Coolify is a free, open-source, self-hostable alternative to Heroku, Vercel, and Netlify for deploying apps, databases, and 280+ services on your servers.
Coolify is an open-source, self-hostable platform-as-a-service that lets developers deploy applications, databases, and pre-packaged services to their own servers with the simplicity of Heroku, Vercel, or Netlify. It was created by Andras Bacsai as a side project in 2021 and is now developed by coolLabs Solutions Kft., a bootstrapped, VC-free company based in Hungary.
Users connect a Git repository and deploy, with Coolify automatically handling builds (via Nixpacks or a custom Dockerfile), reverse proxy configuration through Traefik, and automatic SSL via Let's Encrypt on servers the user owns.
Key Features
Coolify provisions managed databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Redis, MongoDB), supports Git-branch preview deployments, automated backups to S3-compatible storage, and a marketplace of 280+ one-click service templates for popular open-source tools.
The self-hosted edition is released under the Apache 2.0 license with no feature gating, unlimited servers, and unlimited team members, making the full product free regardless of scale.
Pricing
Self-hosted Coolify is free forever; the only cost is the underlying server infrastructure, which typically runs $5-$25/month depending on provider and size.
Coolify Cloud, a managed version of the orchestration layer, starts at $5/month for two connected servers, with additional servers priced around $3/month each and an annual billing discount of roughly 20%.
Key Features
One-click Git deployments — Connect a GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket repository and deploy automatically using Nixpacks auto-detection or a custom Dockerfile.
Automatic SSL and reverse proxy — Traefik reverse proxy configuration and Let's Encrypt SSL certificates are provisioned automatically for every deployment.
Managed database provisioning — Deploy PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Redis, or MongoDB databases directly within Coolify without manual setup.
280+ one-click service templates — A marketplace of pre-configured open-source services and tools that deploy with a single click instead of manual Docker Compose work.
Preview deployments — Automatic preview environments tied to Git branches or pull requests for testing changes before merging.
S3-compatible backups — Scheduled, automated backups to any S3-compatible object storage provider.
Unlimited teams and servers (self-hosted) — Self-hosted installations support unlimited connected servers and unlimited team members at no extra cost.
Multi-cloud server support — Connect and manage servers from Hetzner, DigitalOcean, AWS, or any provider that supports Docker.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Fully free, open-source self-hosted edition under Apache 2.0 with no feature gating
Simple, Heroku-like developer experience while retaining full control over servers and data
Large marketplace of 280+ one-click service templates reduces manual configuration
Bootstrapped and independent, giving predictable long-term project direction without VC pressure
Cons
Self-hosting requires managing your own server infrastructure and updates
Smaller support organization compared to large commercial cloud platforms
Coolify Cloud requires a separate subscription per additional team
Advanced enterprise features (formal SLAs, dedicated support contracts) are limited given its bootstrapped, community-driven nature
Yes. Self-hosted Coolify is free forever under the Apache 2.0 license with no feature limits, user caps, or trial period. You only pay for your own server infrastructure.
What is Coolify Cloud?
Coolify Cloud is a paid, managed version of Coolify's orchestration/control-plane layer starting at $5/month for two connected servers; it manages your own servers from providers like Hetzner or DigitalOcean rather than hosting your apps itself.
What can I deploy with Coolify?
Coolify can deploy static sites, full-stack applications, managed databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, Redis, MongoDB), and 280+ one-click open-source service templates.
Who created Coolify?
Coolify was created by Andras Bacsai in 2021 and is developed by coolLabs Solutions Kft., a bootstrapped, independent Hungarian company with no venture capital funding.
How is Coolify different from Heroku or Vercel?
Coolify runs on servers you own and is free open-source software, whereas Heroku and Vercel are proprietary managed platforms that host your application on their own infrastructure and charge usage-based fees.
Does Coolify support preview deployments?
Yes, Coolify automatically creates preview deployments tied to Git branches or pull requests.