Zomboid Control Panel

The full write-up

Zomboid Control Panel is a self-hosted web app for managing Project Zomboid dedicated servers, from server operations and backups to mods and player actions. It suits server owners and communities that want a browser-based control room, especially those comfortable running a panel themselves. Its broad management tools make it compelling for Project Zomboid, but remote-host limitations and the macOS Docker requirement narrow the fit. Overview The panel brings routine administration into one web interface: start, stop, restart or save a server; use a live console with RCON; and schedule restarts, saves and broadcasts. That combination can reduce command-line work for a server owner and give a community a more accessible way to handle recurring tasks. It is purpose-built for Project Zomboid rather than a general game-server dashboard. For visibility and intervention, its live Knox County map shows player positions across multiple floors. Admins can teleport, heal, kick or message players from the map. Those tools are useful for active community moderation, though the panel's deeper actions depend on its optional server-side Lua bridge. Key features Mods and backups The mod manager tracks Steam Workshop items, checks for updates through the Steam API, imports collections, scans for conflicts and dependencies, and can sort load order. This is a substantial toolkit for keeping a modded server coherent; it does not remove the need to make choices about which mods belong in a community's setup. Manual and scheduled world backups include retention settings, snapshot previews, archive download and upload, plus safety backups before a restore. That last safeguard matters when restoring a world: it gives admins a recovery point if the selected backup is not the one they intended. Community and access A guided Discord bot setup provides slash commands, two-way chat relay and event notifications, helping connect in-game administration with a community's existing chat space. OpenID Connect login includes presets for Google, Authentik, Keycloak, Azure AD, Okta and Auth0, while supporting other compliant providers. Built-in and custom capability-based roles allow permissions to be tailored beyond a single all-or-nothing administrator account. Security controls include JWT authentication, login, RCON and destructive-operation rate limits, RCON parameter sanitization, configurable CORS and single-use recovery codes. For public internet access, the project recommends an HTTPS reverse proxy and HTTPS mode for HSTS headers. Those are meaningful safeguards, but operators still need to configure exposure and access responsibly. Vulnerability reports go through GitHub's private security advisory process; fixes target the latest release and main branch. Pricing The Free plan costs nothing and is MIT-licensed and self-hosted. It includes the panel's server, mod, backup and role-access capabilities, with no paid tier or trial stated. That makes it a strong fit for an owner willing to supply and maintain the hosting environment; the tradeoff is that setup and operation remain the user's responsibility rather than a hosted service. Platforms The panel runs on Windows, Linux or Docker, either beside the game server or on a separately controlled computer, and can administer a rented server remotely when RCON access is available. It also supports VPS and hosted or SFTP servers. macOS has no native binary: use Docker Desktop or OrbStack instead. For rented servers, it cannot manage server lifecycle or install game updates. Remote PanelBridge file sync requires SFTP, not FTP or FTPS. These limits make it less suitable as a complete control plane for a host that restricts access to those capabilities. Who it's for Choose it if your group runs Project Zomboid, wants browser-based administration, and values Workshop organization, scheduled backups and map-based player tools. It is particularly well suited to self-hosters who can put the panel behind HTTPS and manage their own deployment. Look elsewhere if you need the panel itself to start or update a rented server, or if you need a native macOS application. Pros and cons Pros: Broad server controls and scheduled tasks bring frequent admin work into one interface. Pros: Workshop conflict and dependency checks, collection imports and load-order sorting help manage modded servers. Pros: Map-based player actions, Discord integration and configurable roles support active community operations. Pros: Scheduled backups, retention controls and pre-restore safety copies address practical world-recovery needs. Cons: It only supports Project Zomboid, so it is not a shared panel for a multi-game server setup. Cons: Remote rented-server use cannot control lifecycle or install game updates, and file sync needs SFTP. Cons: macOS users must run it through Docker Desktop or OrbStack because there is no native binary. Alternatives For a broader set of game-server panel options, browse Game server control panels . Crafty Controller is another free, self-hosted option with Windows, Linux, macOS, web, mobile and API platforms; consider it if cross-platform reach matters more than this panel's Project Zomboid-specific toolset. Multicraft has a free personal-use plan with unlimited game servers on one machine and unlimited players, plus a paid Dynamic plan at $1.62 a month billed per game server; choose it if those stated personal-use allowances suit your setup. Calagopus offers a free plan for personal and commercial use with no feature gating, a fit for readers seeking that stated licensing and plan approach. GameAP is a free, self-hosted open-source game-server management panel, an alternative to consider when you want a general panel. GameCP offers a 14-day Community trial with one node and three game servers; consider it if a time-limited hosted evaluation fits your needs. HaruHost is another freemium option, operated by the legally registered Raidenku MB under Lithuanian law. Teploy Arcade is a free, open-source tool for deploying, monitoring and operating self-hosted apps. Kretase is a free-forever, MIT-licensed self-hosted option. Verdict Zomboid Control Panel is a strong choice for Project Zomboid communities that want a self-hosted web dashboard combining server routines, Workshop management, backups and player-facing admin tools. Its free MIT license keeps the cost straightforward, while its remote lifecycle gap and macOS container requirement are the main reasons to choose another approach.