Comprehensive side-by-side technical comparison between Coolify and Dokploy.
The Quick Verdict: Which One Should You Choose?
Choose Coolify for mature multi-server management, extensive one-click database templates, and automated Docker/Git deployments.
Choose Dokploy if you want a clean, minimalist Docker/Traefik-based PaaS focused on simplicity and fast VPS setups.
Technical Specification & Architecture Matrix
| Feature / Metric | Coolify | Dokploy |
|---|---|---|
| Software Category | infrastructure | infrastructure |
| Deployment Model | Self-Hosted / Private Cloud | Self-Hosted / Private Cloud |
| Licensing & IP Rights | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Pricing & Seat Model | $0 / Unlimited Users (FOSS) | $0 / Unlimited Users (FOSS) |
| GitHub Community Stars | ★ 62,894 | ★ 37,771 |
| Primary Tech Stack | PHP, Laravel, Docker | TypeScript, Next.js, Docker Swarm, Traefik, PostgreSQL |
| Self-Hosting Difficulty | Easy | Easy |
| Hardware & RAM Footprint | 1 GB - 2 GB RAM (Hetzner CX22 / $4/mo) | 1 GB - 2 GB RAM (Hetzner CX22 / $4/mo) |
| Detailed Inspect Page | Inspect Coolify Stack → | Inspect Dokploy Stack → |
Key Advantages & Trade-offs
Coolify Analysis
- ✓100% data sovereignty & on-premises privacy with no third-party data mining.
- ✓Zero per-seat licensing fees; scale unlimited team members on private VPS.
- ✓Full inspection and custom modification of source code (Apache-2.0 license).
- ✗Requires basic Linux or Docker server administration and automated backup scheduling.
- ✗Community support via GitHub issues and Discord rather than formal enterprise SLA.
Dokploy Analysis
- ✓100% data sovereignty & on-premises privacy with no third-party data mining.
- ✓Zero per-seat licensing fees; scale unlimited team members on private VPS.
- ✓Full inspection and custom modification of source code (Apache-2.0 license).
- ✗Requires basic Linux or Docker server administration and automated backup scheduling.
- ✗Community support via GitHub issues and Discord rather than formal enterprise SLA.
Production Docker Compose Configurations
version: '3.8'
services:
coolify:
image: ghcr.io/coollabsio/coolify:latest
volumes:
- /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
- coolify_data:/data
ports:
- "${PORT:-8000}:8000"
restart: always
volumes:
coolify_data:version: "3.8"
services:
dokploy:
image: dokploy/dokploy:latest
container_name: dokploy
restart: unless-stopped
ports:
- "${PORT:-3000}:3000"
environment:
APP_URL: "${APP_URL:-http://localhost:3000}"
SECRET_KEY: "${SECRET_KEY:-ossmatrix_prod_secret_2026}"
volumes:
- dokploy_data:/data
volumes:
dokploy_data:Related Head-to-Head Software Battles
Coolify vs Dokploy: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary difference between Coolify and Dokploy?
Coolify is a self-hosted open-source software (Apache-2.0 licensed) focused on An open-source & self-hostable Heroku / Netlify alternative. In contrast, Dokploy is a self-hosted open-source solution (Apache-2.0 licensed) focused on Effortless self-hosted PaaS for deploying apps, Docker Compose, and databases.
How much money can a 25-person team save by choosing Coolify?
Commercial per-seat SaaS tools typically charge $10–$40/user/month ($3,000–$12,000/year for 25 seats). Self-hosting open-source software on a private VPS (typically $10–$25/month on Hetzner or DigitalOcean) reduces recurring software expenses by up to 95%.
What are the production server hardware requirements for self-hosting?
For Coolify, recommended baseline memory is 1 GB - 2 GB RAM (Hetzner CX22 / $4/mo). For Dokploy, recommended memory is 1 GB - 2 GB RAM (Hetzner CX22 / $4/mo). Both can be provisioned using modern Docker Compose configurations.
Is data export and migration supported between Coolify and Dokploy?
Yes. Open-source solutions prioritize data portability with standard SQL database dumps, JSON/CSV exports, or native markdown files, ensuring zero vendor lock-in.