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Kamal

Deploy web applications to any VPS with zero infrastructure complexity using Docker.

deploydevopsdocker
Websitekamal-deploy.org
CategoryHosting & deploy
PricingFree
Card requiredNo
Open sourceYes
← ← Back to directoryGo to Kamal ↗ ↗

ABOUT

What is Kamal?

Kamal is a deployment tool developed by 37signals (Basecamp) that uses Docker to deploy web applications to any server. Unlike PaaS platforms that lock you into their infrastructure, Kamal gives you a single command that builds your application into a Docker image, pushes it to a container registry and deploys it to one or more servers with zero-downtime rolling updates. It manages SSL via Let's Encrypt, database connections, asset serving and multiple environment configurations. Kamal has become a popular choice for teams that want Heroku-like workflows without Heroku's pricing.

BEFORE YOU SIGN UP

What you should know

✓
Zero-downtime deployments out of the boxKamal uses rolling deployments that spin up new containers before shutting down old ones, ensuring no service interruption.
✓
Single-command deploy workflowThe deploy command handles building, pushing and releasing your application across one or multiple servers with a single command.
△
Docker and server management requiredYou need Docker installed on each target server and basic server administration skills. Kamal does not provision servers for you.
✕
Primarily optimized for RailsWhile Kamal works with any web framework, its documentation, examples and community patterns are most mature for Ruby on Rails deployments.

COMMUNITY

From the forums

Kamal has received strong interest from the Ruby on Rails community and beyond, with Reddit discussions highlighting its simplicity and alignment with the 37signals philosophy of owning your infrastructure. Users praise the straightforward yaml-based configuration and the zero-downtime deployment strategy. The primary caveat is that Kamal requires Docker knowledge and server administration skills and its most refined workflows cater to Rails applications, though it supports any web framework.

— Community sentiment · Reddit

⭐GitHub💬Discuss on Reddit ↗

SEE ALSO · Hosting & deploy

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Guides mentioning Kamal

📖Tutorial

Deploy a web app with Kamal

Deploy containerized applications to a VPS using Kamal from your laptop or CI

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 Kamal free?＋

Yes. Kamal is open source. There are no paid tiers or platform fees. You pay only for the servers where you deploy your applications.

How does Kamal handle SSL?＋

Kamal integrates with Let's Encrypt via Traefik as the reverse proxy. SSL certificates are automatically provisioned and renewed for your custom domains.

Can I deploy non-Rails apps with Kamal?＋

Yes. Kamal can deploy any application that runs in a Docker container. However, the documentation and default configurations are Rails-oriented and other frameworks may require more manual setup.