Coolify vs Dokku
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted self-hosting platforms (paas) options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Coolify
Self-hosted platform-as-a-service alternative to Heroku
VS
Dokku
Smallest open-source PaaS implementation you can run
| Feature | Coolify | Dokku |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 98 · Excellent |
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, one-click | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 62,206 | ★ 32,154 |
| First released | 2021 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Heroku, Netlify, Vercel | Heroku |
What are Coolify and Dokku?
Coolify
Coolify is an open-source, self-hostable platform for deploying applications, databases, and services from Git repositories. It provides automatic builds, SSL, and management for any server you own.
- Git-based deployments
- Automatic SSL certificates
- Database and service management
- Bring your own server
Dokku
Dokku is a lightweight platform-as-a-service that turns a single server into a Heroku-style deployment target using Git push and Docker. It supports buildpacks and a rich plugin ecosystem.
- Git push deployments
- Buildpack and Dockerfile support
- Plugin ecosystem
- Minimal resource footprint
Coolify vs Dokku: key differences
Coolify is written in PHP, while Dokku is built with Go. Licensing differs — Apache-2.0 for Coolify versus MIT for Dokku. Dokku is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Coolify. Dokku is the more established project (first released 2013), while Coolify arrived in 2021.
Why pick each one
Choose Coolify if…
- One-command installation
- Automatic SSL certificates
- No vendor lock-in
Watch out for
- Needs capable server
- Docs lag rapid releases
Choose Dokku if…
- Heroku-style Git deploys
- Minimal resource footprint
- Rich plugin ecosystem
Watch out for
- Single-server by design
- CLI only, no dashboard
Frequently asked questions
Is Coolify or Dokku better?
Coolify is the stronger all-round pick: it has both the larger community and the simpler easy setup. Consider Dokku if its specific feature set fits your needs better.
Are Coolify and Dokku free and open-source?
Yes. Coolify is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Dokku under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Coolify and Dokku with Docker?
Coolify: yes. Dokku: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Coolify or Dokku?
Dokku has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Coolify. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.