Coolify vs Dokploy: which one to choose in 2026?
Both are open source alternatives to Vercel, Heroku. We compare license, tech stack and features to help you decide which fits your team best.
| Coolify | Dokploy | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Deployment, PaaS & Hosting | Deployment, PaaS & Hosting |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| GitHub stars | ~61.3k | ~19k |
| Tech stack | PHP, Laravel, Docker | Node.js, PostgreSQL, Docker Swarm, Traefik |
| Replaces | Vercel, Netlify, Heroku | Heroku, Vercel |
Coolify has more GitHub stars, which usually indicates a larger community (not necessarily that it's the best option for your use case).
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
Dokploy
Self-hosted Heroku-like PaaS on Docker Swarm, an alternative to Heroku.
Pros
- Much simpler onboarding than running your own Kubernetes
- Very active development and fast-growing community
Things to consider
- Dokploy Cloud (the managed version) is paid; self-hosting requires your own server
- Younger project than Coolify or CapRover, with less time in production
Key features
Coolify
- One-click deploy from Git (like Vercel)
- One-click managed databases
- Manage multiple servers from one dashboard
Dokploy
- Deploy apps, databases and Docker services with a Heroku-like workflow
- Native Traefik integration for domains and automatic HTTPS
- One-click templates for dozens of open source apps
Already know which one you prefer?
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