aaPanel vs MyPanel: which control panel should you pick in 2026?
If you’re shopping for a control panel to manage a VPS, aaPanel is almost certainly on your shortlist — it’s free, popular, and ships with a huge library of plugins. But aaPanel isn’t the only option, and depending on your needs, a lighter and more modern panel might suit you better.
This article compares aaPanel and MyPanel head to head on the criteria that actually matter when you run a server.
Quick summary
| Criteria | aaPanel | MyPanel |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | PHP/Python stack + many services | A single Go binary |
| Website isolation | Usually shares one environment | One Docker container per site |
| Deploy apps from Git | Limited | Nixpacks auto-build (Node/Python/Go/PHP) |
| Vietnamese interface | Partial | Fully localized in Vietnamese |
| Updates | Many dependency packages | Swap a single binary |
| Pricing | Free + paid plugins | Full-featured Free + one-time Pro purchase |
1. Architecture & resources
aaPanel installs an entire ecosystem of PHP, Python, and several background services running side by side. That’s flexible, but it leaves a large surface area: many processes, many packages to patch, and meaningful RAM usage even when you’re only running a handful of websites.
MyPanel goes the other way: a single Go binary, embedded SQLite, and no external runtime dependencies. The result is a panel that’s lightweight, starts fast, and has a small attack surface. On a 1 GB VPS, you’re left with significantly more room for your websites.
2. Website isolation
On traditional panels, websites usually share a single PHP/nginx environment. One site with a misconfiguration or a malware infection can affect the others.
MyPanel runs each website in its own Docker container. That means better isolation, clean removal, and the ability to run several different PHP/Node versions side by side without conflicts.
3. Modern app deployment
This is the big difference. aaPanel is strong with classic PHP/WordPress sites, but deploying apps from Git (Node, Python, Go) takes a lot of manual configuration.
MyPanel integrates Nixpacks — it detects your stack and builds the app straight from Git, with no Dockerfile to write. You can still spin up WordPress in one click, but you can also deploy Node/Python/Go apps in just a few clicks. See the guide to creating websites for more.
4. Security
Both support automatic Let’s Encrypt SSL and a firewall. MyPanel gathers its security features into a single Security Center: hardened login (Argon2id, 2FA), brute-force protection (Fail2ban), IP restrictions on panel access, and an audit log. More importantly, MyPanel sends no telemetry — your data stays entirely on your server.
5. Pricing
aaPanel is free at the basic tier, but many advanced features sit behind monthly paid plugins.
MyPanel has a simple pricing page: Free covers all the core features for a single server (5 websites / 5 databases), and Pro is a one-time purchase (490.000đ/year or 1.290.000đ for a lifetime license) that unlocks unlimited websites along with the full toolset — no cPanel-style subscription.
So which one should you pick?
- Choose aaPanel if you need a broad plugin ecosystem and you’re comfortable with the traditional approach.
- Choose MyPanel if you value a panel that’s lightweight, Vietnamese-native, Docker-isolated, and deploys apps from Git, and you’d rather buy it outright than subscribe.
The best way to decide is to try it yourself — MyPanel installs with a single command, and the Free plan is yours forever.