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

As of Nov 13, 2026, Dokploy grades higher than Dokku: 2.2 against 1.8 out of 4.0.

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

Dokku grades higher on the free plan. Dokploy grades higher on value for money and platforms. They get the same grade on 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

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

Dokploy

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

Free trial · from $4.50/mo
Full detailsdokploy.com

Which one is for you

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

Pick Dokploy if

  • Fits if you want to run apps on your own servers with a dashboard
  • Works for solo developers on the Hobby plan

Look elsewhere if

  • Tight if you want a team: Hobby allows 1 user, 1 organization and 2 environments
  • Watch out: you bring the servers, and extra ones are $4.50 a month each
  • Skip it if you need roles, 2FA or chat support, which start on Startup
  • Not for you if you need SSO, SCIM or audit logs, which need Enterprise

How we grade them

1.8GPADokkuWeak2.2GPADokployFair
Value for money
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.
BHobby is $4.50 per server a month, inside the cheaper quarter, and you bring the servers.
Free plan and trial
BThe open-source core is free with no cap, but you pay for the server and support is the community channels.
CA 7-day trial with no card. After that, nothing free on Cloud, though the software is described as open source.
Features
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.
CBuilds, multi-server deploys, backups, templates, monitoring, API, CLI and MCP. Hobby is limited to 1 user, 2 environments and 1 backup per database.
Ease of use
DNo store rating on record. It is driven from the command line on a server you install and maintain.
DYou connect and run your own servers, which takes command-line and server skills.
Platforms and integrations
DRuns on Linux only, Ubuntu or Debian. It connects to Docker, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI and Woodpecker.
BWeb dashboard with an API, CLI, MCP server and several integrations.
Best forgit-push deploys on one serverself-hosted deploys with a cloud option

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: Dokku and Dokploy. How we grade

Where they differ

    In commonOpen sourceSelf-hostableDatabases

    At a glance

    DokkuDokploy
    PricingFree planFree trial
    Starts at$849 one-time for Dokku Pro; core Dokku is free to self-host$4.50 per server / month on the Cloud Hobby plan
    Free planThe open-source core is free to install on your own server. You pay for the server, and support comes from the community channels.None
    Free trialNone listed7-day free trial on Dokploy Cloud, no credit card required.
    Web
    Linux
    Made byDokkuDokploy
    Price read frompro.dokku.comdokploy.com
    CheckedNov 13, 2026Nov 13, 2026

    Worth knowing

    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.

    Dokploy

    • The Cloud plans are priced per connected server, and you bring the servers; extra servers cost $4.50 a month each.
    • The Hobby plan allows 1 user, 1 organization, 2 environments, 1 backup per database and 1 scheduled job per application.
    • Role-based permissions, 2FA and email and chat support start on the Startup plan; SSO, SCIM and audit logs need Enterprise.
    • The yearly toggle shows a 20% discount but only monthly figures are in the page text; a self-hosted Enterprise option is listed, and the docs call the software free and open source

    Key features

    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.

    Dokploy

    Flexible builds
    Applications can be built with Nixpacks, Heroku Buildpacks or a custom Dockerfile, and Docker Compose is supported natively.
    Multi-server deployment
    Applications can be deployed to remote servers, and Docker Swarm clusters are supported for multi-node setups.
    Databases with backups
    MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, MariaDB and Redis can be managed and backed up from the dashboard.
    Templates
    Open-source templates deploy popular apps such as Supabase, Cal.com and PocketBase in one click.
    Monitoring and notifications
    CPU, memory and network usage are shown in real time, with alerts sent to channels such as Slack, Discord, Telegram and email.
    API, CLI and MCP
    A REST API and a command-line tool are included, and AI tools can connect to Dokploy through MCP.

    Plans

    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.

    Dokploy

    • Hobby$4.50

      per server / month

      Unlimited deployments, databases and applications on 1 server, with 1 user, 1 organization and 2 environments. Community support on Discord.

    • Startup$15

      per month, starting at, with extra servers at $4.50 each

      Up to 3 servers, 3 organizations, unlimited users and environments, basic roles (Admin, Developer), 2FA, and email and chat support.

    • EnterpriseCustom

      Unlimited servers, fine-grained roles, SSO/SAML, SCIM, audit logs, white labeling and priority support, available hosted or self-installed. Sold through sales.

    Ways to pay less

    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.

    Dokploy

    • Annual discount

      20% off with yearly billing

      The pricing page's billing toggle labels yearly billing as a 20% discount; the yearly figures are not shown in the page text.

    Common questions

    Which is cheaper, Dokku or Dokploy?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, Dokku starts at $849 one-time for Dokku Pro; core Dokku is free to self-host, and Dokploy starts at $4.50 per server / month on the Cloud Hobby plan.

    Which has a free plan, Dokku or Dokploy?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, only Dokku has a free plan. Dokploy does not, though it has a free trial.

    Which platforms do Dokku and Dokploy run on?

    As of Nov 13, 2026, only Dokku lists a Linux app and only Dokploy lists a web 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