What is Coolify? ​
Coolify is a software that makes self-hosting simple and powerful. It lets you run your applications, databases, and services on your own server, whether that’s an old laptop, a Raspberry Pi, or a rented server from a provider like Hetzner ↗.
With Coolify, you get full control over your projects, your data, and your costs. It’s completely free to use, open-source, and has no features locked behind a paywall.
Think of Coolify as your personal alternative to cloud platforms like Vercel ↗, Railway ↗, or Heroku ↗, but without the huge bills or privacy trade-offs.
What Coolify Is Not ​
Coolify isn’t a cloud service that hosts everything for you, you need your own server. That could be your old laptop, a Raspberry Pi, or a rented server from a hosting provider like Hetzner ↗, and you’ll need SSH access to use it.
It’s not a zero-effort solution either, if you choose to self-host, you’ll need to set up your server and install Coolify. But once it’s running, managing your projects becomes very easy.
Features of Coolify ​
Coolify is loaded with tools to make self-hosting smooth and powerful. Here’s a detailed look at what it offers:
| Features | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Any Language | Deploy static sites, APIs, backends, databases, and more with support for all major frameworks. |
| Any Server | Deploy to any server - VPS, Raspberry Pi, EC2, your laptop via SSH. |
| Any Use-Case | Supports single servers, multi-server setups, and Docker Swarm clusters (Kubernetes support coming soon). |
| Any Service | Deploy any Docker-compatible service, plus a wide range of one-click options. |
| Push to Deploy | Git integration with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Gitea, and other platforms. |
| Free SSL Certificates | Automatically sets up and renews Let's Encrypt SSL certificates for custom domains. |
| No Vendor Lock-In | Your data and settings stay on your servers for full control and easy portability. |
| Automatic Backups | Back up data to S3-compatible storage and restore it with one click if needed. |
| Webhooks | Integrate with CI/CD tools like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, or Bitbucket Pipelines. |
| Powerful API | Automate deployments, manage resources, and integrate with your existing tools easily. |
| Real-Time Terminal | Run server commands directly from your browser in real-time. |
| Collaborative | Share projects with your team, control roles, and manage permissions. |
| PR Deployments | Deploy commits and pull requests separately for quick reviews and faster teamwork. |
| Server Automations | Handles server setup tasks automatically after connection, saving you time. |
| Monitoring | Monitor deployments, servers, disk usage, and receive alerts for issues. |
Benefits of Using Coolify ​
Coolify delivers unbeatable advantages for developers who want to self-host. Here’s why it stands out:
| Benefits | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Cost Savings | Avoid skyrocketing cloud costs. Use your own server for a steady, predictable price. |
| No Hidden Costs | Transparent pricing with no unexpected charges. |
| Highly Cost-Efficient | Save thousands monthly compared to traditional cloud platforms. Real examples can be found here ↗, here ↗, and here ↗ |
| Complete Data Privacy | Your data stays on your server, ensuring total control and security. |
| No Feature Restrictions | All features are included in the open-source version—nothing locked behind a paywall. |
| Unlimited Usage | Deploy unlimited websites and applications across any number of servers. |
| Quick Setup | Start hosting in minutes with minimal maintenance required. |
| User-Friendly Interface | Manage your infrastructure through a clean, simple dashboard designed for developers. |
| 100% Open Source | Review the code, contribute to development, and help shape the platform’s future. |
| Active Community | Join over 16,000 people on Discord and 204,000+ servers running Coolify worldwide. |
Getting Started with Coolify ​
Before you jump into using Coolify, it’s worth understanding a few key concepts to make your journey smoother.
Learn about servers, SSH access, and how Coolify manages your projects by checking out our concepts guide ↗.
You have two ways to use Coolify:
Self-Host Coolify ​
- Install Coolify on your own server. This requires setting up the server, installing Coolify, and handling updates yourself.
- You’ll also need to allocate some server resources to run Coolify.
- It’s completely free (except your server bills) and gives you full control over your infrastructure.
Use Coolify Cloud ​
- Let the Coolify team manage Coolify for you.
- With Coolify Cloud, you don’t need to install or update Coolify yourself, and no server resources are required for Coolify itself, it runs on the Coolify team’s managed servers.
- Simply create an account from here ↗, connect your servers via SSH keys, and start deploying. This is a paid service (starting at $5/mo), as it costs the team to host and maintain the infrastructure.
- Updates on Coolify Cloud are thoroughly tested by the core team, so they might be slightly delayed for added stability.
Join Our Community ​
Got questions or need support? Our discord community is here to help. Connect with other Coolify users on our community server to get assistance and share your experiences.