Coolify
Self-hosted PaaS
An open-source self-hosted platform for deploying applications, databases, services, and Git-based projects on your own servers.
Starter cost
Paid entry
Card required
No
Always-on
Supported
Billing risk
low
Category
Self-hosted PaaS
Cost range
Open-source software is free; server, backup, and bandwidth costs depend on where you host it
Free tier details
Coolify itself is free and open-source; your real cost comes from the server or cloud provider you run it on.
Database fit
Coolify fits Postgres, Redis, MySQL workloads, with the exact storage, compute, and quota story depending on the current plan.
- Best database use
- Self-hosted PaaS, Docker services, users who want control over hosting costs
- Check before launch
- Verify backups, storage quotas, connection limits, regions, and whether a separate database provider is needed.
Stress-test Coolify before you pick it
Answer a short provider-specific form, then run the full bill-risk simulator with your scenario prefilled.
Fit summary
Coolify is strongest when you want PaaS-like deploys but still want to control the server and total hosting bill. It is not hands-off: operations quality depends on how well you manage the underlying machine.
Best fit
Self-hosted PaaS, Docker services, users who want control over hosting costs
Deployment model
Self-hosted control plane running on your own server or cloud account.
Operations owner
You own server updates, backups, monitoring, incident response, and capacity planning.
Billing model
The platform software can start at $0, but the real bill is the server, storage, backups, domains, and bandwidth; it has a no-card starter path.
Runtime fit
Node.js API, Python FastAPI, Docker app, Static frontend, Worker
Data fit
Postgres, Redis, MySQL
Budget fit
Under $5, Under $10, Under $25, Custom
Region strategy
Runs wherever your chosen server or cloud provider is located.
Choose this if
- Self-hosted PaaS
- Open-source
- You want a beginner path that can start without adding a card.
Think twice if
- Requires server administration
- Budget for server costs, monitoring, patching, backups, domains, and incident recovery.
- You need a provider to handle patching, backups, and incidents for you.
Decision checks
Use these notes as a launch checklist, not a final pricing promise. Verify live provider limits before moving real users.
Strengths
- Open-source
- supports apps and databases
- good control over infrastructure
Watch outs
- Requires server administration
- backups and security are your responsibility
- Budget for server costs, monitoring, patching, backups, domains, and incident recovery.
Before launch
- Confirm the no-card starter path still exists before relying on it.
- Confirm the minimum paid plan covers your expected app, database, and bandwidth usage.
- Verify database storage, backups, connection limits, and whether the database is bundled or external.
- Confirm always-on services, workers, and cron jobs are included in the plan you choose.