Dokku 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.
Dokku
Smallest open-source PaaS implementation you can run
VS
Dokploy
Open-source deployment platform for apps and databases
| Feature | Dokku | Dokploy |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Under-an-hour setup | ≈5-minute setup |
| Health score | 98 · Excellent | 99 · Excellent |
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Go | TypeScript |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Easy |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | bare-metal, docker | docker, one-click |
| GitHub stars | ★ 32,154 | ★ 37,489 |
| First released | 2013 | 2024 |
| Replaces | Heroku | Vercel, Heroku, Render |
What are Dokku and Dokploy?
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
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
Dokku vs Dokploy: key differences
Dokku is written in Go, while Dokploy is built with TypeScript. Licensing differs — MIT for Dokku versus Apache-2.0 for Dokploy. Dokku is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Dokploy. Dokku is the more established project (first released 2013), while Dokploy arrived in 2024.
Why pick each one
Choose Dokku if…
- Heroku-style Git deploys
- Minimal resource footprint
- Rich plugin ecosystem
Watch out for
- Single-server by design
- CLI only, no dashboard
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 Dokku or Dokploy better?
Dokploy 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 Dokku and Dokploy free and open-source?
Yes. Dokku is licensed under MIT and Dokploy under Apache-2.0. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Dokku and Dokploy with Docker?
Dokku: yes. Dokploy: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Dokku or Dokploy?
Dokku 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.