The Blesta alternative with DCIM in the schema.
Blesta went public in 2007 as a developer-leaning alternative to the dominant PHP billing tools of the time, and was rewritten from scratch as version 3 in 2013. It earned a reputation for clean code, a sane module API, and a smaller, more focused community, and it is still actively developed: version 6 shipped in August 2026. It does one job — bill hosting customers — reliably.
FluxBilling is the Blesta alternative that started with a different question. If you are building a billing platform in 2026, what does the stack look like? React on the frontend. PostgreSQL 16. Bun. K3s for tenant isolation. A visual plugin builder so payments, hypervisors, registrars, and monitoring share one shape. DCIM in the same database as the invoices, not a separate product you sync to.
Same job. Different decade. Different decisions.
The two platforms, on one page.
Quick-glance facts. Verify against vendor documentation; this is what we ship.
- Shipped
- 2025
- 2007; rewritten as v3 in 2013
- Language
- JavaScript
- PHP
- Stack
- React 18 SPA, Bun, PostgreSQL 16
- Own minPHP framework, PHP 8.2–8.4, MySQL or MariaDB
- Plugin model
- Visual plugin builder + JSON manifest format
- PHP extension SDKs: modules, gateways, plugins
- Pricing
- Flat plans from €4.95/mo, all gateways included
- From $17.95/mo, or $350 owned; unlimited clients
- Audience
- Hosting providers running modern infrastructure
- Developer-friendly, smaller hosting providers
- Tenant model
- Built for K3s-era multi-tenancy
- Smaller install base than WHMCS
Based on Blesta’s own documentation and pricing, read 2026-10-21. Verify at blesta.com.
Blesta vs FluxBilling pricing, at 2026 list prices.
On billing alone, Blesta is hard to beat once you pass 250 clients: one licence covers unlimited clients, from $17.95/mo, or $350 once if you want to own it. FluxBilling costs less below that (€9.99/mo up to 150 clients) and about the same at 250 (€14.99/mo). The picture changes when you also need racks and IP addresses.
| Branded | $17.95/mo |
|---|---|
| Unbranded | $20.95/mo |
| Flex | $23.95/mo |
| Owned Branded | $350 once |
| Owned Unbranded | $425 once |
| Owned Flex | $500 once |
| Owned Lifetime | $1,295 once |
| Owned Lifetime Flex | $1,495 once |
Monthly licences include support and updates. Owned licences include the first year; after that, updates are $62/yr and optional. Lifetime licences include updates for good.
| Lite | €4.95/mo | 10 clients, 5 servers |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | €9.99/mo | 150 clients, 25 servers |
| Professional | €14.99/mo | 250 clients, 50 servers |
| Business | €25/mo | Unlimited clients, 75 servers |
Subscription on every tier, managed. Self-hosting is a one-time add-on on Business only, and there is no owned or lifetime licence: if owning the licence matters most, Blesta is the better fit.
Blesta prices in USD as published on blesta.com/pricing, read 2026-10-21, excluding tax. FluxBilling prices exclude VAT.
If you run servers: Blesta plus a DCIM add-on, against FluxBilling.
Blesta’s core does not track racks or IP addresses. Providers who need that add a third-party product with its own licence: dcim.sh, which publishes a per-server price and a Blesta integration, or CubeData’s Blesta DCIM add-on from the Blesta Marketplace. The table prices dcim.sh, at three fleet sizes, next to the one FluxBilling plan that covers the same clients and servers with DCIM and IPAM built in.
| Fleet | Blesta + dcim.sh | WHMCS + dcim.sh | FluxBilling |
|---|---|---|---|
| 250 clients50 servers | $17.95 + €25/moBlesta Branded + dcim.sh, 50 servers × €0.50 | $34.95 + €25/moWHMCS Plus + dcim.sh, 50 servers × €0.50 | €14.99/moProfessional €14.99; DCIM and IPAM included |
| 500 clients100 servers | $17.95 + €50/moBlesta Branded + dcim.sh, 100 servers × €0.50 | $54.95 + €50/moWHMCS Professional + dcim.sh, 100 servers × €0.50 | €33.75/moBusiness €25 + 25 servers × €0.35; DCIM and IPAM included |
| 1,000 clients300 servers | $17.95 + €150/moBlesta Branded + dcim.sh, 300 servers × €0.50 | $84.95 + €150/moWHMCS Business 1,000 + dcim.sh, 300 servers × €0.50 | €103.75/moBusiness €25 + 225 servers × €0.35; DCIM and IPAM included |
Licence list prices per month, excluding tax; paid modules on any side are not included. WHMCS self-hosted (2026-10-21) and Blesta monthly (2026-10-21) in USD; dcim.sh (2026-10-21) in EUR, per managed server, IPAM included, with integrations for WHMCS, HostBill, Blesta. It is the cheapest published DCIM add-on for either biller; EasyDCIM, the longer-established choice for WHMCS (it has no Blesta integration), starts at $99/mo for its first tier with IPAM (100 devices). FluxBilling in your display currency. Sources: WHMCS, Blesta, dcim.sh, EasyDCIM.
Four architectural angles where FluxBilling is meaningfully different.
Both platforms invoice, dun, and ticket. Where they part ways is below the line.
- Tenant isolation
- Every FluxBilling instance runs as a K3s pod with its own PostgreSQL database, namespace, and AES-256-GCM-encrypted settings. Blesta is a single-tenant install model. If you operate multiple brands or a marketplace, FluxBilling is closer to your topology.
- Unified plugin model
- Blesta extends through separate PHP SDKs, one per extension type: modules (registrars are a kind of module), gateways, and plugins, each with its own base class. FluxBilling collapses payments, infrastructure, registrars, and monitoring into one visual plugin model with a shared JSON manifest format and shared lifecycle hooks — less surface area to learn, less code to maintain.
- Integrated DCIM
- Racks, U-positions, IPAM, VLANs, power monitoring, and asset tracking are first-class tables in the FluxBilling schema, joined directly to services and invoices. Blesta’s core is billing-only; DCIM there comes from third-party commercial add-ons. If you sell colocation, dedicated, or run physical infrastructure, this collapses two products into one.
- Modern frontend
- Blesta renders its admin and client areas from PHP view templates. FluxBilling is a React 18 single-page app backed by queued workers: views update in place instead of loading a new page. Same workflows; the difference is how it feels to operate.
One plugin shape, every domain.
Blesta extends through separate PHP SDKs — modules (registrars are a kind of module), gateways, and plugins — each with its own base class and lifecycle. FluxBilling collapses that into a single visual plugin model: same registration, same hooks, same JSON manifest. Payments, hypervisors, registrars, monitoring, all shaped the same way.
- Database-stored.Plugins are stored as records in the tenant database, not files on disk. No core fork, no rebuild.
- Visual builder.Compose flows on a node-based canvas; non-engineers can ship integrations.
- JSON manifest.Each plugin is a manifest of nodes and config — portable across tenants.
Blesta is a well-regarded PHP billing platform (public since 2007, now on version 6, built on its own minPHP framework with MySQL) extended through PHP modules, gateways and plugins, sold as an owned or monthly licence with unlimited clients. FluxBilling is a Blesta alternative built as a React 18 single-page app on Bun and PostgreSQL 16, with a visual plugin builder, integrated DCIM and IPAM, and per-tenant K3s isolation — each instance runs as its own pod with its own database and AES-256-GCM-encrypted settings, where Blesta uses a single-tenant install model. Both bill hosting customers well; the differences are the stack, the operating model, and that DCIM, IPAM, and provisioning are first-class in FluxBilling rather than external. Plans start at €4.95/mo with all payment gateways included. There is no one-click Blesta importer today — migration is a scoped engagement where the team maps your schema and runs a sandboxed test import before cut-over. If you want a proven PHP biller with an ownable license and do not need DCIM, Blesta remains a solid choice.
Feature-level differences.
Frontend, backend, plugin model, infrastructure, and security defaults — with footnoted citations on competitor cells.
| Feature | FluxBilling | Blesta |
|---|---|---|
| Frontend | React 18 SPA | PHP view templates (Bootstrap 5) |
| Backend runtime | Bun + Express | PHP 8.2–8.4 |
| Database | PostgreSQL 16 | MySQL or MariaDB |
| Tenant model | K3s pod + isolated DB per tenant | One install; extra companies are a paid add-on[4] |
| Plugin language | JSON visual flows | PHP |
| Plugin model | Visual builder + JSON manifest | PHP SDK per extension type, one API[1] |
| Visual plugin builder | ✓ | — |
| Integrated DCIM | ✓ | Third-party add-ons only[2] |
| IPAM + VLAN | ✓ | —[2] |
| Bare-metal automation | IPMI / Redfish, native | Third-party add-ons only[2] |
| Two-factor auth | Authenticator app (TOTP) or emailed code | Authenticator app (TOTP or mOTP)[3] |
| Encryption at rest | AES-256-GCM (settings, credentials) | Always on: AES-256; RSA for card and bank numbers[3] |
| Proforma invoices | ✓ | ✓[2] |
| Built-in importers | WHMCS, Blesta, EasyDCIM, plus AI Migration for any database or CSV | WHMCS, ClientExec, CSV[4] |
| Free trial | No; 14-day money-back | 30 days, no card[4] |
- [1] Source: docs.blesta.com/developers (API, modules, registrar modules), read 2026-10-21.
- [2] Source: docs.blesta.com module list, blesta.com/features/billing, and marketplace.blesta.com (DCIM is offered by third-party commercial extensions), read 2026-10-21.
- [3] Source: docs.blesta.com/security/enabling-mfa and docs.blesta.com/security/encryption, read 2026-10-21.
- [4] Source: blesta.com/pricing and docs.blesta.com/getting-started/migrating, read 2026-10-21.
Racks join to invoices.
Rack management, U-positions, IPAM, VLANs, power monitoring, and asset tracking are first-class tables. The device the customer is paying for is one row away from the invoice line that pays for it. Blesta’s core is billing-only; DCIM there is a third-party add-on with its own licence.
- Native
- Racks + U
- Native
- IPAM + VLAN
- Native
- Power
- None
- Sync jobs
A built-in importer, run from the admin panel.
The Blesta importer reads your Blesta database read-only and moves clients, packages, services, invoices, payments and credit into FluxBilling. Records it already brought across are skipped, so you can import, check, and run it again before cut-over. Want a hand? Our team can run the migration with you: free on the Business tier, quoted on request on the other tiers.
- 01.Connect the Blesta databaseMySQL host, database and a user, directly or through an SSH tunnel. Pick the company to import when the install holds more than one.
- 02.Import and checkClients, packages, services, invoices, payments and credit come across in batches. Check the result; a second run only adds what is new.
- 03.Production cutoverBlesta read-only on the side, FluxBilling live, DNS swap when validated.
Common questions, direct answers.
01.How is FluxBilling different from Blesta?
Blesta is a PHP billing platform, now on version 6 and built on its own minPHP framework, extended through PHP modules, gateways and plugins. FluxBilling is a React 18 single-page application backed by Bun and PostgreSQL 16, with a visual plugin builder, integrated DCIM, and per-tenant K3s isolation. Both bill hosting customers; the stack and operating model differ.
02.Can I migrate from Blesta to FluxBilling?
Yes. The admin panel has a Blesta importer that reads your Blesta MySQL database, directly or over an SSH tunnel, without writing to it. It brings across clients, packages and package groups, services, invoices with their taxes, payments, refunds and credit balances, one Blesta company per run, and a second run creates nothing new. Passwords cannot be carried over because Blesta mixes in its own system key, so clients set a new one with a password reset. Tickets, staff, saved cards, coupons and configurable-option definitions are not imported.
03.Does FluxBilling support the same payment gateways as Blesta?
Both include their gateways in the licence. Blesta bundles its 78 first-party modules, registrars and gateways with every tier; FluxBilling installs Stripe, PayPal, CoinGate, Mollie and the rest free from its marketplace on every plan. A gateway only Blesta has can be rebuilt as a visual plugin; the team helps with that.
04.What server provisioning does FluxBilling cover?
Proxmox VE, VirtFusion, Virtualizor, SolusVM 2, cPanel / WHM, Plesk and Webuzo as free marketplace plugins, Pterodactyl for game servers, and IPMI / Redfish for bare metal. DirectAdmin is not supported yet.
05.Is Blesta still a reasonable choice in 2026?
Yes, for operators who do not need DCIM, prefer PHP, or want to own the licence outright. It is actively developed (version 6 shipped in August 2026) and offers a 30-day free trial. FluxBilling targets operators who run modern infrastructure (Proxmox, K3s, IPMI bare metal) and want billing, DCIM, and provisioning in one schema.
06.How does pricing compare?
On billing alone: Blesta is $17.95/mo for unlimited clients, or $350 once to own the licence ($62/yr for updates after year one, optional). FluxBilling is €9.99/mo up to 150 clients, €14.99/mo up to 250, and €25/mo unlimited. So FluxBilling costs less up to 150 clients, about the same at 250, and more above that. Once you also need racks and IP addresses, Blesta needs a third-party add-on such as dcim.sh (priced per managed server) or CubeData's Blesta DCIM, while every FluxBilling plan includes DCIM and IPAM.
Your team writes PHP, your operation does not need DCIM, or you want to own the licence outright. Above 250 clients Blesta’s flat unlimited licence is cheaper than any FluxBilling plan on billing alone, and its owned and lifetime licences have no FluxBilling equivalent.
Blesta also ships its own WHMCS importer and a 30-day free trial. FluxBilling’s case is the rest of the stack: if your racks, IP addresses and bare-metal servers live in a second product today, that is the bill this replaces.
Where this page fits
Want a hand with the move? Send us your Blesta install.
No sales call. Open a ticket with your install size, payment gateways, and server modules. The team responds within one business day with a migration plan and any visual plugin work required to match your modules.
Blesta is a trademark of Phillips Data, Inc. This page is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Phillips Data, Inc. Comparison data is based on publicly available documentation and pricing as of October 2026 and may not reflect the most current state. Verify all details with the respective vendors before purchasing.