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Self-hosted PaaS · by Dokku project

Dokku

MIT-licensed 'mini-Heroku' that turns one Linux server into a git-push PaaS using Heroku buildpacks and Docker, driven from the command line.

Visit dokku.com ↗ Alternatives Open source Open source Self-hostable EU region
Dokku homepage
§1

Overview

Dokku describes itself as the smallest PaaS implementation you have ever seen. You run a bootstrap script on a fresh Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 or Debian 11+ machine, add your SSH key, create an app, and git push to it. Dokku builds the code with Heroku buildpacks (or a Dockerfile) and runs it in isolated containers behind a proxy, much like a single-host Heroku.

Everything beyond the core is a plugin: official datastore plugins provide Postgres, MySQL, Redis and others, and further plugins handle Let's Encrypt certificates and more. Plugins can be written in any language. The project has been developed since 2013 and has over 32,000 GitHub stars.

Core Dokku has no web dashboard and is single-host by default, so it suits people comfortable on the command line. Dokku Pro, a one-time $849 license, adds a web UI, a JSON API, HTTP(S) pushes for firewalled networks, team management and email support from the maintainers.

§2

Pricing and plans

Free tier · no card

Dokku is free and open source (MIT) with no limits; you pay only for the server it runs on.

At the limit Not stated The vendor does not say what happens at the limit, or we have not found it yet.

Plan Price What you get
Dokku $0 MIT licensed, CLI and SSH
Dokku Pro $849 one-time Lifetime license: web UI, JSON API, HTTP(S) git push, team management, email support; 1 production + 2 pre-production servers

fromPrice is null because the only paid product, Dokku Pro, is a one-time $849 lifetime license (early-bird pricing that the vendor says will rise), not a recurring plan. Server costs are separate. euRegion is true because you choose where the server runs.

Source: pro.dokku.com/ · prices as published, excluding tax.

§3

What it does

Git push deploys
Push to a git remote over SSH and Dokku builds and releases the app.
Heroku buildpacks
Heroku-compatible apps build unchanged; Dockerfiles are also supported.
Plugins
Official datastore plugins and community plugins, writable in any language.
Process scaling
Scale Procfile process types up or down on the host.
Dokku Pro
Optional web UI, REST API, log tailing and team management for a one-time fee.
§4

Strengths and limitations

Strengths

  • Free and MIT licensed, with a long track record.
  • Closest reproduction of the Heroku git push workflow.
  • Very light: runs well on a small VPS.
  • Paid add-on is a one-time license, not a subscription.

Limitations

  • Command line and SSH only unless you buy Dokku Pro.
  • Single host by default; no built-in failover or autoscaling.
  • You maintain the server, security updates and backups.
  • Requires a fresh Ubuntu or Debian VM.
§5

Who it suits

Good for

  • Moving Heroku-style apps to a cheap VPS
  • Developers comfortable with SSH and the CLI
  • Small internal tools and side projects

Look elsewhere if

  • Teams that need a web dashboard for non-technical users without paying for Pro
  • Apps that need multi-server high availability
§6

Alternatives to Dokku

Tool From Free option Stages
Zeabur Deployment platform on dedicated servers
$5/mo Free tier
Pethost Managed Docker Compose hosting
$11.99/mo Paid
Dokploy Self-hosted PaaS
$4.50/mo Free tier
Northflank Kubernetes-based PaaS
$2.70/mo Free tier
Vercel Frontend and serverless platform
$20/mo Free tier
Fly.io Global VM platform
$1.94/mo Paid

All app hosting and PaaS →

§7

Questions

Is Dokku free?

Yes, Dokku is MIT licensed and free. Dokku Pro, an optional web UI and API, is a one-time $849 lifetime license.

Does Dokku have a web interface?

Core Dokku is CLI and SSH only; the web UI comes with Dokku Pro.

What operating systems does Dokku support?

A fresh VM running Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04, or Debian 11 or later, on amd64 or arm64.

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