The Dokku Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Dokku in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Dokku
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source, single-server platform as a service you run yourself
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among web hosts, read from Dokku’s own pages.
Made by Dokku · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Dokku’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Dokku’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
1.8
GPA, above 29 of the 122 other web hosts we grade
Dokku is an open-source platform as a service that runs on one server you control. You push code with git, Dokku builds it with Dockerfiles or buildpacks, and runs it in containers, with plugins for databases and other extras. The core is free; a paid add-on called Dokku Pro adds a web interface and an API.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Dokku, taken from its own pages and our grades.
It is driven from the command line on a server you install and maintain.
- 1
Best for git-push deploys on one server
Dokku is open source and gives you git-push deploys, buildpacks and Docker on one server you run.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $849 one-time for Dokku Pro; core Dokku is free to self-host.
- 3
There is a free plan
The open-source core is free to install on your own server. You pay for the server, and support comes from the community channels.
- 4
It runs on Linux
Linux.
- 5
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.
- 6
Several builders
The docs list Cloud Native Buildpacks, Herokuish buildpacks, Dockerfile, Nixpacks, Railpack and a Lambda builder, plus deploys from Docker images and archives.
- 7
Plugin system
Dokku is built from plugins. Official datastore plugins add databases, and anyone can write plugins in any language and share them.
- 8
A 1.8 GPA, above 29 of 122
That is against the other web hosts we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
Dokku sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either.
Dokku at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $849 one-time for Dokku Pro; core Dokku is free to self-host
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Linux
- Made by
- Dokku
- Category
- Web Hosting
- Our grade
- 1.8 GPA, weak
The report card
Best for git-push deploys on one server
Dokku is open source and gives you git-push deploys, buildpacks and Docker on one server you run. The web interface and API are a separate $849 one-time Pro licence, and it only runs on Ubuntu or Debian.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | The 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 | B | The open-source core is free with no cap, but you pay for the server and support is the community channels. |
| Features | C | Git-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 | D | No store rating on record. It is driven from the command line on a server you install and maintain. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | Runs on Linux only, Ubuntu or Debian. It connects to Docker, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI and Woodpecker. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Dokku is for
- 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
Who it is not for
- 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
Good to know
Good for
- Developers who want a Heroku-style git push workflow on one cheap server
- Small teams that prefer a command-line workflow over a managed platform
- Self-hosters who want to avoid vendor lock-in
Worth knowing
- 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.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$849 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Dokku has a free plan. Paid plans start at $849 one-time for Dokku Pro; core Dokku is free to self-host.
The core is free but only if you host it yourself, so it counts as C.
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.
The free plan
The open-source core is free to install on your own server. You pay for the server, and support comes from the community channels.
Read from pro.dokku.com on Nov 13, 2026.
Ways to pay less
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.
Stated on pro.dokku.com
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Linux
Open-source, single-server platform as a service you run yourself. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, databases.
Git-push deploys, several builders, plugins, proxy and SSL options and cron.
- 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.
Where it runs
- Linux
What it works with
- Docker
- GitHub Actions
- GitLab CI
- Woodpecker CI
- DigitalOcean
- Microsoft Azure
- DreamHost
Dokku is made by Dokku.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
29/122
Other web hosts it is graded above
Dokku's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 29 of the 122 other web hosts we grade, and level with 19.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 99 of 122) and worst on ease of use (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 123 web hosts we grade, cut by the letter each got. Dokku’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 13 of 122
- BFree plan and trialAbove 99 of 122
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 122
- DEase of useAbove 0 of 122
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 122
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
Dokku sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either.
What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $849, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it. Dokku is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- Databases with views, filters and links between them.
- A real app for Linux. Something home-made would be a web page.
- It plugs into other products, Docker, GitHub Actions and GitLab CI among them.
What this rests on. Dokku’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Coolify, CapRover, Dokploy, Heroku and Render
The 5 tools Dokku is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.4GPA
Coolify
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source platform to deploy apps and databases to your own servers.
- Only Dokku lists a Linux app.
- Only Coolify lists a web app.
- 2.0GPA
CapRover
Free
Free, self-hosted platform for deploying apps with Docker.
- Only Dokku lists a Linux app.
- Only CapRover lists a web app.
- Dokku is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.2GPA
Dokploy
Free trial · from $4.50/mo
Open-source platform to deploy apps and databases on your own servers.
- Dokku has a free plan. Dokploy does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Dokku lists a Linux app.
- Only Dokploy lists a web app.
- 1.8GPA
Heroku
From $5/mo
Platform for deploying apps in containers called dynos.
- Dokku has a free plan. Heroku does not.
- Only Dokku lists a Linux app.
- Only Heroku lists a web app.
- 2.4GPA
Render
Free plan · from $25/mo
Cloud hosting for web services, databases and workers.
- Only Dokku lists a Linux app.
- Only Render lists a web app.
- Dokku is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Dokku free?
Dokku has a free plan. The open-source core is free to install on your own server.
How much does Dokku cost?
Dokku lists 2 plans. Dokku (open source): $0.
What platforms does Dokku work on?
Dokku is available on Linux.
Does Dokku offer any discounts?
Dokku publicly lists the following: Lifetime Dokku Pro license.
Does Dokku have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Dokku is listed for Linux.
Does Dokku have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Dokku is listed for Linux.
Is Dokku open source?
Yes. Dokku is open source, according to its own site.
What does Dokku integrate with?
Dokku's listing names Docker, GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, Woodpecker CI, DigitalOcean, Microsoft Azure and DreamHost.
Who makes Dokku?
Dokku is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Dokku?
The closest alternatives to Dokku in our directory are Coolify, CapRover, Dokploy, Heroku and Render.
How does Dokku compare with other web hosts?
Dokku's GPA of 1.8 is higher than 29 of the 122 other web hosts we grade, and level with 19.
Could I make my own version of Dokku?
Dokku sits between: not beyond making, and not a weekend's work either.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Dokku’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Dokku's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Dokku. Prices change, so check dokku.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Dokku, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/dokku
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Dokku: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/dokku
Know someone choosing between web hosts?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/dokku/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded web hosts after Dokku, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Web Hosting Insider's GuideEvery one of the 123 web hosts we grade, compared
- Cloudflare Pages Insider's GuideGit-based hosting for static sites and full-stack apps2.8 GPA
- GitHub Pages Insider's GuideStatic site hosting built into GitHub repositories2.8 GPA
- Netlify Insider's GuideGit-based hosting for sites and web apps, priced by monthly credits2.8 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Dokku’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Dokku is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Dokku. Prices and plans change: check dokku.com before you buy.