- Free Proxmox VE versus a Proxmox subscription
- The repository detail that catches people out
- Proxmox VE subscription prices, as of October 2026
- What you get in free Proxmox VE
- Support hours are changing in late 2026
- How to run Proxmox for free
- My verdict on whether Proxmox is free
- Frequently asked questions
Yes, Proxmox VE is free. It's open source under the GNU Affero General Public License version 3, and every feature, including clustering, high availability and backup, works without paying. The subscriptions sell stable enterprise updates and technical support, not features.
That's a very different model from most virtualisation software, and it's why so many small businesses and homelab owners have moved to it. Here's what Proxmox's own pricing page, FAQ and repository docs say, checked as of October 2026, so you know when you can run it for free and when a subscription makes sense.
Free Proxmox VE versus a Proxmox subscription
Proxmox's subscription FAQ answers the big question directly. It says features are not limited by subscription level: high availability, live migration, clustering, backup, software-defined storage and networking are available at every level. The plans differ by support entitlement, ticket allowance and response time.
| Free (no subscription) | Paid subscription | |
|---|---|---|
| Licence | AGPLv3, open source | Same software |
| Features | All Proxmox VE features | All Proxmox VE features |
| Update repository | pve-no-subscription | Proxmox Enterprise Repository |
| Who the updates are for | Testing and non-production use | Production, heavily tested and validated |
| Technical support | Community forum | Ticket support, depending on plan |
The repository detail that catches people out
Here's the part a first-time installer doesn't expect. Proxmox's repository documentation says the pve-enterprise repository is enabled by default. Without a subscription, you switch to the pve-no-subscription repository, which Proxmox says can be used for testing and non-production use. The enterprise repository is the one Proxmox describes as heavily tested and validated.
So the software is free for anyone, but Proxmox's own guidance positions the free update stream for labs and non-critical work. If you run client workloads on it, that's the line to think about.
Proxmox VE subscription prices, as of October 2026
Proxmox charges per occupied physical CPU socket per year, and the number of CPU cores doesn't affect the price. Every server in a cluster needs coverage for its sockets, and all nodes in a cluster must use the same level. These are the prices shown on its pricing page, in euros, net of VAT.
| Plan | Price per CPU socket per year | Support included |
|---|---|---|
| Community | €120 | Enterprise Repository access, no ticket support |
| Basic | €370 | 3 support tickets a year, 1 business day response |
| Standard | €550 | 10 support tickets a year, 4-hour response |
| Premium | €1,100 | Unlimited support tickets, 2-hour response |
Two small print points from the same page: prices are net with VAT added where it applies, and the subscription term is one year from purchase, so it doesn't renew on a calendar year.
The Community subscription is the interesting one for small setups. Proxmox pitches it at home labs, professional home users, training environments and evaluation clusters. It gets you the stable enterprise update stream without paying for a support desk you might never call.
What you get in free Proxmox VE
Because there are no feature tiers, the free install is the same product a paying customer runs. Proxmox's pricing page lists what that includes:
- QEMU/KVM virtual machines and LXC containers in one interface.
- Clustering, high availability and live migration.
- Ceph software-defined storage, plus Fibre Channel and iSCSI support.
- Proxmox Backup Server integration with incremental, encrypted, deduplicated backups.
- ZFS replication for disaster recovery.
- ESXi import, which matters if you're leaving VMware.
- NVIDIA vGPU and PCIe passthrough.
- A REST API plus Terraform and OpenTofu support for automation.
The ESXi import is the one I'd flag for small businesses. It's the reason Proxmox shows up in so many VMware exit plans, and it doesn't sit behind a paywall.
Support hours are changing in late 2026
If you're deciding on a paid plan now, note the timing. Proxmox says Premium includes 24/7 ticket support starting October 19, 2026, including for existing Premium customers, and Standard will move to 24/7 support by the end of 2026. From the same date, customers in North America get business-hours support in North American hours, and APAC customers get it in Eastern Australian hours. Community and the free route still rely on the public forum.
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How to run Proxmox for free
- Check your hardware: Proxmox's FAQ says Proxmox VE works only on 64-bit CPUs.
- Download the Proxmox VE installer and install it on the server.
- Open the web interface and go to the repository settings.
- Disable the pve-enterprise repository, which is on by default.
- Add the pve-no-subscription repository so updates work without a key.
- Run updates, then create your virtual machines and containers.
If you later decide you want the enterprise stream, buy a subscription for each socket and swap the repository back. Nothing about your virtual machines has to change.
My verdict on whether Proxmox is free
Proxmox is free in the way that matters: the full product, no feature walls, no trial clock. What you pay for is confidence, tested updates and someone to call. For a homelab or a small internal server, the free route is fine. For production work your business depends on, I'd at least budget for Community or Basic per socket. If you're weighing it up against the alternatives, see Proxmox vs VMware, Proxmox vs TrueNAS and my list of free virtual machine software.
Frequently asked questions
Is Proxmox VE free for commercial use?
The software is free and open source under the AGPLv3, and every feature works without a subscription. Proxmox says its free no-subscription update repository is meant for testing and non-production use, so many businesses buy a subscription for production servers.
What do you get with a Proxmox subscription?
Access to the Proxmox Enterprise Repository and, on Basic, Standard and Premium, technical support tickets. Proxmox says features are not limited by subscription level.
How much is a Proxmox subscription?
As of October 2026 the pricing page shows Community at €120, Basic at €370, Standard at €550 and Premium at €1,100 per CPU socket per year, net of VAT.
Is Proxmox good for a homelab?
Yes. Proxmox pitches its Community subscription at home labs and professional home users, and the free no-subscription repository is meant for testing and non-production use, which covers most homelabs.
Does Proxmox charge per core?
No. Proxmox charges per occupied physical CPU socket, and the number of cores doesn't affect the price.
Can I switch from the free repository to a subscription later?
Yes. Buy a subscription for each occupied CPU socket and switch from the pve-no-subscription repository to the Enterprise Repository. Your virtual machines don't need rebuilding.
What licence does Proxmox use?
Proxmox VE code is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License, version 3.
