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Measured on six things

Free self-hosted hosting control panel that works behind ...

Growth

4-month-old project with 41 GitHub stars and 160+ claimed installs; steady releases but zero review sites or community size yet.

Screenshots

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iNetPanel

About this app

iNetPanel is a free, open-source hosting control panel designed for home servers and private hosting environments. It uses Cloudflare Zero Trust Tunnel to route traffic securely without exposing any ports, making it ideal for users behind CGNAT, ISP restrictions, or corporate firewalls. The one-command installer sets up a full hosting stack including Apache, MariaDB, PHP (5.6–8.5), phpMyAdmin, WireGuard VPN, firewalld, fail2ban, and automatic SSL via Let's Encrypt. iNetPanel provides a clean web interface for managing domains, databases, email routing, DNS, and backups. It also includes a client self-service portal and 11 CLI tools for advanced server management. Built on Debian 12 and licensed under GPL-3.0, iNetPanel offers a robust and cost-effective alternative to paid panels like cPanel or Plesk. Its active development (v1.24.4 as of June 2026) ensures regular updates and community support.

Key features

1One-command install on Debian 12 with full stack (Apache, MariaDB, PHP 5.6-8.5, Cloudflare Tunnel, WireGuard).
2No open ports required; Cloudflare Zero Trust + automatic Let's Encrypt SSL and daily backups.
3Client self-service portal plus 11 CLI tools and role-based access for multi-user hosting.

Target customer profile

Drawn from the product itself, not from a survey.

Demographic

Home server enthusiasts and self-hosters

Pain points

ISPs block ports 80/443, CGNAT prevents direct access, want to host websites at home without exposing their IP address

Primary needs

Secure no-open-port hosting, easy setup, free solution

Demographic

Small businesses, startups, and freelancers on a budget

Pain points

Cannot afford expensive hosting panels like cPanel ($61/mo), need a full-featured control panel without monthly fees

Primary needs

Free hosting panel with multi-PHP, SSL, backups, client portal

Demographic

Developers and DevOps engineers

Pain points

Tired of complex manual server configuration, seeking a repeatable one-command install that integrates with Cloudflare and VPN

Primary needs

Automated stack deployment, CLI tools, hook scripts, role-based access

Scout Review

Written by AI from measured evidence, scored out of 100.

iNetPanel is a genuinely useful free GPL-3.0 alternative for self-hosters who need a full stack without opening ports or paying $61/mo for cPanel. The one-command installer, Cloudflare Tunnel integration, multi-PHP support, client portal, and 11 CLI tools deliver real value on Debian 12. Weaknesses are mobile performance, visual crowding, and early-stage traction. It sits between hobby projects and commercial panels—strong enough for enthusiasts, not yet enterprise-ready.

Measure by measure

Usability

One-command install and 6-step wizard get users to value fast; solid docs and CLI tools reduce learning curve for target self-hosters.

Design

Dark theme with clear hero hierarchy but cramped 12-card feature grid and jarring green footer break visual flow.

Speed

Mobile Lighthouse 57/100 with 5.6s LCP drags real-world feel; desktop 91/100 is fine but mobile users will notice the wait.

Security

HTTPS/HSTS present and strong Cloudflare Tunnel + WireGuard defaults; missing CSP and no third-party audits keep it middle of the pack.

Accessibility

Lighthouse 95/100 is strong, but contrast and heading order failures plus no a11y statement or language options cap the real-world score.

Growth

4-month-old project with 41 GitHub stars and 160+ claimed installs; steady releases but zero review sites or community size yet.

Improvement areas

Mobile performance (LCP 5.6s) and visual crowding in the 12-card feature grid.
Missing CSP header and formal accessibility or security compliance documentation.
Early-stage traction with only 41 GitHub stars and no third-party reviews yet.

Design & Usability

iNetPanel's dark UI delivers a clean hero and useful dashboard mockup, but the 3x4 feature grid feels cramped and the green footer clashes. Usability shines through the one-command install and 6-step wizard that gets a full stack (Apache, MariaDB, multi-PHP, Cloudflare Tunnel) running quickly on Debian 12. Docs are thorough with CLI references and changelog transparency. Target home-server users behind CGNAT will appreciate the no-port-forwarding approach and client portal, though competing CTAs and dense cards slightly hurt first impressions. Overall a competent indie panel that prioritizes practical self-hosting over polish.

Speed & Security

Speed is the weakest measured dimension: mobile Lighthouse at 57/100 with 5.6s LCP will frustrate users on slower connections, while desktop hits 91. Security is solid for the use case—HTTPS, HSTS, Cloudflare Tunnel, WireGuard, and fail2ban are included by default—but lacks CSP and any external audits. The open-source GPL-3.0 codebase on GitHub allows inspection, and recent releases (v1.24.5 fixing orphaned vhosts) show active maintenance. No breach history or compliance claims exist, which is expected for a young project. For users prioritizing zero open ports over enterprise certifications, the stack is pragmatic and effective.

Accessibility & Growth

Accessibility scores well on automated checks (95/100) but has contrast, heading-order, and label issues that need manual fixes; no WCAG statement or multi-language support is listed. Growth is typical for a March 2026 launch: 41 GitHub stars, 160+ claimed installs, and frequent releases through July 2026, yet zero presence on review platforms. The project shows healthy trajectory with detailed changelogs and GitHub activity, but community size remains small. Compared with established panels, it trades maturity for niche focus on Cloudflare-secured home hosting.

Conclusion

If you're behind CGNAT or tired of cPanel pricing, iNetPanel is worth the curl command. Just run the rebuild_vhosts check after updates.

Suggestions for improvement

Add visible trust signals and the install command above the fold to reduce friction.
Fix mobile LCP and the three failing a11y audits for broader usability.
Publish a short security overview or pen-test summary once the project matures.
Expand the feature grid with icons and breathing room for better scannability.

How we score

Alternatives comparison

Named competitors, point by point. Nobody paid to appear here or to be left out.

	iNetPanel	cPanel	Plesk	DirectAdmin	CloudPanel
Pricing (monthly for ~100 accounts)	$0 (free, GPL-3.0)	$61	from $15	$29 (recent 580% hike)	$0 (free tier)
Requires open ports / port forwarding	No (Cloudflare Tunnel)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Multi-PHP support (5.6-8.5)	Yes (per-domain)	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Built-in WireGuard VPN + client portal	Yes (both included)	No / limited	No / extensions	No	No