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7 self-hosted options

Open-source alternatives to Heroku

The best open-source alternatives to Heroku are Coolify, Dokku and CapRover.

About Heroku: A platform-as-a-service for deploying and scaling apps from Git.

Every option below is free to self-host and ranked by GitHub stars, so you can move off Heroku without giving up the features you rely on.

Top picks

  1. Rank 1:

    Coolify

    coollabsio/coolify

    Self-hostable Heroku, Netlify and Vercel alternative that deploys apps, databases and services to your servers.

    Self-hosting PlatformsPHPDocker
  2. Rank 2:

    Dokku

    dokku/dokku

    Docker-powered mini-Heroku that builds and deploys apps with a git push.

    Self-hosting PlatformsGoDocker
  3. Rank 3:

    CapRover

    caprover/caprover

    Easy-to-use PaaS for Docker with one-click apps, HTTPS and clustering.

    Self-hosting PlatformsTypeScriptDocker

Why switch

Why teams move off Heroku

Self-hosting is not only about saving money. These are the reasons people make the switch.

  • Own your data

    Your data lives on a server you control, not on Heroku's infrastructure. No surprise policy changes and no lock-in.

  • No per-seat pricing

    Open-source alternatives to Heroku are free to run for as many users as your server can handle. A small VPS often costs less than a single subscription.

  • Customize and extend

    Read the code, add plugins, connect it to your own tools and automate it through open APIs. When you need a feature, you can build it or fund it.

Full ranking

All 7 Heroku alternatives

Ranked by GitHub stars. Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.

  1. 1

    Coolify

    Self-hostable Heroku, Netlify and Vercel alternative that deploys apps, databases and services to your servers.

  2. 2

    Dokku

    Docker-powered mini-Heroku that builds and deploys apps with a git push.

  3. 3

    CapRover

    Easy-to-use PaaS for Docker with one-click apps, HTTPS and clustering.

  4. 4

    Dokploy

    Self-hostable PaaS to deploy apps and databases with Docker, Traefik and a clean dashboard.

  5. 5

    Tipi

    Homeserver manager. One command setup, one click installs for your favorites self-hosted apps.

  6. 6

    Umbrel

    A beautiful personal server OS for self-hosting. Install on a Raspberry Pi 4 or Ubuntu/Debian.

  7. 7

    Cosmos

    Run server applications securely and with built-in privacy features. It acts as a secure gateway to your application, as well as a server manager.

FAQ

Heroku alternatives: FAQ

Still curious? Email info@appsgit.com.

What is the best open-source alternative to Heroku?

Coolify is the most popular open-source alternative to Heroku, with 62,628 GitHub stars. Dokku and CapRover are also strong choices. Compare features, license and recent activity to find the best fit for your team.

Is there a free alternative to Heroku?

Yes. All 7 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can run a Heroku replacement without per-user fees. You only pay for the server, and a small VPS is usually enough for personal use or a small team.

Can I self-host an alternative to Heroku?

Yes. Coolify, Dokku and CapRover ship a Docker image, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose in a few minutes. Your data then stays on hardware you control.

How do I migrate from Heroku?

Start by exporting your data from Heroku, then check the import options of the app you pick, since many projects ship importers for popular formats. Run both side by side for a week before you switch so nothing is lost.