Coolify

Coolify on RepoCloud

Coolify is an open-source, self-hostable alternative to Heroku, Vercel, Netlify and Railway. On RepoCloud you install it on your own VPS with AI Deploy: a plain Ubuntu 24.04 server is created and the DevOps AI Agent installs Coolify on it while you follow the chat. The server has root access, SSH, a browser-based serial console, and all the management tools in the RepoCloud dashboard.

• Git Deploys

  Deploy from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or Gitea. Once the repository’s webhook or a Git App is connected, a push starts a deployment. Builds use Nixpacks, Railpack, a Dockerfile, static files, or Docker Compose

• Hundreds of Templates

  Hundreds of one-click templates, such as WordPress, n8n, Grafana, Plausible, MinIO, and Ghost

• Databases

  Create PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, and more as resources, with scheduled backups for every engine listed here except Redis

• Certificates and Previews

  Coolify’s reverse proxy requests Let’s Encrypt certificates for the domains you add, pull requests can get their own preview deployments, and a wildcard domain can be set for generated addresses

• Full Root Access

  SSH into your server, use the browser-based serial console, and manage everything at the OS level

• S3 Backups

  Scheduled database backups can be copied to S3-compatible storage and restored from the dashboard with Import Backup (not for ClickHouse or Redis)

Installing Coolify with AI Deploy

RepoCloud has no ready-made Coolify template. Coolify is installed on a blank Ubuntu server by the DevOps AI Agent, from Coolify’s public repository.

Prerequisites

• A RepoCloud account with a balance above $3
• A server of Tier 3 or larger. Coolify’s documentation gives 2 CPU cores, 2 GB of RAM and 10 GB of disk space as its minimum; Tier 3 has 2 vCPU, 2 GB of RAM and a 40 GB SSD, while Tier 2 has one vCPU. Heavier workloads on the same server need a larger tier

Steps

1. Open AI Deploy

   Go to repocloud.io/ai-deploy.

2. Paste the Repository

   Enter Coolify’s repository, https://github.com/coollabsio/coolify, and a project name for your own reference.

3. Choose a Tier

   Select Tier 3 or a larger tier. A server can later move to a tier whose disk is the same size or larger, and a resize can be refused.

4. Add Instructions (Optional)

   Custom instructions tell the agent what you expect. Examples: “Install Coolify with its official install script and create the administrator account during the installation.” or “When you are done, tell me the address of the dashboard and the ports Coolify needs open.”

5. Deploy and Follow the Chat

   Click Deploy. A dedicated IPv4 address is included with every VPS at no extra charge. The chat opens once the server is ready, and AI-assisted deployment typically takes 5–15 minutes. The agent reports the dashboard’s address and any logins it created.

First-Time Setup

1. Open the Dashboard

   Open the address the agent reported. Coolify’s documentation lists the ports of a Coolify server: 8000 for the dashboard by IP address (http://<your-ip>:8000), 6001 for real-time updates and 6002 for the web terminal when you use the IP address, 22 for SSH, and 80 and 443 for HTTP and HTTPS traffic through Coolify’s proxy.

2. Sign In

   Use the login the agent reported. Coolify’s documentation describes pre-creating the root account during the installation so that the registration page is never exposed, which you can ask the agent to do.

3. Check Your Server

   A standard Coolify installation has a server named localhost, the server Coolify runs on. It cannot be removed.

4. Create Your First Project

   Coolify organizes work into projects. Create one (e.g., “My First Project”) to group your applications, databases, and services.

Deploying Applications

From a Git Repository

1. Create a New Resource

   Open a project and its environment, select + New, then choose Application.

2. Choose a Source

   Choose a public repository, a deploy key, or a Git App (GitHub App or GitLab App).

3. Select Repository and Branch

   Pick the repository and branch you want to deploy. The Deploy on push (webhooks) setting under Advanced > Deployment redeploys on every push; it works once the repository’s webhook or a Git App is connected.

4. Configure the Build

   Choose the build method: Nixpacks, Railpack, Static, Dockerfile, or Docker Compose. Set environment variables, build arguments, and resource limits as needed.

5. Add a Domain

   Open the application’s Domains settings, add the domain with https:// in front, and point its DNS record at the server. With no wildcard domain set, Coolify generates an sslip.io address from the server’s IP.

6. Deploy

   Click Deploy. Watch the Deployment Logs. Once the build completes and the domain’s DNS record points at the server, your app answers on the domain.

From a Template

Coolify ships with hundreds of one-click service templates:

1. Browse Templates

   Open a project and environment, select Create New Resource, then choose a one-click Service.

2. Select a Template

   Choose a template (e.g., WordPress, Plausible Analytics, n8n, Uptime Kuma). Each template starts from its own default configuration with generated initial values.

3. Configure and Deploy

   Review Configuration > General, Environment Variables, and Persistent Storages, fill every required variable, and press Deploy.

Popular templates include:

• CMS: WordPress, Ghost, Strapi, Directus
• Analytics: Plausible, Umami, GoatCounter
• Automation: n8n, Activepieces
• Monitoring: Uptime Kuma, Grafana, Beszel
• Storage: MinIO, Nextcloud, Seafile
• Development: Gitea, Code Server, Coder

Managing Databases

Coolify can create, configure, back up, and restore databases as resources:

• PostgreSQL — connection strings from the database page; pgAdmin is a separate template you deploy next to it
• MySQL / MariaDB — standalone or as part of a service stack
• MongoDB — a standalone container
• Redis — caches, queues, streams, and key-value data

Depending on the engine, Coolify provides:

• Connection strings and credentials
• Scheduled backups for PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, ClickHouse, and SQLite, optionally copied to S3-compatible storage added under S3 Storage
• Restore with Import Backup (not for ClickHouse or Redis)
• CPU and memory metrics, once metrics are enabled on the server

Custom Domains and SSL

Coolify’s own proxy requests certificates for the domains you add inside Coolify. This is separate from the RepoCloud Custom Domain section.

For the Coolify dashboard itself: set the URL under Settings > General in Coolify, which is Coolify’s own feature for the dashboard’s domain.

For applications deployed inside Coolify:

1. Open the application’s Domains settings in the Coolify dashboard
2. Add your domain with https:// in front (e.g., https://app.yourdomain.com)
3. Create a DNS A record pointing to your VPS IPv4 address
4. Coolify’s proxy then requests a Let’s Encrypt certificate. This needs the DNS record in place and port 80 reachable

Managing the Server

Your server has its own manage page in the RepoCloud dashboard: its address and SSH command, power controls, the browser console, SSH keys, resizing, snapshots, usage charts and the option to delete it. Managing VPS Apps describes each part, and Resume Chat on the same page reopens the chat with the DevOps AI Agent. Take a snapshot before you upgrade Coolify or make other risky changes, so you can roll back.

Upgrading Coolify

Coolify manages its own updates. When a new version is available, an Update available badge appears beside the version number at the top left of the Coolify sidebar.

1. Check for Updates

   Look for the Update available badge beside the version number, or open Settings > Updates and press Check now.

2. Create a Snapshot

   Before upgrading, create a snapshot from the RepoCloud manage page so you can roll back if something goes wrong. Coolify also advises backing up its own instance first.

3. Run the Upgrade

   Press Upgrade Now with no deployment running. The dashboard is unavailable briefly (usually under a minute) while Coolify restarts. The update changes Coolify only, not the applications, databases, and services it manages.

4. Verify

   The version number at the top left of the sidebar shows the new version. Check that your applications are still running.

Troubleshooting

Use Cases

Coolify is ideal for:

• Indie developers and startups who want Heroku-like convenience without vendor lock-in or per-app pricing
• Agencies deploying multiple client sites from Git with certificates for the domains they add in Coolify and preview environments
• Teams that need databases next to their applications, with scheduled backups and CPU and memory metrics
• Self-hosters migrating from other PaaS providers who want to keep their deployment workflow

Next Steps

• Install Coolify

  Start an AI Deploy with Coolify’s repository

• Coolify Documentation (opens in a new tab)

  Read the official Coolify documentation for advanced features

• Dokploy

  Explore Dokploy as an alternative Docker-focused deployment platform

• VPS Apps Overview

  Learn about VPS Apps and the RepoCloud manage page