Coolify
Open-source Heroku/Netlify you host
Dokku
A lightweight, open-source, Docker-powered PaaS you install on a single server for git-push Heroku-style deploys; battle-tested and extensible via plugins.
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Dokku is an open-source, Docker-powered platform-as-a-service you install on your own server to get a Heroku-style git-push deployment workflow without vendor lock-in. Applications are built from Heroku buildpacks, Dockerfiles, or Cloud Native Buildpacks and run in isolated containers, with a Unix-philosophy plugin system providing databases, SSL, and proxying. In active development since 2013, it is one of the most mature self-hosted PaaS options and is designed primarily to run one or many apps on a single host.
Key features
- Git-push deployment with zero-downtime releases
- Multiple builders: Heroku buildpacks, Dockerfile, Cloud Native Buildpacks, Nixpacks, and Railpack
- Plugin ecosystem for Postgres/MySQL/Redis, storage, cron, and logging
- Let's Encrypt SSL plus domain and environment management out of the box
- Nginx reverse proxy by default, with Caddy, HAProxy, and Traefik options
- Optional K3s and Nomad schedulers for multi-node setups
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 โ see our methodology. Specs, pricing and free tiers change often, so confirm current details on the provider before deciding.
Pros & cons
Our editorial assessment โ not vendor-stated facts.
Pros
- Free, open-source, and mature, with a long maintenance history
- Familiar Heroku-like workflow that runs on cheap commodity hardware
- Extensible plugin architecture covering databases, SSL, and proxying
- Runs many small apps on a single inexpensive server, avoiding managed-PaaS markup
- No vendor lock-in, since it self-hosts on your own infrastructure
Cons
- You remain responsible for the server itself: OS updates, backups, monitoring, and incident response
- Primarily single-host; built-in autoscaling and high availability are not provided, and multi-node requires added K3s or Nomad expertise
- Predominantly CLI-driven, which carries a learning curve (a web UI exists only in the paid Pro edition)
- The free edition relies on community forums and documentation for support rather than dedicated help
Pricing
The core platform is free and open-source, with costs limited to your own hosting infrastructure. A separate commercial edition, Dokku Pro, adds a web UI, JSON API, and HTTPS git push, and is sold as a one-time (perpetual/lifetime) license rather than a subscription.
Who should use Dokku?
Developers and small teams comfortable managing a Linux server who want a low-cost, Heroku-like deployment experience on their own infrastructure. It suits hosting multiple side projects or production apps on a single VPS, but is a weaker fit for those needing turnkey autoscaling, high availability, or fully managed operations.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Dokku have a free tier?
- Yes.
- How much does Dokku cost?
- The core platform is free and open-source, with costs limited to your own hosting infrastructure. A separate commercial edition, Dokku Pro, adds a web UI, JSON API, and HTTPS git push, and is sold as a one-time (perpetual/lifetime) license rather than a subscription.
- Who should use Dokku?
- Developers and small teams comfortable managing a Linux server who want a low-cost, Heroku-like deployment experience on their own infrastructure. It suits hosting multiple side projects or production apps on a single VPS, but is a weaker fit for those needing turnkey autoscaling, high availability, or fully managed operations.
Dokku alternatives
Dokploy
Self-hosted deploy platform
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 Dokku alternatives โ
Dokku head-to-head
Dokku pricing โ ยท Free tier โ ยท Compare all โ ยท Estimate cost โ
Recommended VPS to run Dokku on
Dokku is free to self-host โ you just need a server. Solid, low-cost options:
- DigitalOcean โ โ Reliable droplets, predictable pricing, and a managed Postgres option if you want it.
- Hetzner โ โ The cheapest verified pricing here โ EU/US cloud VPS from a few dollars a month, strong price/performance.
- Contabo โ โ High RAM for the money, good for budget self-hosting (list pricing not independently re-verified).
Recommended-VPS links may be affiliate links โ see disclosure.