itsez.dev
EN
itsez.dev/Directory/Hosting & deploy/Dokku

Dokku

Deploy applications to your own server with Heroku-compatible workflows, using only Docker.

hostingself-hosteddevops
Websitedokku.com
CategoryHosting & deploy
PricingFreemium
Card requiredNo
Open sourceYes
← ← Back to directoryGo to Dokku ↗ ↗

ABOUT

What is Dokku?

Dokku is an open-source platform as a service that runs on a single server using Docker. It implements the Heroku buildpack system, meaning many applications can be deployed without modification by pushing via Git. Dokku supports automatic Let's Encrypt SSL, one-click database services (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB), environment variable management and plugin-based extension. It is designed to be lightweight and runs on any VPS with Docker installed. Dokku has been a staple of self-hosted infrastructure for years and remains actively maintained.

BEFORE YOU SIGN UP

What you should know

✓
Heroku-compatible buildpacksPush any Heroku-compatible application via Git and Dokku will detect, build and deploy it automatically, often without any configuration changes.
✓
One-click database provisioningAdd PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB, or other data services with a single command. Databases are linked to apps automatically.
△
Lightweight and single-serverDokku runs on a single VPS. This keeps it simple and resource-efficient but means no built-in load balancing, clustering, or high availability.
✕
Plugin-based ecosystem can lagCommunity plugins for features like Elasticsearch or monitoring may not always stay updated with the latest Dokku releases, requiring manual maintenance.

COMMUNITY

From the forums

Dokku has a mature and stable community with years of established usage patterns on Reddit and GitHub. It is frequently described as "Heroku on your own server" and is recommended for developers who want PaaS convenience with full infrastructure ownership. The main trade-off is that Dokku is single-server by design, lacking built-in clustering, autoscaling, or multi-region support without additional tooling. Plugin maintenance can sometimes lag behind upstream changes in the core project.

— Community sentiment · Reddit

⭐GitHub💬Discuss on Reddit ↗

SEE ALSO · Hosting & deploy

Alternatives to Dokku

Appish

Freemium

Publish Docker containers in temporary slots designed for demos.

Bunny.net

Trial only

High-performance edge network with CDN, object storage and serverless compute at competitive prices.

Cloud 66

Freemium

Deploy and manage applications in your cloud without handling all server operations yourself.

Guides mentioning Dokku

📖Tutorial

How to install Dokku on a VPS

Turn a clean Ubuntu server into a small Git-based deployment platform

2026-07-30·4 min read

ABOUT US

Honest, independent, no fluff.

No paid placements. Just a clear look at what this does, what it costs, and what to know before you commit.

Read more→

FAQ

Questions, answered.

Is Dokku free?＋

Yes. Dokku is open source and completely free. There are no paid features, user limits, or enterprise editions. You pay only for your server.

What is the difference between Dokku and Docker?＋

Docker is a container runtime. Dokku is a PaaS built on top of Docker that provides Git-based deployment, buildpack detection, SSL management, databases and environment management as a unified platform.

Can Dokku scale horizontally?＋

Dokku is designed for single-server deployments. Horizontal scaling requires additional tooling. The project maintains an experimental multi-host plugin, but it is not a core feature.