CapRover vs Dokku (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, CapRover grades higher than Dokku: 2.0 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
CapRover grades higher on platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan, features and ease of use.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Dokku
Open-source, single-server platform as a service you run yourself
Which one is for you
Pick CapRover if
- Fits if you run your own server and want a simple app dashboard
- Works for developers who know Docker and DNS
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a hosted service, as the site lists none
- Not for you if you cannot set wildcard DNS or open ports 80, 443 and 3000
- Tight if you want paid support, as none is listed
- Watch out: the docs target a fresh Ubuntu 24.04 install
Pick Dokku if
- Fits if you are comfortable with a command line and want git-push deploys on your own server
- Makes sense if one server is enough for your apps
Look elsewhere if
- Skip it if you want a web dashboard without paying, as the UI and API need Dokku Pro at $849
- Not for you if you use Windows or Mac servers, since it needs Ubuntu or Debian
- Tight if you need more than one server, as it is single-server by default
- Watch out: the Pro page says the current price reflects an early-bird discount and may rise
How we grade them
| 2.0GPACapRoverFair | 1.8GPADokkuWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | CFree software, but only free if you host it yourself, and you pay for the server. | CThe core is free but only if you host it yourself, so it counts as C. The web interface and API are Dokku Pro at $849 once, the only one-time price in this category. |
| Free plan and trial | BThe whole platform is free to install, with no paid tier. You need your own server. | BThe open-source core is free with no cap, but you pay for the server and support is the community channels. |
| Features | CApps in any language, one-click apps, HTTPS, several deploy methods and Docker Swarm clusters. No hosted version, so updates and backups are yours. | CGit-push deploys, several builders, plugins, proxy and SSL options and cron. A web UI and JSON API need Pro, and it runs on a single server by default. |
| Ease of use | DSelf-hosting with a fresh Ubuntu server, wildcard DNS and open ports 80, 443 and 3000. | DNo store rating on record. It is driven from the command line on a server you install and maintain. |
| Platforms and integrations | CWeb dashboard with one-click apps and no API or apps listed. | DRuns on Linux only, Ubuntu or Debian. It connects to Docker, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI and Woodpecker. |
| Best for | self-hosting your own app platform | git-push deploys on one server |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: CapRover and Dokku. How we grade
Where they differ
- Dokku is open source, according to its own site.
At a glance
| CapRover | Dokku | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $849 one-time for Dokku Pro; core Dokku is free to self-host |
| Free plan | The whole platform is free to install on your own server; the site's headline says "free forever". | The open-source core is free to install on your own server. You pay for the server, and support comes from the community channels. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| Linux | ||
| Made by | CapRover | Dokku |
| Price read from | caprover.com | pro.dokku.com |
| Checked | Nov 13, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
CapRover
- CapRover does not supply servers; you rent and maintain your own, and the docs target a fresh Ubuntu 24.04 install.
- Setup needs a domain with wildcard DNS access and public inbound ports 80, 443 and 3000.
- Support comes from documentation and a community Slack group; no paid support is listed.
- The site lists no hosted version, so updates, backups and security fall to you.
Dokku
- Dokku does not supply servers or hosting; you provide and maintain an Ubuntu or Debian machine.
- It runs on a single server by default; the docs list K3s and Nomad schedulers for larger setups.
- The web interface and API need Dokku Pro, a separate $849 one-time license.
- The Dokku Pro page says its current price reflects an early-bird discount and may rise.
Key features
CapRover
- Apps in any language
- Node.js, Python, PHP, Java, Ruby, .NET or anything that runs in a container can be deployed.
- One-click apps
- Databases, WordPress, monitoring tools and other popular services can be launched from a catalog.
- Automatic HTTPS
- Let's Encrypt certificates are issued and renewed, with a one-click redirect from HTTP to HTTPS.
- Several ways to deploy
- Deploy from the dashboard, the command-line tool, a webhook, or an existing Git workflow.
- App settings in one place
- Ports, persistent directories, environment variables and instance counts are managed from the dashboard.
- Docker Swarm clusters
- Additional nodes can be added to a Docker Swarm cluster, with load balancing handled by CapRover.
Dokku
- Git-push deployment
- Applications are pushed with git and built on the server, either from a Dockerfile or by detecting the language with buildpacks, then started as containers.
- Several builders
- The docs list Cloud Native Buildpacks, Herokuish buildpacks, Dockerfile, Nixpacks, Railpack and a Lambda builder, plus deploys from Docker images and archives.
- Plugin system
- Dokku is built from plugins. Official datastore plugins add databases, and anyone can write plugins in any language and share them.
- Proxy and SSL options
- Routing can use nginx, Caddy, Haproxy, OpenResty or Traefik, and the docs cover domain configuration and SSL setup.
- Process and cron management
- Apps can run web and background processes, scheduled cron tasks and one-off commands, with zero-downtime deploy checks.
- Dokku Pro web interface
- The paid add-on gives a browser dashboard for apps, datastores, environment variables, scaling and live log tailing, plus a JSON API.
Plans
CapRover
Self-hosted$0
Install it yourself on Ubuntu 24.04 with at least 1 GiB of RAM and 5 GiB of free disk. Server costs are yours; the project asks for donations via OpenCollective.
Dokku
Dokku (open source)$0
Install it yourself on an Ubuntu or Debian server. Git-push deploys, buildpacks and Dockerfiles, plugins, command-line management.
Dokku Pro$849
one-time, lifetime license
Add-on for an existing install: web UI, JSON API, HTTP(S) app push, team management and email support. Covers 1 production and 2 pre-production servers.
Ways to pay less
CapRover
No public discounts listed.
Dokku
- Lifetime license
Lifetime Dokku Pro license
Dokku Pro is sold as a one-time lifetime license with free upgrades and no per-seat fees, at a discounted price while it is in development.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, CapRover or Dokku?
As of Nov 13, 2026, CapRover is free, and Dokku starts at $849 one-time for Dokku Pro; core Dokku is free to self-host.
Which has a free plan, CapRover or Dokku?
As of Nov 13, 2026, both CapRover and Dokku have a free plan.
Which platforms do CapRover and Dokku run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only CapRover lists a web app and only Dokku lists a Linux app. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.