Dokploy
Self-hosted deploy platform
Coolify
A self-hostable, open-source PaaS you run on your own server or VPS to deploy apps, databases and services with a Heroku-like UI — no per-app vendor fees.
Some links may be affiliate links — we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. It never affects our rankings. Learn more.
Coolify is an open-source, self-hostable platform-as-a-service (PaaS) presented as an alternative to Heroku, Vercel, Netlify, and Railway. It connects to your own servers over SSH and handles Git-based application deploys, managed databases, and one-click service installs behind an automatically configured reverse proxy. It aims to give you a managed-PaaS deployment experience while keeping infrastructure, data, and costs under your own control.
Key features
- Git-push deploys from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Gitea
- Automatic Let's Encrypt SSL through a built-in reverse proxy (Traefik by default, Caddy optional)
- One-click deploys from a large catalog of services and managed databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, and more)
- Deploy to any SSH-accessible host, including multi-server and Docker Swarm setups
- Automated database backups to S3-compatible storage
- Webhook/API deploy triggers plus notifications via email, Discord, Telegram, and Slack
- Team projects with permission controls and per-PR/branch preview deployments
Specs
| Category | Self-hosted PaaS |
|---|---|
| Pricing model | free-open-source |
| Free tier | Yes |
| Managed database | Yes |
| Regions | self-hosted |
| Self-hostable | Yes |
| Docker-native | Yes |
| Git deploy | Yes |
| Open source | Yes |
Last reviewed 2026-07-16 — see our methodology. Specs, pricing and free tiers change often, so confirm current details on the provider before deciding.
Pros & cons
Our editorial assessment — not vendor-stated facts.
Pros
- Fully open source (Apache 2.0) and self-hostable with no feature caps or vendor lock-in
- Broad language and framework support with a large one-click service and database catalog
- Runs on almost any server you control, including VPS, bare metal, and ARM boards like a Raspberry Pi
- Bundles SSL, backups, reverse proxy, and Git integration, so common DevOps setup is handled for you
Cons
- Self-hosting makes OS patching, security updates, and disk and backup management your responsibility
- No built-in autoscaling; handling traffic spikes means manually adding server capacity
- Self-hosted deployments carry no managed SLA or uptime guarantee, so reliability tracks your own infrastructure
- Built-in monitoring is basic; deeper observability usually needs external tools, and advanced configuration often relies on community and Discord support
Pricing
Self-hosting is free and open source under Apache 2.0, with full access to all features and no user or resource caps. A managed Coolify Cloud option is available as a paid subscription billed per connected server (a base price covers a small number of servers, with a per-server charge beyond that, and additional teams billed separately). With Cloud you still bring your own servers, so you pay for the management layer rather than the compute.
Who should use Coolify?
Developers and small-to-medium teams who want a Heroku- or Vercel-like deploy workflow on infrastructure they own and are comfortable running and maintaining their own servers. It fits well for cost control, data sovereignty, and avoiding vendor lock-in.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Coolify have a free tier?
- Yes.
- How much does Coolify cost?
- Self-hosting is free and open source under Apache 2.0, with full access to all features and no user or resource caps. A managed Coolify Cloud option is available as a paid subscription billed per connected server (a base price covers a small number of servers, with a per-server charge beyond that, and additional teams billed separately). With Cloud you still bring your own servers, so you pay for the management layer rather than the compute.
- Who should use Coolify?
- Developers and small-to-medium teams who want a Heroku- or Vercel-like deploy workflow on infrastructure they own and are comfortable running and maintaining their own servers. It fits well for cost control, data sovereignty, and avoiding vendor lock-in.
Coolify alternatives
Dokku
The smallest PaaS you can build
CapRover
One-click apps, self-hosted
Heroku
The original git-push PaaS
~$25/mo
Render
Often called the closest Heroku replacement
~$7/mo
Cloudways
Managed cloud on DO/AWS/Vultr, no server ops
~$11/mo
See all Coolify alternatives →
Coolify head-to-head
Coolify pricing → · Free tier → · Compare all → · Estimate cost →
Recommended VPS to run Coolify on
Coolify is free to self-host — you just need a server. Solid, low-cost options:
- DigitalOcean → — Reliable droplets, predictable pricing, and a managed Postgres option if you want it.
- Hetzner → — The cheapest verified pricing here — EU/US cloud VPS from a few dollars a month, strong price/performance.
- Contabo → — High RAM for the money, good for budget self-hosting (list pricing not independently re-verified).
Recommended-VPS links may be affiliate links — see disclosure.