server in its own container. Many hosts use it, often with their own name, look and extra tools on top.
Feels familiar if you have used one Pterodactyl host beforeA paid panel that hosts license and install on their machines. It covers many games and has been around for a long time, so it often looks more traditional.
Common with hosts that offer a long list of gamesA long-standing panel built mainly for Minecraft. Some hosts run it for Minecraft only and use a different panel for their other games.
Mostly seen on Minecraft plansSome hosts build their own panel from scratch. These can add tools made for one game, such as wipe schedules or live maps, but every one works a little differently.
Judge it on features, not on the namePterodactyl is the one you will see named most often. Because it is open source, hosts can change it as much as they like, from a new colour scheme to extra tools such as modpack installers and server splitting. Two “Pterodactyl hosts” can therefore feel quite different.
TCAdmin and Multicraft are older, established panels. They do the job, and plenty of good hosts still use them, but they can feel more like a list of menus than a modern dashboard.
Custom panels range from very simple to very powerful. A simple panel is ideal if you just want to start a server and play. A powerful one is worth it if your game needs tools a general panel does not have.
Which panel do popular hosts use?
This table lists the panel each host uses, as described in our review of that host. It is in alphabetical order, not ranking order. Hosts do change panels, so check the review or the host’s own site if the panel is the deciding factor for you.
| Host | Panel, according to our review | Kind | Review |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Hosting | Its own panel, based on Multicraft | Multicraft-based | Read the review |
| BisectHosting | Starbase, its own panel | Custom | Read the review |
| G-Portal | Its own web panel, not Pterodactyl or TCAdmin | Custom | Read the review |
| GGServers | Its own customised version of Pterodactyl | Pterodactyl-based | Read the review |
| Host Havoc | Multicraft for Minecraft, a customised TCAdmin v2 for other games | Multicraft and TCAdmin | Read the review |
| Hostinger | A game panel on top of your own virtual server | Panel on a VPS | Read the review |
| Indifferent Broccoli | Its own simple panel, plus a Discord bot | Custom | Read the review |
| LOW.MS | Nexus, built in-house; older servers may still use TCAdmin | Custom | Read the review |
| Nitrado | Its own web panel | Custom | Read the review |
| PebbleHost | A heavily modified Pterodactyl | Pterodactyl-based | Read the review |
| Physgun | The Physgun Gamepanel, built in-house | Custom | Read the review |
| Shockbyte | Its own panel, which replaced the Multicraft panel it used before | Custom | Read the review |
| Streamline Servers | A modified TCAdmin | TCAdmin-based | Read the review |
| SurfNode | Pterodactyl | Pterodactyl | Read the review |
For our ranking, see the UK hosting comparison or all host reviews. To compare hosts for one game, use the game hosting hub.
Does the panel brand matter?
Less than you might think. The same panel can be generous on one host and locked down on another, because each host decides which features to switch on. What matters is whether the panel lets you do the jobs your group needs. Use this table to work out what to look for.
| If you want to… | Look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Play with friends and change the odd setting | A simple panel with a settings form, a console and one-click restarts | You will rarely need more, and a busy panel only gets in the way |
| Run a modded server | A mod or modpack installer for your game, plus full file access | Installers save time, and file access lets you add mods the installer does not list |
| Share admin duties | Sub-users with permissions you can choose, and two-factor sign-in | Moderators get their own login, and you never share yours |
| Keep the server healthy without thinking about it | Scheduled restarts and scheduled backups | The panel does the routine jobs for you |
| Bring a world in or take it with you | SFTP or a file manager that handles large uploads, and backups you can download | Your world is just files, and you need a way to move them |
| Manage the server from your phone | A panel that works on a small screen, or a mobile app or Discord bot | Restarts and quick fixes when you are away from your PC |
For the full list of things to compare between hosts, see how to choose a game server host.
Switching panels without losing your world
Your world, configs and mods are files, and they do not belong to the panel. Moving from a TCAdmin host to a Pterodactyl host, or the other way round, works the same way as any move: back up, download the files, upload them to the new server and check the settings. The menus will be in different places, but the files are the same.
Two things to watch: folder layouts can differ between panels, so put the world in the folder the new host expects, and make sure the game version matches. Our guide to moving to a new host has the full step-by-step order.
Running your own panel on a VPS
Because Pterodactyl is free and open source, you can install it yourself on a VPS (a virtual private server, a rented virtual machine you manage yourself) and get a panel much like a host’s. That gives you full control, but you also take on the setup, security, updates and backups of both the panel and the machine.
A middle ground is a VPS that comes with a game panel already installed. Hostinger sells its game servers this way, as your own virtual server with a game panel on top. Our Hostinger review explains what that means in practice. To decide whether a VPS is right for you at all, read running a game server on a VPS and game server vs VPS vs dedicated.
Looking for a host with a good panel?
These are the top three hosts in our UK ranking, in ranking order. Indifferent Broccoli and LOW.MS built their own panels, and Host Havoc uses Multicraft and TCAdmin, according to our reviews.
What to check on a host’s plan page
- Panel name: which panel the host uses, and whether there is a demo, screenshots or a video.
- Files: full file access in the browser and SFTP login details.
- Backups: backups you can take, schedule and restore yourself, and how many copies are kept.
- Schedules: automatic restarts and tasks.
- Sub-users: separate logins with permissions you choose, and two-factor sign-in.
- Your game: a mod or modpack installer for your game, if you plan to run mods.
- Phone: whether the panel works on a small screen or has an app.
Game server control panels: common questions
What is a game server control panel?
It is the website you use to run a rented game server. From the panel you start and restart the server, change settings, edit files, take backups and give other people access, without typing commands on the machine itself.
What is Pterodactyl?
Pterodactyl is a free, open-source game server control panel that runs each server in its own container. Many hosts use it, often renamed and with their own extra tools added, so two Pterodactyl hosts can look and feel quite different.
What is TCAdmin?
TCAdmin is a commercial control panel that hosts license and install on their own machines. It supports many games and has been around for a long time, so it tends to look more traditional than newer panels.
Is Pterodactyl better than a custom panel?
Not automatically. Each host decides which features to switch on, and a good custom panel can offer tools made for one game. Judge the panel on what it lets you do, such as backups, schedules, sub-users and file access, rather than on its name.
Can I switch to a host with a different panel?
Yes. Your world, configs and mods are files, so you back them up, download them and upload them to the new server. Put the world in the folder the new host expects and make sure the game version matches.
Can I install a game panel on my own VPS?
Yes. Pterodactyl is free and can be installed on a VPS, which gives you a panel much like a host’s. You then look after the panel, the operating system, security, updates and backups yourself.
