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Coolify vs Dokku (2026): which should you pick?

As of Nov 13, 2026, Coolify grades higher than Dokku: 2.4 against 1.8 out of 4.0.

Checked Nov 13, 2026 · graded Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA

Coolify grades higher on features and platforms. They get the same grade on value for money, the free plan and ease of use.

Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.

Coolify

Open-source platform to deploy apps and databases to your own servers

Free plan · from $5/mo
Full detailscoolify.io

Dokku

Open-source, single-server platform as a service you run yourself

Free plan · from $849 one-time
Full detailsdokku.com

Which one is for you

Pick Coolify if

  • Fits if you have your own servers and want a deploy dashboard
  • Works for developers comfortable with SSH and Docker

Look elsewhere if

  • Skip it if you do not have a server, as neither edition supplies one
  • Not for you if you want someone else to handle updates and backups when self-hosting
  • Tight if you want fast support, as it is community plus limited email on Cloud
  • Pricey if you add many servers on Cloud, at $3 a month each past two

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

2.4GPACoolifyFair1.8GPADokkuWeak
Value for money
CFree software, but only free if you host it yourself on a server you pay for. Cloud is $5 a month for 2 servers, then $3 each.
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 self-hosted edition has every feature with no restrictions, once you have a server. Cloud has no trial on record.
BThe open-source core is free with no cap, but you pay for the server and support is the community channels.
Features
BGit deploys, builds, one-click databases and services, SSL, backups, monitoring, an API and an MCP server. The listing shows no gap in the core job.
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
DNeeds servers reached over SSH and self-hosting, with community support.
DNo store rating on record. It is driven from the command line on a server you install and maintain.
Platforms and integrations
BA web dashboard with an API, an MCP server and several integrations.
DRuns on Linux only, Ubuntu or Debian. It connects to Docker, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI and Woodpecker.
Best forself-hosting your own apps and databasesgit-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: Coolify and Dokku. How we grade

Where they differ

    In commonFree planOpen sourceSelf-hostableDatabases

    At a glance

    CoolifyDokku
    PricingFree planFree plan
    Starts at$5 per month for up to 2 connected servers (Cloud), or free to self-host$849 one-time for Dokku Pro; core Dokku is free to self-host
    Free planThe self-hosted edition is free forever with every feature and no restrictions; you run it on your own infrastructure.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 trialNone listedNone listed
    Web
    Linux
    Made byCoolifyDokku
    Price read fromcoolify.iopro.dokku.com
    CheckedNov 13, 2026Nov 13, 2026

    Worth knowing

    Coolify

    • Coolify does not supply servers: both editions need servers you bring, and Cloud charges $3 a month for each server beyond the first two.
    • Self-hosting means you handle installation, updates and backups, with community support.
    • Cloud support is described as community plus limited email support.
    • Some pricing FAQ answers, including trial and discount questions, were not readable on the page, so no trial is recorded.

    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

    Coolify

    Deploy from Git
    Integrations with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket and Gitea give push-to-deploy and separate deployments for pull requests.
    Flexible builds
    Applications can be built with Nixpacks, Railpack, a Dockerfile or Docker Compose, served as static sites, or run from a prebuilt Docker image.
    One-click databases and services
    PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, KeyDB, Dragonfly and ClickHouse start in seconds, alongside a catalog of 360+ one-click services.
    Any server over SSH
    Resources can be deployed to your own server, a VPS, a Raspberry Pi or providers such as Hetzner and DigitalOcean, across one or many servers.
    SSL, backups and monitoring
    Let's Encrypt certificates renew automatically, databases back up to S3-compatible storage, and servers and deployments are monitored with notifications.
    API and MCP server
    An API automates deployments and resources, and an MCP server lets AI clients list resources, deploy and read logs with the same API tokens.

    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

    Coolify

    • Self-hosted$0

      Install Coolify yourself on your own infrastructure with all features and unlimited servers and teams. Support comes from the community, and you handle updates and backups.

    • Cloud$5

      per month for up to 2 servers, then $3 per extra server

      Coolify hosts the dashboard at app.coolify.io; you bring your own servers. Unlimited deployments, email alerts, and limited email support.

    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

    Coolify

    • Annual discount

      20% off Cloud with annual billing

      The pricing page's billing toggle marks annual billing as 20% cheaper than monthly for Coolify Cloud.

    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, Coolify or Dokku?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, Coolify starts at $5 per month for up to 2 connected servers (Cloud), or free to self-host, and Dokku starts at $849 one-time for Dokku Pro; core Dokku is free to self-host.

    Which has a free plan, Coolify or Dokku?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, both Coolify and Dokku have a free plan.

    Which platforms do Coolify and Dokku run on?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, only Coolify 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.
    How we review and grade