Coolify vs Dokploy: Pros, Cons, and Best Use Cases

Self-hosted Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) solutions have gained significant traction among development teams seeking alternatives to commercial cloud platforms. Monthly costs from services like Heroku, Vercel, and Netlify can escalate quickly. Coolify and Dokploy represent two of the most actively developed open-source options for deploying applications on private infrastructure.

These platforms provide Git-based deployment workflows, automated SSL provisioning, and centralized database management through web interfaces. Organizations retain full infrastructure ownership while eliminating recurring subscription costs.

This guide compares both Coolify and Dokploy.

#What is the Difference Between Coolify and Dokploy

The fundamental differences emerge in architectural decisions and intended user bases for each platform.

Coolify development has emphasized broad hardware compatibility from the start, supporting everything from enterprise servers to Raspberry Pi devices. Dokploy entered the market with native Docker Swarm integration for horizontal scaling across multiple nodes.

Both platforms address a common requirement: providing self-managed alternatives to services such as Heroku, Vercel, and Netlify. Docker containers serve as the foundation for application isolation, and Git webhooks trigger automated build processes.

The following table summarizes the specifications:

#What is Coolify?

Coolify operates as a self-hosted replacement for commercial deployment platforms. A Developer, Andras Bácsai, created the project, and it has evolved into one of the most widely adopted open-source PaaS solutions.

The platform provides centralized management of servers, applications, and databases through a unified web interface. Connections to remote machines occur via SSH, and configuration data remains stored on user-controlled infrastructure.

Notable capabilities include:

• Git provider integration: The platform supports GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Gitea, and self-hosted Git servers with automatic webhook-triggered deployments.

• Automated SSL management: Certificates are provisioned through Let's Encrypt with wildcard domain support and automated renewal.

• Multi-architecture support: The platform runs on x86_64 and ARM64 processors, including Raspberry Pi 4 and 5.

The backend utilizes Laravel and PHP, while the frontend uses Svelte. Coolify supports deployment targets ranging from VPS instances to dedicated servers to ARM-based computers.

Database management encompasses PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, ClickHouse, KeyDB, and DragonFly. The platform provides automated backup scheduling to S3-compatible storage with configurable retention policies.

The self-hosted version includes all features, with no cost restrictions or paid tiers. Coolify Cloud offers managed hosting starting at $5 per month for users who prefer not to maintain their own infrastructure.

#Coolify use cases

• Agency client management: Web development agencies managing multiple client websites benefit from centralized control while maintaining fully isolated environments per project.

• Personal and portfolio hosting: Individual developers can host blogs, portfolios, and side projects using 280+ one-click templates, with no recurring fees.

• Privacy-focused self-hosting: Services such as Nextcloud, Vaultwarden, Plausible Analytics, and Umami deploy with straightforward configuration.

• Development and staging environments: Teams can configure automatic feature branch deployments with organized environment variable management.

• Cost-conscious startup infrastructure: Early-stage companies can deploy to affordable VPS providers rather than premium managed platforms.

#What is Dokploy?

Dokploy launched in 2024 as a PaaS platform designed around Docker-native workflows. The Developer, Mauricio Siu, created the project, which has accumulated significant adoption with millions of Docker Hub downloads.

The platform emphasizes container-native functionality and operational visibility. It serves as an open-source alternative to Vercel, Netlify, and Heroku for teams requiring complete infrastructure control.

Some of its features include:

• Native container orchestration: Docker Swarm operates as an integrated component with service replicas, rolling updates, and automatic failover.

• Intelligent traffic routing: Traefik v3 provides automatic HTTPS, path-based routing, and load balancing across containers.

• Operational monitoring: The platform provides real-time visibility in the UI, though the dedicated Monitoring feature is available only in the Cloud version of Dokploy.

The web interface uses Next.js and tRPC for type-safe API interactions. All services operate within Docker containers, and native Docker Compose files work without modification.

The installation process automatically initializes Docker Swarm mode on the host server. Users can add worker nodes and distribute workloads across multiple machines through the dashboard without manual Swarm configuration.

#Dokploy use cases

• Microservices architecture deployment: Teams operating distributed applications benefit from integrated service discovery and automatic inter-container networking.

• Pull request preview environments: Each pull request can generate an isolated deployment with a unique URL for testing before merging.

• Horizontally scaled production systems: Native Docker Swarm support enables scaling through the dashboard with replica count adjustments.

• Container-focused development teams: Organizations using container registries and Compose configurations will find aligned workflows.

• Applications requiring operational visibility: Real-time metrics and basic alerting are available in the self-hosted version, while advanced monitoring features are available on Dokploy Cloud.

#Key differences between Coolify and Dokploy

Selecting the appropriate platform requires understanding how each addresses specific infrastructure requirements and team capabilities.

#Installation and initial setup

Both platforms provide streamlined installation via a single bash command, with different underlying implementations.

Coolify handles Docker installation if required and completes platform configuration automatically. The installer supports ARM and x86 architectures with identical procedures for cloud servers and Raspberry Pi devices. The script performs OS detection, dependency installation, container image retrieval, and systemd service configuration:

curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | sudo bash

Dokploy follows a similar pattern, while also initializing Docker Swarm mode during setup. The server prepares for multi-node cluster expansion, and overlay networks for container communication are configured automatically.

curl -sSL https://dokploy.com/install.sh | sh

Both platforms configure Traefik as the reverse proxy with automatic HTTPS through Let's Encrypt. Setup completes within minutes on properly prepared servers with public IP addresses.

#User interface and ease of use

Coolify presents a clean dashboard that minimizes Docker terminology. Users unfamiliar with containers can deploy applications without extensive prerequisite knowledge. The interface provides guided workflows for server connections and deployment configuration with clear step-by-step processes.

Dokploy offers a more technically detailed interface displaying container metrics, Traefik routing configurations, and Swarm service states. Teams with Docker experience will appreciate this transparency for troubleshooting and optimization, while newcomers may need time to navigate effectively.

Both platforms include dark mode, responsive mobile layouts, and keyboard shortcuts. Coolify provides greater accessibility for beginners, while Dokploy delivers deeper operational visibility for experienced practitioners.

#Resource usage and performance

Coolify operates efficiently on modest hardware. A VPS with 2GB RAM can support several small applications without degradation. The platform runs well on ARM devices, making it suitable for home lab environments and budget-conscious deployments.

Dokploy also requires a minimum of 2GB RAM for the platform itself. For self-hosted deployments that require full observability, teams should plan a separate monitoring stack, as the dedicated Monitoring feature is Cloud-only.

Application performance remains comparable since both use Docker for isolation. The distinction appears in platform overhead, where Coolify provides advantages in constrained environments.

#Deployment methods and integrations

Coolify provides Git deployment connections to GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Gitea repositories. Webhooks trigger automatic builds upon commits. The platform uses Nixpacks or custom Dockerfiles with automatic build strategy detection based on project structure and configuration files.

Dokploy supports equivalent Git deployment while emphasizing Docker-native workflows. The platform offers deeper registry integration and supports private container repositories without additional configuration complexity. Pull request previews automatically create temporary testing environments for code review.

Both platforms support S3-compatible backup storage and environment variable management. Coolify offers over 280 one-click templates for rapid service deployment, while Dokploy provides 200+ templates and handles complex Compose configurations effectively for container-native teams.

#Monitoring and backup features

Coolify includes container-level monitoring of CPU, memory, and storage metrics. The dashboard displays visualization graphs and real-time log streaming from running applications. Advanced monitoring requirements necessitate deploying separate solutions, such as Prometheus or Netdata.

Dokploy provides operational visibility in the UI for self-hosted deployments. The dedicated Monitoring feature is only available on Dokploy Cloud. For self-hosted deployments needing full observability, teams should plan a separate monitoring stack.

Coolify provides automated database backups to S3-compatible storage with scheduling and retention configuration. Dokploy includes equivalent capabilities and additionally supports broader configuration backups for disaster recovery scenarios.

#Coolify pros and cons

#Pros

• Years of active development have produced comprehensive documentation and a substantial support community.

• The platform runs on x86 and ARM architectures, including VPS instances, dedicated servers, and Raspberry Pi devices.

• Over 280 one-click service templates address most common self-hosted application requirements.

• Single server, multi-server, and Docker Swarm deployments are supported, with Kubernetes support coming soon.

• The interface design does not assume prior Docker knowledge on the part of users.

#Cons

• Kubernetes support is not yet available, though it is listed as coming soon in official documentation.

• Built-in metrics lack the detail teams need for comprehensive observability.

• Platform customization requires experience with the Laravel and PHP frameworks.

• The learning curve for multi-server and Swarm configurations can be challenging for newcomers.

#Dokploy pros and cons

#Pros

• Integrated Docker Swarm enables multi-node scaling with replica management without additional configuration.

• The Next.js and TypeScript codebase appeals to JavaScript-focused development teams.

• Over 200 service templates are available for rapid deployment of common applications.

• Features ship frequently with active community participation in ongoing development.

• Deep Docker integration effectively supports container workflows and registry connections.

#Cons

• Documentation has gaps, and the community remains smaller than established alternatives.

• The platform assumes familiarity with Docker and Traefik concepts.

• The dedicated Monitoring feature is available only in Dokploy Cloud, not in self-hosted deployments.

• Teams preferring Kubernetes may find the Swarm-only architecture limiting.

#When to use Coolify vs Dokploy

#Choose Coolify when:

• Hardware compatibility across ARM devices, Raspberry Pi, and varied server configurations is a priority.

• Team members lack an extensive background in Docker or container orchestration.

• The 280+ one-click templates would accelerate deployment timelines for planned services.

• Server resource limitations make efficient platform overhead an important consideration.

• PHP and Laravel expertise exists within your team for potential customization.

• Solo developers or small teams require straightforward workflows without complex management.

#Choose Dokploy when:

• Your team uses Docker regularly and understands container concepts well.

• Architecture plans include horizontal scaling across multiple servers using Docker Swarm.

• You prefer Dokploy Cloud for its dedicated monitoring features, or you plan to deploy a separate observability stack.

• Pull request preview deployments would improve code review and testing workflows.

• Existing workflows incorporate private container registries or complex Compose configurations.

• JavaScript and TypeScript developers may need to extend or customize the platform.

#Conclusion

Coolify and Dokploy both deliver effective self-hosted PaaS functionality for different user requirements and organizational contexts. Coolify provides maturity, broad hardware support, and an extensive service catalog for beginners and resource-limited environments. Dokploy offers modern tooling, native multi-node scaling, and strong Docker integration for teams with container experience.

The appropriate choice depends on Docker expertise, scaling requirements, and infrastructure constraints. Testing both platforms with trial deployments before committing represents a reasonable evaluation approach since neither requires long-term contracts.

Both platforms perform well on Cherry Servers' dedicated servers or cloud VPS instances with sufficient resources for application workloads.