Dokku is a free, open-source PaaS that turns any server into a Heroku-style deployment target via git push. See how it works, features, and alternatives.
Category
Hosting
Pricing
Free / Open Source, from Free
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 18, 2026
Founded
2013
Free PlanOpen SourceFreemiumSelf-Hosted
Overview
Dokku is a free, open-source Platform-as-a-Service that lets developers deploy applications to their own server using the same git-push workflow popularized by Heroku.
Created in 2013 by Jeff Lindsay, Dokku has grown from a small shell script into a mature, plugin-based platform maintained by an open-source community, with no corporate owner or licensing fee.
Key Features
Dokku automatically builds applications using Heroku buildpacks, Cloud Native Buildpacks, Nixpacks, or raw Dockerfiles, then runs them in Docker containers with an nginx reverse proxy, automatic SSL via Let's Encrypt, and zero-downtime deployments.
A plugin architecture covers everything from database provisioning (PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB) to scheduled jobs, letting teams extend a single-server deployment into a fairly complete self-hosted application platform.
Pricing
Dokku itself is entirely free and open-source under the MIT license, with no subscription, per-app, or per-dyno charges.
The only cost is the server infrastructure it runs on, which can be a single low-cost VPS, making Dokku significantly cheaper over time than managed PaaS platforms like Heroku for teams willing to manage their own server.
Key Features
Git push deployment — Deploy applications with a single git push dokku main command, mirroring the classic Heroku workflow.
Automatic buildpack detection — Detects the application language and framework and builds it automatically using Heroku buildpacks, Cloud Native Buildpacks, Nixpacks, Railpack, or a Dockerfile.
Zero-downtime deployments — Routes traffic to a new container only after its health checks pass, avoiding service interruption during deploys.
Automatic SSL via Let's Encrypt — Provisions and renews free SSL certificates automatically for custom domains.
Plugin ecosystem — Hundreds of community plugins add databases, scheduled jobs, monitoring, and other capabilities to a base installation.
Built-in reverse proxy — Uses nginx to route traffic, manage domains, and handle load balancing for deployed applications.
Environment variable and config management — Manage per-app environment variables and configuration through simple CLI commands.
Single-server efficiency — Runs comfortably on a single low-cost VPS, avoiding the operational overhead of a full Kubernetes cluster.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Completely free and open-source with no recurring licensing or platform fees.
Near-identical developer experience to Heroku, making migration away from Heroku straightforward.
Lightweight enough to run on a single inexpensive VPS, unlike heavier orchestration platforms.
Large plugin ecosystem covering databases, SSL, and other common infrastructure needs.
Cons
Requires the team to manage, patch, back up, and monitor their own server.
Primarily designed around single-host deployments, with more limited multi-host scaling than Kubernetes.
No official managed hosting or enterprise support contract from a vendor.
Documentation and plugin quality can vary since many plugins are community-maintained.
Pricing
Open Source Free N/A
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dokku free?
Yes, Dokku is completely free and open-source under the MIT license; the only cost is the server it runs on.
Who created Dokku?
Dokku was created by developer Jeff Lindsay in 2013 and is now maintained by an open-source community on GitHub.
How does Dokku deployment work?
Developers push code to Dokku via Git, and Dokku automatically detects the app type, builds a Docker image using a buildpack or Dockerfile, and runs it in a container behind an nginx reverse proxy.
Is Dokku a replacement for Heroku?
Dokku is commonly used as a self-hosted replacement for Heroku, replicating its git-push workflow without the recurring per-dyno fees, though it requires the team to manage its own server.
Can Dokku run multiple applications on one server?
Yes, a single Dokku installation can host and route traffic to many applications on one server, making it efficient for small-to-medium workloads.
What are alternatives to Dokku?
Alternatives include managed platforms like Heroku, Render, Railway, and Fly.io, as well as other self-hosted options like CapRover and Coolify.