AWS vs Dokku
AWS vs Dokku compared for European indie developers and small startups. Pricing, EU jurisdiction, GDPR posture — and why Runsite (an EU-registered PaaS in Frankfurt) is worth a look.
// aws problems → runsite solutions
Sound Familiar?
Every AWS frustration, solved.
AWS problem
"I need DevOps just to deploy a simple app"
EC2 requires VPC config, security groups, IAM roles, and manual deployment pipelines. Even ECS/Fargate has a steep learning curve.
Runsite solution
Git push and done
Connect your GitHub repo, choose a region, deploy. No cloud certifications required.
AWS problem
"My AWS bill had 47 line items"
EC2, EBS, data transfer, NAT gateway, CloudWatch, Route53, ACM — every service adds charges.
Runsite solution
One line on your invoice
Web service: €5/mo. PostgreSQL: €5/mo. That's it. No data transfer fees, no hidden charges.
AWS problem
"Budget alerts don't actually stop spending"
AWS sends you an email when you hit 80% budget. But charges keep accruing. There's no hard cap.
Runsite solution
Hard spending cap + Telegram alerts
Set a monthly limit. Get Telegram notifications at 80%. We physically stop charges at your cap.
// comparison
Runsite vs AWS
Side-by-side. No marketing fluff — just facts.
| Feature | Runsite | AWS |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Complexity | ✓ Git push deploy | EC2 + VPC + IAM + Security Groups |
| Billing Clarity | ✓ One plan, one price | ✗ 20+ line items per invoice |
| Spending Limits | ✓ Hard cap — cannot overspend | ✗ Budget alerts only, charges continue |
| GDPR Compliance | ✓ EU entity, not subject to CLOUD Act | ✗ US company, CLOUD Act applies |
| Free Tier | ✓ Permanent | 12-month trial only |
| Data Egress | ✓ Included in plan | $0.09/GB after 100GB |
| Service Catalog | Focused PaaS | ✓ 200+ services |
| Global Regions | Frankfurt (eu-central) only | ✓ 30+ regions worldwide |
// the other side
What about Dokku?
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.
// 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.
// 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 |
// why consider runsite
Beyond AWS and Dokku
EU PaaS for indie developers and small European startups. One region: Frankfurt.
EU-First Infrastructure
While AWS and Dokku default to US markets, Runsite is built exclusively for European developers. Frankfurt (eu-central) region, EU entity, EU jurisdiction — no transatlantic transfers.
Real GDPR Compliance
EU-registered entity. Your data is governed by European law. No US jurisdiction, no CLOUD Act.
Predictable Pricing
No per-invocation charges, no surprise bills. Fixed plans with hard spending caps and Telegram alerts.
Common Questions
FAQ
Which is better for EU hosting, AWS or Dokku?
Neither AWS nor Dokku is EU-native. Both are US-headquartered and route the majority of traffic through US data centers. For genuine EU data residency, an EU-registered platform like Runsite is the safer choice — a Frankfurt (eu-central) region under EU jurisdiction, no transatlantic transfers, no CLOUD Act exposure.
Which has the better free tier, AWS or Dokku?
Free tiers on both AWS and Dokku change frequently and often include compute or bandwidth caps that expire after a trial period. If a permanent free tier matters, evaluate the current terms on each provider before committing.
Is AWS or Dokku GDPR-compliant?
Both can be configured to support GDPR-compliant workloads via Data Processing Agreements (DPAs), but as US entities they remain subject to the CLOUD Act. For workloads where US jurisdiction is a hard blocker, an EU-headquartered provider is required.
What is the cheapest way to deploy a side project — AWS or Dokku?
Pricing on both AWS and Dokku can scale unpredictably with traffic or build minutes. Hard spending caps are not available on either platform. Predictable monthly pricing with usage caps is a differentiator to look for elsewhere.
// explore alternatives
Try the European Alternative
Skip the AWS vs Dokku debate. Deploy on Runsite.
Start Free on Runsite →