Coolify
5.9/10Coolify is an open-source, self-hostable platform that deploys apps, databases and services onto servers you own. It is aimed at developers who want a self-run alternative to Heroku or Vercel.
Data last updated November 2026 · Our methodology
Overview
Coolify is an open-source (Apache 2) platform-as-a-service built by coolLabs, a company in Hungary founded by Andras Bacsai. You install it on a VPS or any server running Docker. It connects to your servers over SSH and deploys applications from Git repositories hosted on GitHub, GitLab or Forgejo. Builds use Nixpacks, a Dockerfile or Docker Compose. It also manages Postgres, MySQL, Redis and MongoDB databases and offers a catalog of more than 280 one-click service templates. Other features include automatic Let's Encrypt certificates, a Caddy-based reverse proxy, preview deployments for pull requests, live deployment logs, one-click rollback, and scheduled database backups to S3-compatible storage. Coolify does not sell servers, so you bring your own from a provider such as Hetzner, DigitalOcean or AWS. The self-hosted edition is free with no feature limits. Coolify Cloud runs the control panel for you for $5 per month, which covers two connected servers, plus $3 per month for each extra server. Annual billing is 20 percent cheaper. It suits developers, startups, agencies and small DevOps teams who want predictable server-only costs and no vendor lock-in. The main limitation is that you become the operator. OS patching, disk space, security updates, testing backup restores and adding redundancy are your job. There is no auto-scaling and no built-in CDN, and support is mostly through the community.
Our Rating
Who Coolify is best for
Good fit
It is built for developers who deploy from Git and are comfortable managing their own servers.
Reviewers recommend it to startups that want to avoid per-app platform fees.
Hetzner's blog names agencies as a good fit, since one panel can host many client apps across servers.
Indie hackers can host unlimited apps on one cheap VPS.
Less suited
There are only admin and member roles, support is limited, and there is no SLA, which is too coarse for regulated or large organizations.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- The self-hosted edition is free with no feature limits, so the only cost is the VPS.
- Git push deploys, pull request previews and one-click rollback give a Vercel-like workflow on your own servers.
- A catalog of more than 280 one-click service templates plus managed provisioning for Postgres, MySQL, Redis and MongoDB.
- No vendor lock-in, because apps run as standard Docker containers on servers you control.
- Coolify Cloud is cheap, at $5 per month for two servers, for teams that do not want to host the control panel themselves.
Cons
- You are responsible for OS patching, disk space, security updates and checking that backups restore.
- No auto-scaling, so capacity has to be added by hand.
- No built-in CDN, and application volume backups require manual snapshots.
- Only admin and member roles, which is too coarse for larger or regulated teams.
- Reviewers report thin documentation for advanced setups and occasional proxy problems that need manual fixes.
Key Features
Not included
- Content Delivery Network
Coolify Pricing
Self-hosted
- Community support
- All features, no restrictions
- Self-managed automated backups
- Unlimited servers and deployments
- Manual setup on your own infrastructure
- Email alerts need your own SMTP or Resend
Cloud
- Email alerts included
- Founder-tested updates
- You bring your own servers
- 2 connected servers included
- 20 percent off with annual billing
- Community plus limited email support
- Unlimited deployments and team members
- Managed Coolify control panel at app.coolify.io
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. The self-hosted edition is free forever with all features. The paid Cloud plan only covers hosting the control panel for you.
$5 per month, which includes two connected servers, plus $3 per month for each additional server. Annual billing is 20 percent off.
No. You connect your own servers from providers such as Hetzner, DigitalOcean or AWS, and Coolify manages them over SSH.
Reviews confirm GitHub, GitLab and Forgejo, with optional automatic deploys on push and preview deployments for pull requests.
Database backups can be scheduled to S3-compatible storage such as R2. Application volumes need manual snapshots, and you should test restores yourself.
Self-hosted users rely on a community of more than 20,000 members. Cloud adds limited email support.
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