Coolify vs CapRover
Two open-source, self-hostable PaaS panels for deploying apps and services on your own servers via Docker. CapRover is the older, rock-solid veteran on Docker Swarm; Coolify is the modern, fast-moving option with a bigger service catalogue. Here's an honest, source-checked head-to-head.
Both are free to self-host and deploy standard Docker containers. In short:
- Pick CapRover if → you want maximum stability, proven Docker Swarm clustering and a tool with no paid tier at all.
- Pick Coolify if → you want a modern dashboard, 280+ one-click services and a larger, faster-moving community.
- Either way → Buddy can build and deploy to whichever one you run — it's a CI/CD layer, not a competing panel.
Side by side
Coolify vs CapRover, compared
The dimensions that actually decide it. Green marks the clearer advantage on that row — not a verdict on the whole tool.
| Dimension | Coolify | CapRover |
|---|---|---|
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 (+ terms) |
| Self-host cost | Free | Free |
| Paid / managed tier | Coolify Cloud from $5/mo | None — free only |
| Under the hood | Docker (Nixpacks) | Docker Swarm + Nginx |
| Multi-server clustering | Experimental | ✓ Swarm (proven) |
| One-click services | 280+ | One-click app store |
| Dashboard / DX | Modern, polished | Simpler, older |
| Maturity | Newer, fast-moving (~58k★) | Very mature since ~2018 (~15k★) |
| Stack | PHP / Laravel | Node.js |
| Best for | Breadth + modern UI | Stability + zero paid tier |
Star counts and prices change often — compiled July 2026 from each project's official docs and pricing pages.
Official pages: Coolify · CapRover · CapRover docs
The honest split
Where each one wins
Coolify wins on…
- A modern, polished dashboard with live logs and one-click rollback.
- 280+ one-click services — the widest catalogue out of the box.
- A larger, faster-moving community and a rapid release cadence.
- An optional managed control-plane (Coolify Cloud) if you don't want to host the panel yourself.
CapRover wins on…
- Maturity and stability — battle-tested since ~2018 on Docker Swarm + Nginx.
- Proven multi-node clustering, not an experimental mode.
- Completely free with no paid tier — simple, predictable, no upsell.
- Lightweight, "boring" tech that just keeps running.
The third option
Whichever you pick, Buddy handles build & deploy
Coolify and CapRover answer "where do my apps run?" Buddy answers "how do they get built and shipped there?" It's a visual CI/CD layer that sits in front of either panel — so you keep self-hosting and stop hand-managing deploys.
Visual pipelines
Build, test and deploy by arranging actions — no YAML wrestling. The pipeline stays in sync with your repo.
Docker layer caching
Layers cache between runs at the platform level, so multi-minute builds drop to seconds once warm.
Deploy to your box
Ship to your CapRover cluster, your Coolify server, any host over SSH or API, or Buddy's own hosting.
Common questions
Coolify vs CapRover — common questions
Is CapRover better than Coolify?
It depends on what you value. CapRover is older and exceptionally stable, built on Docker Swarm + Nginx, and completely free with no paid tier. Coolify has a more modern dashboard, 280+ one-click services and a larger, faster-moving community. Both are open source and free to self-host, so it comes down to proven stability and simplicity versus breadth and momentum.
Is CapRover free?
Yes. CapRover is completely free and open source (Apache 2.0) and self-hosted only — there's no managed cloud or paid tier. Coolify is also free to self-host but additionally sells Coolify Cloud, a managed control-plane from $5/month; CapRover has no equivalent paid offering.
Does CapRover support multiple servers?
Yes. CapRover is built on Docker Swarm, so it supports a multi-node cluster natively and has done so for years. Coolify can run multiple servers too, but its own docs still describe multi-server and Swarm mode as experimental, so CapRover has the more battle-tested clustering story.
Should I switch from Coolify to CapRover?
Switch if you prize maturity, stability and a genuinely no-paid-tier tool over a modern UI and the largest service catalogue. Because both deploy standard Docker containers, migration is mostly redefining your apps and remapping environment variables and volumes. If you want the newest features, a polished dashboard and 280+ one-click services, Coolify is the stronger pick.
Can I use Buddy with CapRover or Coolify?
Yes. Buddy is a visual CI/CD layer, not a competing panel. It builds and tests your code on every push with Docker layer caching, then deploys the result to whichever box you run — your CapRover cluster, your Coolify server, any other host over SSH or API, or Buddy's own hosting.