Coolify 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.
Coolify
Self-hosted platform-as-a-service alternative to Heroku
VS
Dokploy
Open-source deployment platform for apps and databases
| Feature | Coolify | Dokploy |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | ≈5-minute setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 100 · Excellent | 99 · Excellent |
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | docker, one-click | docker, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 62,206 | ★ 37,489 |
| First released | 2021 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Heroku, Netlify, Vercel | Vercel, Heroku, Render |
What are Coolify and Dokploy?
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
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
Coolify vs Dokploy: key differences
Coolify is written in PHP, while Dokploy is built with TypeScript. Coolify is the more established project (first released 2021), while Dokploy arrived in 2024.
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 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 Coolify or Dokploy better?
Neither is universally better. Coolify has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Coolify and Dokploy free and open-source?
Yes. Coolify is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Dokploy under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Coolify and Dokploy with Docker?
Coolify: yes. Dokploy: yes.