Self-host Heroku

App platform / git-push deploy · Category: PaaS & app hosting

Heroku invented the 'git push, app appears' developer experience. Self-host replacements have caught up — Coolify and Dokku in particular feel like Heroku on a VPS.

Heroku pricing anchor: $5-25/dyno/mo for app dynos; add-ons billed separately.

Dokku dokku/dokku alive

GitHub: ★ 31.9k · last commit today · 20 open issues
License: MIT
Setup time: 15min (single-line install on a fresh Ubuntu 22.04 VPS)
Monthly cost: $5 VPS for small apps; scale the box as you grow.

Migration sketch. On the new Dokku box: `dokku apps:create <app>`. Locally: `git remote add dokku dokku@<host>:<app>`, then `git push dokku main`. Heroku Postgres → `pg_dump | psql` into a Dokku Postgres plugin instance. Heroku config vars → `dokku config:set` mirrors them.

Good fit forDevs who specifically want the Heroku CLI muscle memory.

Weak atSingle-host (no built-in clustering); buildpacks support is solid but not always 1:1 with Heroku's.

Coolify coollabsio/coolify alive

GitHub: ★ 54.8k · last commit 10d ago · 756 open issues
License: Apache-2.0
Setup time: 10min (single-line bash installer)
Monthly cost: $10 VPS for the controller + apps.

Migration sketch. Coolify imports a GitHub repo and builds via Nixpacks (Heroku's buildpack spiritual successor). Add Postgres / Redis as Coolify resources, then `pg_dump | psql` from Heroku.

Good fit forTeams that want a UI + multi-server + databases in one tool.

Weak atHeavier than Dokku; less of a 'pure' Heroku feel.

CapRover caprover/caprover alive

GitHub: ★ 15.0k · last commit 4w ago · 181 open issues
License: Apache-2.0
Setup time: 20min (Docker Swarm setup)
Monthly cost: $10 VPS for the controller.

Migration sketch. CapRover → Apps → New App; deploy from git or via the CLI's `caprover deploy`. Use the One-Click App Postgres template, then `pg_dump | psql` from Heroku.

Good fit forTeams that want a Heroku-like UI with a built-in app store of one-click services.

Weak atSwarm is showing its age vs Compose-based alternatives.

In a terminal? npx os-alt heroku prints this table — how the CLI works →