Introduction
3X-UI is a self-hosted web panel for managing Xray-based proxy services. It provides a clean interface for configuring multiple protocols and managing users with granular traffic and expiry controls, making it straightforward to operate censorship-resistant network infrastructure.
What 3X-UI Does
- Manages multi-protocol proxy nodes (Vmess, Vless, Trojan, ShadowSocks, WireGuard, Hysteria2)
- Tracks per-user bandwidth consumption with configurable traffic limits
- Supports user account expiration and automatic disabling
- Provides subscription links and QR codes for easy client configuration
- Offers Telegram bot integration for notifications and remote management
Architecture Overview
3X-UI is built on top of Xray-core, the successor to V2Ray. The panel itself is a Go web application backed by SQLite for configuration storage. It wraps Xray-core process management and exposes a web UI and REST API for creating inbounds (listener configurations) and client accounts. TLS certificates can be managed via ACME integration.
Self-Hosting & Configuration
- Install via one-line bash script on any Linux VPS with root access
- Runs as a systemd service; default port is 2053 (configurable)
- Supports custom TLS certificates or automatic Let's Encrypt provisioning
- Database is a local SQLite file; back up the /etc/x-ui directory for full state
- Configure fail2ban integration for brute-force protection on the panel login
Key Features
- Supports REALITY, XTLS, and post-quantum cryptography for advanced traffic obfuscation
- Multi-node management from a single panel instance
- Built-in traffic statistics with per-inbound and per-client granularity
- IP limit controls to restrict simultaneous connections per user
- Dark mode UI with multi-language support including English, Chinese, and Farsi
Comparison with Similar Tools
- Marzban — More opinionated REST API design; 3X-UI offers broader protocol support and simpler single-server setup
- V2Ray-Agent — Script-based approach without persistent web UI; 3X-UI adds user management and traffic tracking
- Hiddify Manager — Focuses on ease-of-use for non-technical users; 3X-UI provides more granular protocol configuration
- X-UI (original) — Unmaintained predecessor; 3X-UI adds Hysteria2, REALITY, IP limits, and active development
FAQ
Q: What operating systems does 3X-UI support? A: It runs on Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, Fedora, Arch) on amd64, arm64, and s390x architectures.
Q: Can I run multiple inbounds on one server? A: Yes, you can create unlimited inbound configurations each with different protocols, ports, and client sets.
Q: How do I update 3X-UI? A: Run the same install script again or use the built-in panel menu command to check for and apply updates.
Q: Is the panel accessible remotely by default? A: Yes, it listens on all interfaces. You should set a strong username/password and optionally restrict access via firewall rules or a reverse proxy with TLS.