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Dokku

Free, open source, self-hosted PaaS that deploys apps to your own server with git push, Heroku buildpacks or Dockerfiles.

Our take: Dokku is a great fit if you are comfortable with Linux and want to stop paying per-app platform fees.

Best forSelf-hosted git-push deploys
ReviewedPricing: Free
6.8 out of 105 criteria · see breakdown
Try DokkuFree (MIT); Pro $849 one-time

Dokku is a free, open source platform-as-a-service that lets you deploy apps to your own Linux server with git push, using Heroku buildpacks or a Dockerfile. It is MIT-licensed; the optional Dokku Pro add-on, with a web dashboard and API, costs $849 one time.

The bottom line

Free Heroku-style deploys on your own server, if you can run the server.

Our score

Reviewed by the Conversion Gems editorial team. Hover a facet to focus it; click to pin.Tap a facet to focus it.

What it is, and why we rate it

One line each. Open a row for detail.

What it really isOpen source software that turns one Linux server into a small Heroku-style platform with git push deploys.
Our takeDokku is a great fit if you are comfortable with Linux and want to stop paying per-app platform fees.
A small VPS can host several side projects, and buildpack support makes moving Heroku apps simple. You take on server patching, backups and uptime yourself, and you will want Pro if non-technical teammates need a dashboard.
Why we rate itFree, MIT-licensed git push deploys with buildpacks, Dockerfiles and plugins.
The catchYou maintain the server, and the web dashboard costs $849 via Pro.

Best / not good for

Best for
  • Developers moving small apps off Heroku
  • Side projects on a single VPS
  • Teams comfortable with SSH and Linux
Not good for
  • Teams wanting a fully managed platform
  • Users who need a free web dashboard
Trade-offs

Friction report

Trade-offs to know before signing up.

  1. Time to value
    Run the bootstrap script on a fresh Ubuntu or Debian server, then git push your first app.
  2. Scale breakpoint
    Beyond one server you need the K3s or Nomad scheduler setup.
  3. Walled garden
    Low: open source, standard Docker images and buildpacks.
Still a fit?
If none of these block you, start on the free plan.
Try Dokku

Dokku vs Dokku Pro

EditionPriceWhat you getLimits
Dokku (open source)Freegit push deploys, buildpacks, Dockerfiles, plugins, CLIMIT license; you pay for your own server
Dokku Pro$849 one-timeWeb admin UI, JSON API, HTTP(S) app push, live logs, team management, email support1 production + 2 pre-production servers; needs open source Dokku installed

From Dokku's site, GitHub repository and pro.dokku.com, checked 4 October 2026.

Dokku system requirements

ItemRequirement
Operating systemUbuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04, or Debian 11+ (x64)
Architectureamd64 or arm64
Memory1GB for the Docker scheduler; 2GB per node for K3s
Current versionv0.38.31

From Dokku's installation docs, checked 4 October 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Dokku free to use?

Yes. Dokku is open source under the MIT license and free; you only pay for the server it runs on. Dokku Pro, an optional add-on with a web dashboard and API, costs $849 one time for life (checked 4 October 2026).

What exactly is Dokku?

Dokku is a self-hosted platform-as-a-service powered by Docker. You install it on a Linux server, then deploy apps with git push, and it builds them with Heroku-compatible buildpacks or a Dockerfile.

Is Dokku a Heroku alternative?

Dokku describes itself as an open source PaaS alternative to Heroku and supports Heroku buildpacks. The difference is that you manage the server yourself instead of using a hosted platform.

What are Dokku's system requirements?

Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04, or Debian 11+, on amd64 or arm64. The Docker scheduler needs 1GB of memory (swap can help on smaller machines); the K3s scheduler needs 2GB per node.

What does Dokku Pro add?

A web admin UI, JSON API, HTTP(S) app push, datastore and environment variable management, process scaling, live logs, team management and email support from the maintainers. It covers 1 production and 2 pre-production servers.

Dokku alternatives

Other ways to host and deploy apps from our reviews:

Showing 1–3 of 3
Sources checked October 4, 2026: Dokku home, Dokku installation docs, Dokku on GitHub, Dokku Pro, Dokku 1-Click on DigitalOcean.

Conversion Gems independently reviews every tool.

Tags

#SelfHosted#PaaS#Docker#Dokku

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