Install Proxmox VE if your server's main job is running virtual machines and containers, with clustering and high availability managed from one web interface. Install TrueNAS if its main job is storing and sharing data safely on OpenZFS, over SMB, NFS or iSCSI, with apps and VMs as extras. Both have free open-source editions, and running both, Proxmox for compute and TrueNAS for storage, is a sensible split.
I read Proxmox's home page and its Proxmox Virtual Environment overview, then TrueNAS's home page and its Community Edition page. The two overlap more each year, since TrueNAS now runs VMs and Proxmox handles storage, but each still has a clear centre of gravity.
Proxmox VE and TrueNAS in a table
| Proxmox VE | TrueNAS | |
|---|---|---|
| Main job | Server virtualisation platform | Storage platform built on OpenZFS |
| Runs | KVM virtual machines and LXC containers | Apps through Docker and Compose, LXC sandboxes, VMs |
| Sharing data | Software-defined storage for its own guests | SMB, NFS and iSCSI file and block sharing |
| Clustering | High availability for clusters | High availability on Enterprise appliances |
| Paid layer | Enterprise support subscriptions | TrueNAS Enterprise appliances and support |
| Free option (as of October 2026) | Open source and free to download | Community Edition, free open source |
Where Proxmox VE fits
Proxmox describes VE as a complete, open-source server management platform for enterprise virtualisation. It integrates the KVM hypervisor and Linux Containers (LXC) with software-defined storage and networking, so you can run full Windows and Linux VMs next to lightweight containers. The web interface manages VMs, containers, high availability for clusters and disaster recovery tools.
Version 9.2 is current. Recent releases added a VMware ESXi guest import and OVA import, which helps people moving off VMware. Proxmox also makes a separate Backup Server, now at 4.2, for incremental, deduplicated backups of VMs, containers and physical hosts.
Where TrueNAS fits
TrueNAS is storage first. It's built on OpenZFS, with self-healing checksums, snapshots and replication, and TrueNAS says over a million users trust it. You share data over SMB, NFS or iSCSI, and the Community Edition is free open-source software you run on your own hardware with community support.
The feature list on the Community Edition page goes well beyond file sharing now: apps through Docker containers and Docker Compose, sandboxes with LXC, and VMs for Windows, Linux and FreeBSD with PCIe and USB pass-through. It's built on Debian 12 with Linux kernel 6.6.
Each project has a wider family too. Proxmox also makes Mail Gateway and Datacenter Manager alongside VE and Backup Server, while TrueNAS sells Enterprise appliances with Fibre Channel, FIPS-validated encryption and high availability. TrueNAS says its platform grows from 20TB to 40PB and beyond, so the same software you try at home is what large storage customers run.
Why running both can make sense
Because each is strongest at a different job. Proxmox gives you a flexible host for many VMs and containers, while TrueNAS gives you a careful home for your data on ZFS. One sensible split is Proxmox for compute and backups and TrueNAS for shares and snapshots, joined over the network with NFS or iSCSI.
Proxmox's licence is covered in our Proxmox free guide.
Five questions for your server
- Is the box mainly for running many VMs or containers? Proxmox VE.
- Is it mainly a file server for a family or office? TrueNAS.
- Want ZFS snapshots and replication for your important data? That's TrueNAS's core.
- Moving workloads off VMware ESXi? Proxmox has a guest import built in.
- Only one box and both needs? Pick by the bigger job, then use the other's lighter features.
For the business side of storage, see this guide to cloud storage for productive work and the difference between email archiving and email backup.
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My advice on Proxmox or TrueNAS
If your first thought is about virtual machines, I'd install Proxmox VE and treat storage as something it uses. If your first thought is about keeping files safe and shared, I'd install TrueNAS Community Edition and add apps on top. With two machines, I'd run one of each, because that's where both are at their strongest.
Do you make a server, storage or virtualisation tool? Tool makers can ask to be considered for a featured place in comparisons like this one.
Frequently asked questions
Is Proxmox VE free?
Yes. Proxmox VE is open source and free to download as of October 2026, with optional enterprise support subscriptions.
Can TrueNAS run virtual machines?
Yes. TrueNAS lists VMs for Windows, Linux and FreeBSD, plus Docker apps and LXC sandboxes.
Does Proxmox use ZFS?
Proxmox VE includes software-defined storage for its VMs and containers; TrueNAS is the one built entirely on OpenZFS.
Can Proxmox import VMware VMs?
Yes. Proxmox VE 8.x added a VMware ESXi guest import and an OVA import.
What is TrueNAS Community Edition?
It's the free open-source version of TrueNAS for running on your own hardware with community support.
