Pterodactyl and Pelican are both open source game server management panels. Pelican is the next-generation successor to Pterodactyl, developed by the same lead maintainer.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Pterodactyl | Pelican |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Maintenance mode | Active development |
| Language | PHP (Laravel) | PHP (Laravel) |
| Node agent | Wings | Wings (compatible) |
| Docker | Required | Required |
| Eggs | Large ecosystem | Compatible with Pterodactyl eggs |
| Themes | Blueprint, custom CSS | Built-in theming |
| API | Full REST API | Full REST API |
| Database | MySQL | MySQL / SQLite |
| Community | Very large | Growing |
| New features | No (maintenance only) | Yes |
Why Pelican Exists
Pterodactyl's lead developer started Pelican as a clean rewrite with modern Laravel practices, improved security, better database support, and a more maintainable codebase. Pterodactyl is in maintenance mode, it receives security patches but no new features.
Should You Migrate?
New installations: Use Pelican. It has active development and will receive new features.
Existing Pterodactyl: No urgency. Pterodactyl still works and receives security updates. Migrate when Pelican reaches feature parity with any extensions you use.
Migration Path
Pelican provides migration documentation for moving from Pterodactyl:
- Backup your Pterodactyl database
- Install Pelican
- Import the database
- Update Wings configuration
Eggs and server configurations are largely compatible.
FAQ
Is Pterodactyl dead? Not dead, but in maintenance mode. Security patches continue. No new features.
Is Pelican better than Pterodactyl? For new installations, yes. Active development, modern codebase, better defaults.
Can I use Pterodactyl eggs in Pelican? Yes. Most Pterodactyl eggs work in Pelican.
Do I need to migrate right now? No. Migrate when convenient.
Related: Pelican panel guide, Pterodactyl themes guide, Pterodactyl VPS setup