# Best open source self-hosting platforms > The best open source self-hosting platform is Coolify, with 62,628 GitHub stars, the Apache-2.0 license and a Docker image; Dokploy and 1Panel are strong alternatives. This page also breaks the picks down by team size and use: Coolify leads for solo developers. The overall ranking weighs GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits across the 29 apps in the self-hosting platforms category of the appsgit catalog. ## Key facts | Fact | Value | |---|---| | Question | What is the best open source self-hosting platform? | | Picks | 15 | | Top pick | Coolify (62,628 stars) | | Data as of | Oct 7, 2026 | | Canonical URL | https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-self-hosting-platforms | ## Top picks 10 of the 29 apps in the self-hosting platforms category, ranked on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [Coolify](https://appsgit.com/apps/coolify) (62,628 stars, Apache-2.0, PHP, Docker): Coolify has 62,628 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 4,939 commits in the last year; it replaces Heroku and Vercel. - [Dokploy](https://appsgit.com/apps/dokploy) (37,670 stars, Apache-2.0, TypeScript, Docker): Dokploy has 37,670 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 2,764 commits in the last year; it replaces Heroku and Vercel. - [1Panel](https://appsgit.com/apps/1panel) (37,108 stars, GPL-3.0, Go, Docker): 1Panel has 37,108 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,487 commits in the last year. - [Portainer](https://appsgit.com/apps/portainer) (38,621 stars, Zlib, TypeScript, Docker): Portainer has 38,621 GitHub stars, uses the Zlib license, ships a Docker image and had 789 commits in the last year. - [Dokku](https://appsgit.com/apps/dokku) (32,169 stars, MIT, Go, Docker): Dokku has 32,169 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 2,086 commits in the last year; it replaces Heroku and Vercel. - [Rancher](https://appsgit.com/apps/rancher) (25,957 stars, Apache-2.0, Go, Docker): Rancher has 25,957 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,146 commits in the last year. - [Cockpit](https://appsgit.com/apps/cockpit-cockpit-project) (15,183 stars, LGPL-2.1, Python, Docker): Cockpit has 15,183 GitHub stars, uses the LGPL-2.1 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,050 commits in the last year. - [CapRover](https://appsgit.com/apps/caprover) (15,179 stars, Apache-2.0 + CapRover appendix, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): CapRover has 15,179 GitHub stars, is source-available under the Apache 2.0 with CapRover appendix (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 269 commits in the last year; it replaces Heroku and Vercel. - [Umbrel](https://appsgit.com/apps/umbrel) (12,285 stars, PolyForm-Noncommercial-1.0.0, source-available, TypeScript, Docker): Umbrel has 12,285 GitHub stars, is source-available under the PolyForm Noncommercial 1.0.0 (not an open-source license), ships a Docker image and had 490 commits in the last year; it replaces Heroku. - [Dockge](https://appsgit.com/apps/dockge) (24,552 stars, MIT, TypeScript, Docker): Dockge has 24,552 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 18 commits in the last year. ## Best for solo developers Ranked for solo developers on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits. - [Coolify](https://appsgit.com/apps/coolify) (62,628 stars, Apache-2.0, PHP, Docker): Coolify has 62,628 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image, is written in PHP and had 4,939 commits in the last year; it replaces Heroku and Vercel. For solo developers it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Dokploy](https://appsgit.com/apps/dokploy) (37,670 stars, Apache-2.0, TypeScript, Docker): Dokploy has 37,670 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image, is written in TypeScript and had 2,764 commits in the last year; it replaces Heroku and Vercel. For solo developers it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [1Panel](https://appsgit.com/apps/1panel) (37,108 stars, GPL-3.0, Go, Docker): 1Panel has 37,108 GitHub stars, uses the GPL-3.0 license, ships a Docker image, is written in Go and had 1,487 commits in the last year. For solo developers it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Portainer](https://appsgit.com/apps/portainer) (38,621 stars, Zlib, TypeScript, Docker): Portainer has 38,621 GitHub stars, uses the Zlib license, ships a Docker image, is written in TypeScript and had 789 commits in the last year. For solo developers it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - [Dokku](https://appsgit.com/apps/dokku) (32,169 stars, MIT, Go, Docker): Dokku has 32,169 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image, is written in Go and had 2,086 commits in the last year; it replaces Heroku and Vercel. For solo developers it also scores on a Docker image, an open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. ## How this list was made - Candidates: the 29 apps in the self-hosting platforms category. Archived projects and projects with no commit in the last two years are left out. - Base score: GitHub stars on a log scale plus commits in the last 12 months (log scale, capped at 1,000). - Bonus points for a published Docker image, an OSI-approved open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days. - Each "Best for" section re-ranks the same apps with that audience's profile (for example startups add points for permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits; small business for Docker images and deploy guides). - Source-available apps can rank, but they are labelled and never described as open source. ## FAQ ### Is Coolify free? Yes. Coolify is open-source software released under the Apache-2.0 license, so you can self-host it at no cost. You only pay for the server it runs on, and some projects also offer an optional paid cloud plan. ### Which open source self-hosting platform is best for a solo developer? Coolify ranks first for solo developers, with 62,628 GitHub stars, the Apache-2.0 license and a Docker image; Dokploy and 1Panel follow. The solo developers ranking adds points for Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits on top of stars and activity. ### Can I self-host these self-hosting platforms with Docker? Yes, all of them. Coolify, Dokploy and 1Panel publish Docker images, so you can run them on a VPS or home server with Docker Compose. ### Are all of these self-hosting platforms open source? 8 of the 10 apps on this list are open source; 2 are source-available. Source-available licenses add conditions, such as limits on hosted or commercial use, so read them before you deploy. ### Which of these self-hosting platforms is the most actively developed? Coolify, with 4,939 commits in the last 12 months and a latest release, v4.3.23, from September 2026. Activity is a good sign that bugs and security issues get fixed. ## Related questions - [What is the best open source developer tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-developer-tools) - [What is the best open source workflow automation tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-workflow-automation) - [What is the best open source budgeting app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-budgeting-software) - [What is the best open source CMS?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-cms) - [What is the best open source team chat app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-team-chat) - [What is the best open source file sharing app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-file-sharing) - [What is the best open source media server?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-media-servers) - [What is the best open source photo management app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-photo-management) ## See also - [All self-hosting platforms apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/self-hosting-platforms) - [All developer tools apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/developer-tools) - [All automation & workflows apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/automation) - [Open-source alternatives to Heroku](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/heroku) - [Open-source alternatives to Vercel](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/vercel) - [Open-source alternatives to Netlify](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/netlify) - [Coolify vs Dokploy](https://appsgit.com/compare/coolify-vs-dokploy) - [Portainer vs Dockge](https://appsgit.com/compare/portainer-vs-dockge) - [How to self-host Portainer with Docker Compose](https://appsgit.com/guides/portainer) --- Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-self-hosting-platforms Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. Data from the GitHub API, refreshed nightly. Machine access: JSON API https://appsgit.com/api/v1/apps (OpenAPI: https://appsgit.com/openapi.json), MCP server https://mcp.appsgit.com/mcp, full index https://appsgit.com/llms-full.txt.