Dokku
App in the BluixApps catalog
What it is
Dokku is mini Heroku — git-push deploys, buildpacks, automatic SSL via Let's Encrypt, scaling via Docker. Long-running OSS PaaS that pioneered the "simple PaaS on a VPS" pattern. Direct alternative to Coolify with stronger Heroku compatibility.
What it's for
- Git-push deploys — Heroku-style workflow on your own VPS
- Multi-app hosting — dozens of apps on one VPS via subdomains
- Auto SSL — Let's Encrypt cert per app
- Plugin ecosystem — Postgres, Redis, MySQL, cron, scheduled tasks
- Heroku migration — same buildpacks, similar CLI
Who it's for
- Solo developers hosting side projects cheaply
- Indie teams with multiple apps under one infrastructure
- Heroku refugees post-pricing changes
- Cost-conscious agencies delivering client deployments
- DevOps learners understanding PaaS without K8s complexity
Why teams pick Dokku over alternatives
- MIT license — fully open
- Heroku-compatible — buildpacks + Procfile work unchanged
- Mature — production-deployed for years
- Lightweight — runs on $5/mo VPS
- Plugin ecosystem — official + community plugins
- Active maintenance — backed by Dokku LLC
Integrations
- Buildpacks — Heroku buildpacks (Node, Python, Ruby, Go, etc.) work directly
- Plugins — Postgres, MySQL, Redis, MongoDB, Memcached, RabbitMQ, ClickHouse, more
- Let's Encrypt — auto-cert via plugin
- CI/CD — GitHub Actions, GitLab CI, custom hooks
- Container support — Dockerfile + cloud-native buildpacks
- CLI — manage from local laptop
- Multi-app — apps:create, apps:list
Notable users & community
- 29k+ GitHub stars
- Long-running OSS project (>10 years)
- Active community
- Backed by Dokku LLC + community maintainers
- Standard Heroku-alternative in self-hosted DevOps
Tips & operations
- HOST-LEVEL install, not Docker — Dokku runs as systemd, manages Docker
- SSH key auth mandatory — Dokku uses SSH for git remote + commands
- Ubuntu/Debian only — supported distros
- Default Buildpacks — handle 80% of apps; Dockerfile fallback for the rest
- Plugin discipline — only install plugins you need
- Backup is critical — app data lives on host filesystem
What we ship in BluixApps
- Official Dokku bootstrap installer (apt-based, NOT Docker container)
- Configured with public IP as default domain
- SSH key from /root/.ssh/authorized_keys reused for Dokku
- Required Ubuntu / Debian distros (RHEL family unsupported)
- Plugin install commands documented for Postgres/Redis/Let's Encrypt
- Host-level systemd service — managed via apt updates
- Backup: standard host backup (Dokku data in /home/dokku/)
Get this app — pick a BluixApps plan
Same catalog. Scaling tenant isolation, white-label and support tier.
| Tier | Tenants | Catalog | Support | White-label | Monthly | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stacks | 1 | 19 curated stacks | Standard | — | $19/mo | DetailDeploy |
| Starter | 10 | Full catalog | Standard | +$15–25/mo | $49/mo | DetailDeploy |
| Pro | 25 | Full catalog | Priority bugfix | +$15–25/mo | $149/mo | DetailDeploy |
| Growth | 100 | Full catalog | Priority bugfix | +$15–25/mo | $349/mo | DetailDeploy |
| Scale | 500 | Full catalog | 7-day window | +$15–25/mo | $799/mo | DetailDeploy |
| Enterprise | Unlimited | Full catalog | Priority 7-day | Bundled | $1,499/mo | DetailDeploy |
