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.
Not the right match-up?
Coolify
Self-hosted platform-as-a-service alternative to Heroku
VS
Dokku
Smallest open-source PaaS implementation you can run
| Feature | Coolify | Dokku |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | Shell |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Medium |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 1,024 MB |
| Deployment | docker, one-click | bare-metal, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 60,232 | ★ 32,099 |
| First released | 2021 | 2013 |
| Replaces | Heroku, Netlify, Vercel | Heroku |
Why pick each one
Choose Coolify if…
- Released under the Apache-2.0 license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- One-click install on common self-host platforms
Choose Dokku if…
- Released under the MIT license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 32.1k GitHub stars
- Written in Shell
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.