CapRover vs Coolify: which one to choose in 2026?
Both are open source alternatives to Heroku. We compare license, tech stack and features to help you decide which fits your team best.
| CapRover | Coolify | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Deployment, PaaS & Hosting | Deployment, PaaS & Hosting |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| GitHub stars | ~15.2k | ~61.3k |
| Tech stack | Node.js, Docker Swarm | PHP, Laravel, Docker |
| Replaces | Heroku, Render | Vercel, Netlify, Heroku |
Coolify has more GitHub stars, which usually indicates a larger community (not necessarily that it's the best option for your use case).
CapRover
Lightweight PaaS on Docker Swarm, a simple alternative to Heroku.
Pros
- Very lightweight, runs fine on a 1-2GB RAM VPS
Things to consider
- Fewer advanced features than Coolify
Coolify
Self-hosted PaaS with a Vercel-like experience, a free alternative.
Pros
- One-click deploy from Git, managed databases and multi-server management from one dashboard
Things to consider
- Installs across the whole server, doesn't fit into a single-app docker-compose
Key features
CapRover
- One-click app marketplace
- Automatic HTTPS via Let's Encrypt
- Own web dashboard, light on resources
Coolify
- One-click deploy from Git (like Vercel)
- One-click managed databases
- Manage multiple servers from one dashboard
Already know which one you prefer?
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