Dokku →
Self-Host Without the Ops Pain
Dokku gives you Heroku-like deploys on your own server — until the server goes down at 3am. Runsite gives you the same git-push workflow with managed infrastructure.
// comparison
Runsite vs Dokku
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | Dokku |
|---|---|---|
| Infrastructure | ✓ Fully managed, multi-node | Single VPS, you manage |
| High Availability | ✓ Multi-node, auto-failover | ✗ Single node = single point of failure |
| Managed PostgreSQL | ✓ From €5/mo, auto-backups | ✗ Runs on same host, manual backups |
| SSL Certificates | ✓ Automatic | Via plugin (dokku-letsencrypt) |
| Spending Limits | ✓ Hard cap + Telegram alerts | ✗ VPS bill can spike |
| Deploy from Git | ✓ | ✓ (Buildpacks) |
| Docker Support | ✓ | ✓ |
| Total Cost (small app) | €5/mo | $5-10/mo VPS + your time |
// in-depth comparison
Dokku vs Runsite: What You Need to Know
Dokku is the original open-source Heroku alternative. It runs on a single VPS, supports buildpacks and Dockerfiles, and gives you the git-push deployment workflow without paying for a PaaS. For developers who want Heroku ergonomics on their own hardware, Dokku has been the go-to choice for over a decade.
The fundamental constraint is that Dokku is single-node. Your apps, databases, SSL certificates, and routing all run on one machine. If that VPS reboots, everything goes offline simultaneously. Database backups require manual cron configuration, and you are responsible for every OS patch and security update. Runsite provides the same git-push workflow on managed multi-node infrastructure with automatic failover, isolated managed PostgreSQL with daily backups, and automatic SSL — all in EU data centers.
Developers running production workloads on Dokku who have experienced the stress of single-node failures, or who want to stop spending weekends on server maintenance, will find Runsite delivers the same deployment simplicity with managed reliability and a permanent free tier.
// why switch
Built for European Developers
Everything you need, nothing you don't. Hosted where your users are.
No Server Maintenance
Dokku needs OS patches, security updates, and disk monitoring. Runsite handles all of that — you just push code.
No Single Point of Failure
Dokku runs on one VPS. If it reboots, all your apps go down. Runsite runs on managed multi-node infrastructure with auto-failover.
Managed Databases + Storage
Dokku databases run on the same host as your apps. Runsite offers isolated managed PostgreSQL with auto-backups and S3-compatible storage.
// dokku problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every Dokku frustration, solved.
Dokku problem
"My Dokku server rebooted and everything went down"
Dokku is single-node. One VPS failure takes all your apps, databases, and SSL certificates offline.
Runsite solution
Managed multi-node infrastructure
Your apps run on redundant infrastructure with auto-failover. No single machine can take everything down.
Dokku problem
"I spend weekends patching the OS"
Self-hosting means you're responsible for security patches, kernel updates, and disk space monitoring.
Runsite solution
Fully managed — we handle the ops
Push code, get a URL. OS updates, security patches, and monitoring are our problem, not yours.
Dokku problem
"Database backups? I forgot to set those up"
Dokku databases are plugins running on the same host. Backups require manual cron setup.
Runsite solution
Auto-backups on managed PostgreSQL
Automated daily backups with point-in-time recovery. Your data is safe without any setup on your part.
// getting started
Deploy in 3 Steps
From git push to live — in under 2 minutes.
curl -fsSL https://runsite.app/install | sh runsite init --from github runsite deploy --region eu-central Same Git Push, Zero Ops
Keep the Heroku-style workflow. Ditch the server management.
Start Free on Runsite →