Self-host Dokploy

updated Jul 2026deployed & timed by usprices checked · Aug 2026Install verified on Ubuntu 26.04 · Aug 2026 · how we test

An open-source, self-hostable deployment platform built on Docker Swarm — deploy applications, databases, and static sites from Git with a Vercel/Heroku/Netlify-style UI.

Heroku / yr$300

Self-hosted / yr~$55

You keep$245/yr

Pocket the difference — spin it up on a cheap VPS in minutes.Start free on Kamatera →

Key facts

CategoryPlatform-as-a-Service

LicenseApache-2.0

StackTypeScript, Next.js

Min RAM2048 MB

Dockeryes

Difficulty

Our recommendation

Reach for Dokploy when you want Coolify's push-to-deploy convenience but across several servers — it's built on Docker Swarm, so scaling out to a cluster is a first-class idea rather than an add-on. It's younger and smaller than Coolify, so expect a rougher edge or two; if you're staying on a single box, Coolify or CapRover is more proven.

What you need

Any VPS with at least 2048 MB of RAM
A domain you control — most self-hosted setups need HTTPS in front of them
Under an hour if you've used Docker before

Install

Run these commands on your server:

# Dokploy — official one-line installer (initializes Docker Swarm)
curl -sSL https://dokploy.com/install.sh | sudo sh
# then open http://SERVER_IP:3000 to finish setup

vps picksBest VPS for self-hostingbenchmarked quarterly · re-priced monthly

What you take on

Dokploy hands you a multi-server platform, and multi-server means more moving parts to keep honest:

non-negotiableSwarm is underneath. You inherit Docker Swarm's networking and volume model — fine once it clicks, but a concept to learn before you trust production traffic to it.

non-negotiableBack up the Dokploy database. It stores your projects, environments, and secrets; snapshot it off the control node so a rebuild is a restore, not an archaeology project.

non-negotiableIt's a young project. Releases are frequent and the team is small — pin versions, read release notes, and don't be the first to run a brand-new feature under load.

An alternative to

Heroku →Vercel →

Head-to-head

PaaSAug 2026

Dokploy

Coolify

Mature and broad vs. lean and built for clusters.

Read the verdict →

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