Coolify vs PocketBase
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
PocketBase
Open-source backend in a single file
| Feature | Coolify | PocketBase |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Language | PHP | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 2,048 MB | 64 MB |
| Deployment | docker, one-click | binary, docker, source |
| GitHub stars | ★ 60,232 | ★ 60,550 |
| First released | 2021 | 2022 |
| Replaces | Heroku, Netlify, Vercel | Firebase |
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 PocketBase if…
- Released under the MIT license
- Easy to set up — beginner-friendly
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Mature project with 60.5k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Coolify or PocketBase better?
Neither is universally better. PocketBase has the larger community; both share a easy setup difficulty, so the decision comes down to features and licensing.
Are Coolify and PocketBase free and open-source?
Yes. Coolify is licensed under Apache-2.0 and PocketBase under MIT. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Coolify and PocketBase with Docker?
Coolify: yes. PocketBase: yes.