Proxmox free vs subscription?
Proxmox VE is free, yet companies still buy subscriptions. Here is what a paid plan actually gives you and when it is worth paying.
Proxmox blog · sztorm.cloud · 2026-07-23
Is Proxmox free?
Yes. Proxmox VE is open-source software under the AGPLv3 license — you can download, install and use it with no license fees, including commercially. There is no trial or crippled edition: free Proxmox has full functionality (clusters, HA, ZFS, Ceph, backup, migrations). The difference between the free and paid versions is not features, but the update source and support.
What a subscription actually gives you
A Proxmox subscription gives two things:
- Enterprise repository — the same updates as the free version, but released after additional stability testing. Lower risk that an update introduces a regression in production.
- Vendor support — technical help from Proxmox Server Solutions, at a level that depends on the plan (tickets per year, response time, remote SSH support on higher tiers).
You do not get new features — those are in every version. You pay for update stability and support.
No-subscription vs Enterprise repository
| Feature | No-subscription (free) | Enterprise (subscription) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | free | from €120/CPU/year |
| Proxmox features | full | full |
| Updates | earlier, less tested | after additional testing |
| Vendor support | none (community) | yes (plan-dependent) |
| Recommended for | lab, testing, learning | production |
When the free version is enough, and when a subscription pays off
The free version is enough when you build a lab, learn Proxmox, run a test environment, or have a team that knowingly accepts no-subscription updates and manages without vendor support.
A subscription pays off when you run production, want predictable and tested updates, and want vendor support in case of trouble. It is the standard in companies and public-sector bodies where downtime costs more than the subscription.
How much a subscription costs
The vendor price list has four tiers, billed per CPU socket per year: Community €120, Basic €370, Standard €550, Premium €1100. All of them include the Enterprise repository — they differ in support. Details and pricing examples are on the pricing page.
How to buy a subscription in Poland
As an authorized Proxmox reseller we provide subscriptions and licenses with a VAT invoice in PLN — vendor prices converted at the NBP rate on the order date. We help match the tier to your environment and, if needed, handle the deployment or a VMware migration.
People also ask
Is Proxmox free?
Yes. Proxmox VE is open-source software under the AGPLv3 license and runs at no cost from the no-subscription repository. What is paid is an optional subscription that gives access to the Enterprise repository and vendor support.
What does a Proxmox subscription give you?
A subscription gives access to the Enterprise repository with additionally tested updates, plus vendor support. The support level depends on the plan: number of tickets per year, response time and remote (SSH) support on higher tiers.
Can I use Proxmox for free in a company?
Yes, the AGPLv3 license allows it. For production environments the vendor still recommends the Enterprise repository (a subscription), because its packages go through additional stability testing. The free version does not include vendor support.
How much does a Proxmox subscription cost?
Proxmox VE costs from €120/CPU/year (Community) to €1100/CPU/year (Premium) per the vendor price list, billed per CPU socket. In Poland we convert this to PLN at the NBP rate and issue a VAT invoice.
What is the difference between the no-subscription and Enterprise repositories?
The no-subscription repository is free and receives updates earlier, but they are less tested. The Enterprise repository (subscription) ships packages after additional testing, which is recommended for production.
Need a Proxmox subscription or deployment?
We are an authorized Proxmox reseller. We will match the plan to your environment and, if you like, handle the deployment or a VMware migration.