Dokploy

Self-hostable PaaS for effortless application and database deployment

Dokploy is a free, self-hostable Platform as a Service that simplifies deploying and managing applications, databases, and Docker containers on your own infrastructure.

Overview

What is Dokploy?

Dokploy is a self-hostable Platform as a Service (PaaS) designed for developers and teams who want the convenience of modern deployment platforms without vendor lock-in. Built with TypeScript and Docker, it transforms any VPS into a powerful application hosting environment.

Core Capabilities

Deploy applications in any language—Node.js, Python, PHP, Go, Ruby—with native Docker Compose support for complex multi-container setups. Provision and manage MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MariaDB, and Redis databases with automated backup capabilities to external storage. Scale horizontally across multiple nodes using Docker Swarm orchestration, and deploy pre-configured open-source templates like Plausible, Pocketbase, and Cal.com with one click.

Monitoring and Control

Real-time resource monitoring tracks CPU, memory, storage, and network metrics for every deployment. Traefik integration handles automatic routing and load balancing, while notification channels (Slack, Discord, Telegram, Email) keep teams informed of deployment status. Manage everything through a web interface, CLI, or REST API.

Ideal For

Dokploy suits development teams seeking infrastructure control, agencies managing client applications, and organizations requiring on-premises deployment with modern DevOps workflows.

Highlights

Multi-language application deployment with Docker Compose support

Managed databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MariaDB, Redis) with automated backups

Multi-node scaling via Docker Swarm with Traefik load balancing

Real-time monitoring, CLI/API access, and multi-channel notifications

Pros

Complete infrastructure control on your own VPS without vendor lock-in
One-command installation with comprehensive feature set out of the box
Native Docker Compose support simplifies complex application deployments
Multi-server management enables centralized control of distributed infrastructure

Considerations

Requires VPS management knowledge and infrastructure maintenance responsibility
Self-hosted setup means you handle security updates and system administration
Smaller ecosystem compared to established commercial PaaS providers
Docker Swarm orchestration less widely adopted than Kubernetes alternatives

Managed products teams compare with

When teams consider Dokploy, these hosted platforms usually appear on the same shortlist.

Fly.io

Global app hosting close to users at the edge

Google App Engine

Fully managed PaaS for deploying apps without managing servers

Heroku

AI PaaS for deploying, managing, and scaling applications

Looking for a hosted option? These are the services engineering teams benchmark against before choosing open source.

Fit guide

Great for

Development teams wanting Heroku-like simplicity on owned infrastructure
Agencies deploying and managing multiple client applications centrally
Organizations with compliance requirements mandating on-premises hosting
Cost-conscious projects seeking to avoid per-app commercial PaaS pricing

Not ideal when

Teams without Linux server administration experience or resources
Projects requiring enterprise Kubernetes orchestration and ecosystem
Organizations needing guaranteed SLA and 24/7 managed support
Rapid prototyping scenarios where managed PaaS removes infrastructure concerns

How teams use it

Agency Client Hosting

Deploy and monitor dozens of client websites and applications from a single Dokploy instance across multiple VPS nodes, with automated backups and per-client resource tracking.

Startup MVP Deployment

Launch a full-stack application with PostgreSQL database, automated SSL, and real-time monitoring in minutes using Docker Compose templates—all on a $20/month VPS.

Internal Tool Infrastructure

Self-host open-source tools like Plausible Analytics and Cal.com for your organization using one-click templates, maintaining data sovereignty and avoiding SaaS subscriptions.

Multi-Region Application Scaling

Distribute application instances across geographic regions using multi-server deployment, with centralized management and Traefik-based load balancing for improved latency.

Tech snapshot

TypeScript99%

Go1%

CSS1%

JavaScript1%

Dockerfile1%

Shell1%

Frequently asked questions

What infrastructure do I need to run Dokploy?

A VPS running a modern Linux distribution with Docker support. Installation is a single curl command that sets up all dependencies automatically.

How does Dokploy compare to Vercel or Heroku?

Dokploy provides similar deployment simplicity but runs on your own infrastructure, giving you full control, predictable costs, and support for any application type—not just specific frameworks.

Can I migrate existing Docker Compose applications?

Yes, Dokploy has native Docker Compose support, allowing you to import and deploy existing compose configurations directly without modification.

How are databases backed up?

Dokploy automates database backups to external storage destinations on configurable schedules, supporting MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MariaDB, and Redis.

Is there a managed cloud option?

Yes, Dokploy Cloud is available for users who want the platform without managing infrastructure themselves, though self-hosting remains the primary offering.

Project at a glance

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