Do I need to know Docker to use Coolify?

No. Nixpacks or Railpack can build most repositories without a Dockerfile, and Coolify creates and runs the containers. Dockerfiles and Compose files work too.

What size VPS do I need for Coolify?

The documented minimum is 2 CPU cores, 2 GB RAM, and 10 GB disk. Plan for more as you add apps, databases, and builds.

Can Coolify run on a 1 GB VPS?

It can, but that is below the recommended minimum. The docs suggest 1 core and 1 GB only if cost is a concern, and they say to watch resource use during builds.

Can I use my own domain with free HTTPS?

Yes. Point DNS at your server, add the domain with https://, and the proxy requests and renews a Let's Encrypt certificate.

Is Coolify really free?

Self-hosted Coolify is free and open source, with the same features as Coolify Cloud. Coolify Cloud is an optional paid service that runs the Coolify instance for you.

Deploy Apps on Your VPS Without Managing Docker

Short answer: Install Coolify, an open-source alternative to Heroku, Vercel, and Netlify, and let it manage Docker for you. Connect a Git repository and push. Coolify builds the app, routes traffic, and requests a free Let's Encrypt certificate, so you do not need a Dockerfile or docker commands unless you want them.

Install

Start with a fresh Linux server you can reach over SSH. Supported distributions are listed in the self-hosted install guide.
Run the command above as root, or with sudo. The installer adds Docker Engine when your distribution supports it.
Open http://<your-server-ip>:8000 and create the admin account immediately. The first person to register becomes the admin.
Back up /data/coolify/source/.env. You need that file to restore Coolify.
The first-app guide deploys nginx:alpine on port 80, on a generated sslip.io address. You do not need a Git repo for that test.

The self-hosted page says Coolify is ready on your server in under a minute. The wait is longer when Docker still has to be installed. If you do not want to run the dashboard, Coolify Cloud hosts it and you connect your servers.

What a small VPS can run

A standard install is three containers: coolify (dashboard and API), coolify-db (PostgreSQL for Coolify's own state), and coolify-redis. Each server also runs a reverse proxy. coolify-sentinel monitoring is optional. Coolify talks to servers over SSH and does not install a permanent agent. How Coolify works.
Documented minimum: 2 CPU cores, 2 GB RAM, and 10 GB disk (amd64 or arm64).
The docs say Coolify can start smaller, for example 1 CPU core, 512 MB RAM, and 4 GB disk, but that is not recommended. If cost is the limit, start with 1 core and 1 GB RAM and upgrade as you grow. Builds on that same server can make it unresponsive. Move builds to a build server or to CI.
One right-sized server is easier to run than several. Add servers when load or availability needs it. Scaling overview.

Push to deploy

Connect a public repository, a deploy key, or a GitHub App. GitLab, Bitbucket, and Gitea work too. Sources.
Point DNS at the server and enter the domain with https://. Traefik or Caddy requests and renews the certificate. Open ports 80 and 443. Firewall.
Nixpacks or Railpack can build most repositories. A Dockerfile, a Compose file, a static site, or a prebuilt image also works. Coolify generates the Compose configuration for apps and databases.
Containers that are already running keep serving traffic if the Coolify dashboard is down. You still own OS updates, the firewall, SSH, and a tested restore.

Many small tools cover git push deploys

Coolify also gives you:

A one-click services catalog (360+ services).
Scheduled database backups to S3-compatible storage, including PostgreSQL. See self-hosting Postgres with backups.
More than one server from one dashboard. Coolify connects over SSH and installs or checks Docker Engine and Compose during validation. Servers.
Preview deployments for pull requests on GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Gitea.
Open source under the Apache-2.0 license. The GitHub repository started in 2021 and still publishes releases.

For a sourced comparison with Dokploy, CapRover, Dokku, and Kamal, see Coolify vs Dokploy vs CapRover vs Dokku vs Kamal. Short buyer answers are on free Heroku alternatives and Netlify alternatives.

Self-hosted or Cloud

Both have the same features. Your apps run on your servers either way.

Self-hosted: free and open source (Apache-2.0). You install, update, and back up the Coolify instance.
Coolify Cloud: the Coolify team hosts the dashboard at app.coolify.io. It starts at $5 per month for 2 servers, plus $3 per month for each additional server. Pricing can change. See pricing.

How do I deploy apps on my own VPS without managing Docker by hand?