CapRover vs Dokploy
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted self-hosting platforms (paas) options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
CapRover
Scalable PaaS built on Docker Swarm and Nginx
VS
Dokploy
Open-source deployment platform for apps and databases
| Feature | CapRover | Dokploy |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 95 · Excellent | 99 · Excellent |
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, one-click | docker, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 15,166 | ★ 37,489 |
| First released | 2017 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Heroku | Vercel, Heroku, Render |
What are CapRover and Dokploy?
CapRover
CapRover is a self-hosted platform-as-a-service that automates app deployment using Docker Swarm, Nginx, and a one-click app marketplace. It handles SSL, scaling, and load balancing out of the box.
- One-click app marketplace
- Automatic SSL via Let's Encrypt
- Docker Swarm scaling
- CLI and web dashboard
Dokploy
Dokploy is a self-hostable platform-as-a-service that deploys applications and databases using Docker and Traefik. It offers a clean UI with previews, monitoring, and multi-server support.
- Docker-based app deploys
- Traefik routing built in
- Multi-server management
- Database backups
CapRover vs Dokploy: key differences
Both projects are written in TypeScript. CapRover is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Dokploy. CapRover is the more established project (first released 2017), while Dokploy arrived in 2024. Dokploy has the considerably larger community, at 37,489 GitHub stars versus 15,166.
Why pick each one
Choose CapRover if…
- One-click app marketplace
- Automatic SSL
- Beginner friendly
Watch out for
- Tied to Docker Swarm
- Basic monitoring only
Choose Dokploy if…
- Clean intuitive UI
- Docker Compose support
- Multi-server management
Watch out for
- Relatively young project
- Wants a dedicated server
Frequently asked questions
Is CapRover or Dokploy better?
Neither is universally better. Dokploy has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are CapRover and Dokploy free and open-source?
Yes. CapRover is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Dokploy under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run CapRover and Dokploy with Docker?
CapRover: yes. Dokploy: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, CapRover or Dokploy?
CapRover has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Dokploy. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.