Laravel Forge vs Dokku
A detailed comparison to help you choose between Laravel Forge and Dokku.
Laravel Forge Server management for PHP/Laravel deployments | Dokku Self-hosted mini Heroku on your own VPS | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Rating | 4.2 (383 reviews) | 4.7 (251 reviews)✓ |
| Pricing model | paid | free |
| Starting price | From €12/mo | Free✓ |
| Best for | Laravel PHP developers who want automated server provisioning and deployment to any cloud VPS | Developers who want Heroku-style deployments at VPS pricing on infrastructure they own and control |
| Tags | ||
| Tags | managed optionapi access | free tieropen sourceself hostable |
| Visit Laravel Forge → | Visit Dokku → | |
Laravel Forge
Pros
- + Laravel community standard
- + Deploy to any VPS provider
- + Manages Nginx, MySQL, Redis automatically
Cons
- - PHP/Laravel centric — limited other language support
- - Monthly fee on top of VPS cost
Dokku
Pros
- + Free and open source — just need a VPS
- + Heroku buildpack compatible
- + Full control over your data and costs
Cons
- - Self-managed — you handle updates and maintenance
- - Requires Linux server knowledge
Stay in the loop
Get weekly updates on the best new AI tools, deals, and comparisons.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.