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.
Best Dokku alternative: quick answer
The best Dokku alternative depends on your stack, but for EU-based indie developers and small startups, Runsite is the strongest option: GDPR-compliant hosting in Frankfurt (eu-central), predictable EUR pricing with hard spending caps, and a permanent free tier that needs no credit card. Unlike Dokku, your data never leaves the EU or falls under the US CLOUD Act, so compliance is the default rather than a configuration step.
// 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 |
Pricing and feature details verified June 2026. Always confirm current rates on Dokku’s official pricing page.
// in-depth comparison
Dokku vs Runsite: What You Need to Know
For over a decade, one tool has been the default answer for developers who wanted Heroku ergonomics on their own hardware: Dokku. It was the original open-source Heroku alternative, running on a single VPS with buildpack and Dockerfile support and the familiar git-push deployment workflow, no PaaS bill attached.
Here is the catch. Dokku is single-node. Your apps, databases, SSL certificates, and routing all live on one machine. Reboot that VPS and everything goes offline at once. Backups mean hand-writing cron jobs. Every OS patch and security update is on you.
Runsite keeps the same git-push workflow but moves it onto managed multi-node infrastructure with automatic failover, isolated managed PostgreSQL with daily backups, and automatic SSL, all in EU data centers. Developers who have felt the stress of a single-node failure, or who are done spending weekends on server maintenance, get that deployment simplicity back 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
Common Dokku frustrations. 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 platform, other angles
Keep exploring
Same Git Push, Zero Ops
Keep the Heroku-style workflow. Ditch the server management.
Start Free on Runsite →