DigitalOcean

Best Self Hosted Alternatives to DigitalOcean

A curated collection of the 3 best self hosted alternatives to DigitalOcean.

Cloud infrastructure provider offering virtual machines (Droplets), managed Kubernetes, managed databases, object (Spaces) and block storage (Volumes), load balancers, networking (VPC, firewalls, floating IPs), container registry, and developer tools for deploying web applications and services.

Alternatives List

#1
Coolify

Coolify

Open-source, self-hostable PaaS to deploy websites, full-stack apps, databases, and Docker services on your own servers with Git-based CI/CD workflows.

Coolify screenshot

Coolify is an open-source, self-hostable platform-as-a-service that helps you deploy and manage applications, databases, and Docker-based services on your own infrastructure via SSH. It aims to provide a Heroku/Vercel/Netlify-style experience without vendor lock-in.

Key Features

  • Deploy static sites, APIs, and full-stack apps across many languages and frameworks
  • Git-based “push to deploy” workflows with support for popular Git providers
  • One-click deployment catalog for a large set of Docker-compatible services
  • Automatic TLS certificate provisioning and renewal for custom domains
  • Built-in database provisioning and automated backups to S3-compatible storage
  • Webhooks and a REST API for automation and CI/CD integrations
  • Real-time in-browser terminal for server and deployment management
  • Team collaboration with roles/permissions and shared projects
  • Pull request / preview deployments to review changes before merging
  • Basic monitoring and notifications for deployments and server resources

Use Cases

  • Replace managed PaaS products for hosting web apps on VPS or bare metal
  • Run an internal deployment platform for teams with previews and role-based access
  • Deploy and manage databases and common infra services alongside applications

Limitations and Considerations

  • Requires Docker-based deployments; services generally need to be containerized
  • Feature set and operational complexity can increase when managing many servers

Coolify is a strong fit for developers and teams who want an easy, Git-driven deployment workflow while keeping full control over infrastructure, data, and configurations. It scales from a single server to multi-server setups and supports both apps and supporting services in one place.

49.6kstars
3.4kforks
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#2
CapRover

CapRover

CapRover is an open-source platform to deploy, manage and scale apps using Docker and nginx with a web UI and CLI, automatic SSL, one-click databases and clustering support.

CapRover is a lightweight, open-source platform-as-a-service for deploying and managing web applications and databases. It provides a simple web UI and CLI that automate container lifecycle, SSL provisioning and HTTP routing so developers can deploy apps quickly.

Key Features

  • Automated app deployment using Docker images and build-from-source paths (git/webhooks/CLI/uploads).
  • Web-based dashboard plus CLI for management, automation and scripting.
  • Built-in HTTP routing and load balancing powered by nginx with customizable templates.
  • Automatic TLS certificate provisioning and renewal via Let's Encrypt.
  • One-click installable database and service apps (examples: MongoDB, MySQL/Postgres templates available).
  • Cluster support using Docker Swarm to attach multiple nodes and enable automatic nginx load-balancing.
  • Support for persistent volumes, environment variables, port and domain mappings, and instance scaling.
  • Extensible deployment workflows (webhooks, git push, CLI) and customizable build commands.
  • Basic runtime monitoring integration (NetData) and logs access via the dashboard.

Use Cases

  • Hosting web applications (Node, Python, PHP, Ruby, Go, etc.) with automated HTTPS and domain management.
  • Rapidly provisioning development, staging and small production environments with prebuilt DB/service apps.
  • Providing teams a simple internal PaaS to standardize deployments and reduce ops overhead.

Limitations and Considerations

  • Uses Docker Swarm as the built-in orchestration layer rather than Kubernetes; teams requiring Kubernetes-native features or ecosystems may find functionality limited.
  • Not focused on large-scale, multi-region enterprise orchestration—advanced scheduling, multi-cluster federation and some enterprise-grade RBAC features are not native.
  • Observability and advanced metrics beyond bundled NetData/log access require external tooling integration and additional setup.

CapRover is best suited for teams and developers who want a straightforward, scriptable PaaS experience on their own infrastructure without learning low-level container and proxy configuration. It emphasizes rapid deployment, easy DB/service provisioning and customizable nginx routing while trading off some advanced orchestration and enterprise features.

14.8kstars
956forks
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#3
FreedomBox

FreedomBox

FreedomBox is a personal server platform that makes it easy to install and manage privacy-respecting apps at home, including chat, VPN, file sync, web hosting, and backups.

FreedomBox screenshot

FreedomBox is a personal server platform built to help non-experts run common online services from home while keeping data under their control. It provides a web interface to install, configure, and update a curated set of free software applications on supported hardware.

Key Features

  • App dashboard for one-click installation and administration of server applications
  • Private file sharing and syncing for personal and family use
  • Secure communications with decentralized chat and audio/video calling options
  • Built-in VPN server for secure remote access to home services and devices
  • Privacy-enhancing proxy capabilities for safer browsing on untrusted networks
  • Self-hosted web publishing options such as blogs and wikis
  • CalDAV/CardDAV-style synchronization for calendars and contacts
  • Home-network media sharing and device backup/NAS-style use

Use Cases

  • Replace multiple cloud accounts with a single personal server for files, contacts, and publishing
  • Provide secure remote access and private networking for traveling or remote work
  • Run family or small-group communications and collaboration services with more control over data

Limitations and Considerations

  • Best suited to the set of applications packaged/integrated by the project; unsupported apps may require manual administration outside the web UI
  • Performance and available features depend on the chosen hardware and installed applications

FreedomBox is a strong choice for individuals and households that want an approachable, privacy-focused way to host essential internet services. It combines a curated app ecosystem with simplified administration to reduce the complexity of running a home server.

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Why choose an open source alternative?

  • •Data ownership: Keep your data on your own servers
  • •No vendor lock-in: Freedom to switch or modify at any time
  • •Cost savings: Reduce or eliminate subscription fees
  • •Transparency: Audit the code and know exactly what's running