Dokku
The smallest PaaS implementation you've ever seen
About Dokku
Dokku is a lightweight, open-source Platform as a Service that enables developers to deploy and manage applications on their own servers, functioning as a self-hosted alternative to Heroku. Built on Docker and powered by Heroku-compatible buildpacks, Dokku allows developers to deploy applications with a simple Git push, automatically detecting application language and building containerized applications without manual Docker configuration. Running on a single server with minimal resource requirements (1GB RAM minimum), Dokku is an extremely cost-effective solution for developers who want full control over their deployment infrastructure. It supports all languages via Heroku buildpacks including Node.js, Python, Ruby, PHP, Java, and Go. Dokku includes built-in SSL certificate management with Let's Encrypt integration, Nginx reverse proxy, database plugins for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis, and an extensible plugin system. The Dokku Pro option adds a web-based UI, REST API, and support for multiple servers.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Extremely cost-effective — free software, pay only for hosting infrastructure
- Full control and ownership with no vendor lock-in
- Heroku-compatible — existing Heroku apps run with minimal changes
- Simple and familiar Git push deployment workflow
- Active open-source community with extensive plugin ecosystem
Cons
- Single-server limitation — no built-in clustering or horizontal scaling
- Users responsible for server security, monitoring, and maintenance
- No automatic scaling or CDN compared to managed PaaS platforms
- Community support only (unless purchasing Pro)
Key Features
Git-Based Deployment
Push code directly to deploy via git push using Heroku-compatible workflow
Docker-Powered
Containerized application isolation and orchestration without requiring Docker expertise
Automatic Buildpack Detection
Auto-detects application language and builds accordingly
Database Plugins
Official plugins for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis, Elasticsearch, and more
SSL/TLS Certificates
Built-in Let's Encrypt integration for automated HTTPS
Extensible Plugin System
Customizable through community and official plugins
Nginx Reverse Proxy
Built-in reverse proxy and load balancing for web applications
Environment Variables
Easy per-application configuration management
Multi-App Hosting
Host multiple applications on a single server with isolated containers
Domain Routing
Wildcard domain routing and custom domain configuration
Pricing
- Full PaaS functionality
- Docker-based deployment
- Git push deployment
- SSL certificate support via Let's Encrypt
- Database plugins (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, Redis)
- Extensible plugin system
- Web-based user interface
- JSON-API REST API
- HTTP(s) Git push
- Support for 1 production + 2 pre-production servers
- Free upgrades for life
- Priority support
Featured In
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Best for CLI-comfortable developers who want a tiny, scriptable PaaS on a single VPS.