Self-hostable Heroku, Netlify and Vercel alternative that deploys apps, databases and services to your servers.
- Apache-2.0
- PHP
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Self-hosting Platforms comparison
Coolify vs Dokploy: which should you self-host in 2026?
Pick Coolify for a mature, fully Apache-licensed Heroku alternative with a big one-click service catalog; pick Dokploy for a lighter, fast-moving PaaS with Docker Swarm multi-node support.
Both are open source and run on your own server. Below: a side-by-side of license, stack and features, live GitHub activity, and our verdict on who should pick which.
Self-hostable PaaS to deploy apps and databases with Docker, Traefik and a clean dashboard.
- TypeScript
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Head-to-head
Coolify vs Dokploy, side by side
Hand-checked differences first, then live numbers from GitHub, refreshed with every catalog update.
| Aspect |  Coolify |  Dokploy |
|---|---|---|
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0, except any /proprietary directory, which uses a separate proprietary license |
| Language/stack | PHP (Laravel) with Livewire | TypeScript (Next.js) |
| Architecture | Manages remote servers over SSH, Traefik or Caddy as proxy | Runs on Docker Swarm with Traefik as proxy, multi-node via Swarm |
| Standout features | Large one-click service catalog, Git deploys with Nixpacks, database backups to S3 | Docker Compose and Swarm support, Nixpacks and Buildpacks, built-in monitoring |
| Learning curve | Low to moderate, many options to explore | Low, compact interface |
| GitHub stars | 62,628 | 37,670 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 4,939 | 2,764 |
| Last commit | Oct 6, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
| Latest release | v4.3.23Sep 18, 2026 | v0.30.8Sep 29, 2026 |
| Main language | PHP | TypeScript |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| Repository | coollabsio/coolify | Dokploy/dokploy |
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps. GitHub figures come from the public API. Highlighted values are the higher of the two.
Verdict
Coolify is the more established self-hosted PaaS, with a large template catalog, multi-server management over SSH and a fully Apache-2.0 codebase. Dokploy is newer, with a clean interface, native Docker Compose and Docker Swarm clustering, and a quickly growing community; choose it if you like its UI and Swarm-based scaling.
Best for
Choose Coolify for
Homelabs and agencies that want many one-click services across servers.
Best for
Choose Dokploy for
Developers who want a lean PaaS with Docker Swarm clustering.
Deploy either in minutes
Not sure yet? Spin up a small VPS or a managed instance, try both for a week, and keep the one that fits.
- Hetzner Cloud (sponsored link, opens in a new tab)from €3.79/moBest price-to-performance VPS in Europe and the US. Ideal for Docker-based apps.
- DigitalOcean (sponsored link, opens in a new tab)from $4/moOne-click Docker droplets, a friendly dashboard and predictable pricing.
- Vultr (sponsored link, opens in a new tab)from $2.50/moHourly-billed cloud servers in 30+ regions with one-click Docker and app images.
- Contabo (sponsored link, opens in a new tab)from €4.50/moVery cheap VPS and storage boxes with generous RAM and disk, popular with home-labbers.
Sponsored links: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. It never affects rankings.
Is Dokploy a Coolify fork?
No. Dokploy is a separate project written in TypeScript, while Coolify is built with PHP and Laravel.
Can both deploy Docker Compose files?
Yes. Both support Docker Compose deployments alongside Git-based builds from Dockerfiles or Nixpacks.
Which is better for multiple servers?
Coolify manages several servers over SSH from one dashboard. Dokploy scales across nodes using Docker Swarm.
Which is more popular on GitHub, Coolify or Dokploy?
Coolify has 62,628 GitHub stars against 37,670 for Dokploy. Over the last twelve months Coolify received 4,939 commits and Dokploy received 2,764, so Coolify is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.
