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AI · head to head

Poe vs Proxmox VE

Poe logo

Poe

AI

Chat platform that gives access to many AI models from one subscription

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Proxmox VE logo

Proxmox VE

Cloud

Open-source hypervisor combining KVM and LXC virtualisation

From
€120/year
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Poe has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Poe points-based pricing makes cost per message hard to predict across models.; Proxmox VE per-socket licensing model: cost scales with CPU socket count, not vCore count, resulting in high costs for multi-socket servers
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Poe and Proxmox VE actually diverge.

Attributes where Poe and Proxmox VE differ
AttributePoeProxmox VE
Starting priceFree€120/year
Pricing modelfreemiumsubscription
Free tierYesNo
Platformsweb, ios, android, windows, macLinux, Web, API, Self-hosted
CategoryAICloud
Founded2009Unknown

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Poe

  • Multi-model chat
  • Custom bots
  • Image and video generation
  • Points-based usage
  • API access for bot creators

Only in Proxmox VE

Nothing recorded that Poe does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Poe

  • Comparing responses across multiple AI modelsnot Proxmox VE
  • Building and sharing custom prompt-based botsnot Proxmox VE
  • Accessing premium models without separate subscriptionsnot Proxmox VE
  • Generating images or video from a chat interfacenot Proxmox VE

Proxmox VE

  • Open-source datacenter virtualisation for hosting providers and cloud platformsnot Poe
  • Cost-sensitive enterprise virtualisation replacing commercial hypervisorsnot Poe
  • High-availability clustering for disaster recovery and business continuitynot Poe
  • Container deployments using LXC as lighter-weight alternative to Dockernot Poe
  • Hybrid VM and container workloads in a single management interfacenot Poe
  • Backup and archival infrastructure alongside primary virtualisationnot Poe

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Poe

  • Points-based pricing makes cost per message hard to predict across models.
  • Heavy usage of top-tier models can exhaust points quickly on lower plans.
  • No native fine-tuning or persistent long-term memory across bots.
  • Custom bots are limited to prompt engineering rather than full agent tooling.

Proxmox VE

  • Per-socket licensing model: cost scales with CPU socket count, not vCore count, resulting in high costs for multi-socket servers
  • Linux-based host only; Windows hypervisors not supported, limiting adoption in Windows-focused organisations
  • Clustering and high-availability setup requires operational expertise and careful network configuration
  • Commercial support tiers limit advanced features (just-in-time access, network flow logs) to paid subscriptions
  • Smaller ecosystem of third-party plugins and integrations compared to VMware vSphere

Pricing, plan by plan

Poe

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Limited daily messages across select models
  • Starter$4.99/month
    • Monthly compute points
    • Access to premium models
  • Premium$19.99/month
    • Larger monthly point allowance
    • Priority access to premium models
  • Premium Plus$49.99/month
    • Higher point allowance for heavy usage

Proxmox VE

€120/year
  • Community$120/year
    • Enterprise Repository access
    • Community forum support only
    • Per-socket subscription model
  • Basic$370/year
    • 3 support tickets per year
    • 1 business day response time
    • Stable updates and Enterprise Repository
  • Standard$550/year
    • 10 support tickets per year
    • 4-hour response time for critical issues
    • Remote SSH support and offline updates
  • Premium$1100/year
    • Unlimited support tickets
    • 2-hour response time for critical issues
    • Remote SSH support and offline updates

Which should you pick?

Choose Poe if

  • You need multi-model chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, ios, android, windows, mac.
  • You also want custom bots.
Poe review

Choose Proxmox VE if

  • You work on Linux, Web, API, Self-hosted.
Proxmox VE review

Questions people ask

Is Poe or Proxmox VE better?
Neither clearly leads. Poe starts at Free and Proxmox VE at €120/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Poe or Proxmox VE?
Poe has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Poe and €120/year for Proxmox VE.
Does Poe or Proxmox VE run on more platforms?
Poe runs on web, ios, android, windows, mac. Proxmox VE runs on Linux, Web, API, Self-hosted.
Can I use Poe for free?
Yes. Poe has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Proxmox VE starts at €120/year.
What is Poe best used for?
Poe is most often used for comparing responses across multiple ai models, building and sharing custom prompt-based bots, accessing premium models without separate subscriptions, generating images or video from a chat interface. Of those, comparing responses across multiple ai models and building and sharing custom prompt-based bots are not what Proxmox VE is typically brought in for.
What can Poe do that Proxmox VE cannot?
Poe covers Multi-model chat, Custom bots, Image and video generation, Points-based usage.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Poe: How does Poe's pricing work?

Poe uses a monthly points system: each subscription tier grants a pool of compute points that are spent per message, with the amount depending on which underlying AI model is used.

Source
Proxmox VE: What is the licensing model for Proxmox VE?

Proxmox VE is open-source and free to deploy. Optional subscription tiers provide technical support, priority response times, and access to the Enterprise Repository for stable update channels. All tiers include identical virtualisation features.

Source
Poe: Is there a free plan on Poe?

Yes, Poe offers a free tier with limited daily messages across a selection of models before users need a paid subscription for more access.

Source
Proxmox VE: Can I run Proxmox VE without a support subscription?

Yes. Community Edition (€120/year per socket) provides Enterprise Repository access with community-based support through forums. The core Proxmox VE platform is fully functional without any subscription.

Source
Poe: What do the paid subscription tiers cost?

Poe offers Starter at $4.99/month, Premium at $19.99/month, and Premium Plus at $49.99/month, each granting a larger monthly pool of compute points.

Source
Proxmox VE: What hypervisors does Proxmox VE support?

Proxmox VE includes both KVM for full virtualisation and LXC for Linux containers. It does not support Xen or Hyper-V. Workloads on those platforms must be migrated or reimplemented.

Source
Poe: What happens if I run out of points?

Once a subscription's monthly point allowance is exhausted, further use of premium models is limited until the points refresh or the user upgrades or purchases more.

Source
Poe: Can developers build on Poe?

Yes, Poe lets creators build and publish custom bots, and developers can connect their own model endpoints as bots via Poe's API.

Source
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