If you want Heroku-style deployments on your own server without the monthly bill, this guide will show you how to install Coolify on a VPS in under 30 minutes. Coolify is a free, open-source, self-hostable platform that turns any virtual private server into your own Platform-as-a-Service: push your code, and Coolify builds, deploys, and secures it with free SSL certificates, one-click databases, and automatic Git deployments. Below is the complete, updated walkthrough to install Coolify on a VPS in 2026, from picking the right server to shipping your first live app.
What Is Coolify (and Why Self-Host It)?
Coolify is often described as an open-source alternative to Heroku, Netlify, and Vercel. Instead of paying per project or per build minute, you run Coolify on your own VPS and deploy unlimited applications, databases, and services for the flat cost of the server. It supports Docker-based deployments, static sites, Node.js, PHP, Python, Go, Rust, and more, plus managed databases like PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and Redis.
For developers, agencies, and indie hackers, the appeal is simple: predictable pricing, full data ownership, and no vendor lock-in. When you install Coolify on a VPS you control, your apps, databases, and backups live on infrastructure you own, and you can scale by adding bigger servers instead of upgrading SaaS tiers.
Before You Install Coolify: Server Requirements
Before you install Coolify, make sure your VPS meets these minimum requirements:
- OS: Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS, or Debian 11/12 (fresh install recommended)
- RAM: 2 GB minimum, 4 GB or more recommended
- CPU: 2 vCPUs
- Disk: 30 GB SSD or more
- Network: a public IPv4 address and a domain (or subdomain) pointed at the server
Coolify runs on Docker, so the installer sets Docker up for you automatically. If you do not have a VPS yet, providers like Contabo offer cheap 4 GB RAM plans that are more than enough for a personal Coolify instance, while Ultahost is a solid pick if you want NVMe storage and managed support. A quick refresher on picking the right provider is in our guide to the best VPS providers with open port 25.
How to Install Coolify on a VPS: Step by Step
Follow these four steps to install Coolify on any fresh Ubuntu or Debian VPS.
Step 1: Prepare a Fresh VPS
Start with a clean server. Log in over SSH as root (or a sudo user) and update the system packages:
apt update && apt upgrade -y
Make sure your domain's A record (for example, coolify.yourdomain.com) points to the server's IP address and has had time to propagate. Coolify will request a Let's Encrypt certificate for the dashboard, and that only works if DNS resolves correctly. Also confirm ports 80, 443, and 8000 are open in your firewall.
Step 2: Run the Official Coolify Installer
The fastest way to install Coolify is the official install script. Run it as root:
curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | bash
The script installs Docker and all dependencies, pulls the Coolify images, and starts the platform. On a typical 4 GB VPS this takes 5 to 10 minutes. When it finishes, it prints the dashboard URL, usually http://YOUR-SERVER-IP:8000. Do not close the terminal until you see the success message; interrupting the install midway can leave Docker in a half-configured state.
Step 3: Create Your Admin Account
Open http://YOUR-SERVER-IP:8000 in your browser. The first screen asks you to register the admin user. Use a strong password and an email you actually monitor, because this account receives deployment notifications. Once logged in, go to Settings and set your instance domain (for example, coolify.yourdomain.com) so Coolify can issue an SSL certificate and serve the dashboard over HTTPS.
Step 4: Connect Your Server as a Deployment Destination
Coolify treats the machine it runs on as a “server” resource. Go to Servers, verify the localhost server shows as reachable, and add any additional VPS nodes you want to deploy to. From here you can create projects, attach Git repositories, and provision databases, all from the same dashboard.
Deploy Your First App After You Install Coolify
With the install Coolify process complete, deploying is straightforward. Create a new Project, add a Resource, and choose Application. Paste your Git repository URL (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or any Git URL), pick the build pack or Dockerfile, and set your domain. Coolify builds the image, deploys the container, and provisions a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate automatically.
Need a database? Add a Database resource instead: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, and more are one click away, each with automatic backups you can schedule from the UI. Link the database to your app with an environment variable, redeploy, and you have a full production stack running on your own VPS.
Post-Install Checklist: SSL, Backups, and Firewall
Once you install Coolify, run through this hardening checklist before hosting anything serious:
- Force HTTPS on the dashboard: set the instance domain in Settings and confirm the certificate is valid.
- Enable automatic backups: schedule database backups to S3-compatible storage from each database's Backups tab.
- Lock down SSH: disable password authentication and use SSH keys only.
- Configure the firewall: keep ports 22, 80, and 443 open; you can close port 8000 after switching the dashboard to your domain.
- Set up monitoring: Coolify shows CPU, RAM, and disk usage per server, so glance at it after each deploy.
Troubleshooting Common Install Coolify Issues
Dashboard not reachable on port 8000? Check your provider's firewall panel as well as UFW on the server; many VPS providers block ports at the network level by default.
Installer fails with out-of-memory errors? You need at least 2 GB of RAM. Add a swap file as a temporary fix, but upgrade the plan for production use.
SSL certificate fails? DNS must resolve to the server before Coolify requests the certificate. Wait for propagation and retry from Settings.
Builds are slow? The first build of any app downloads base images and dependencies. Later builds use Docker layer caching and are much faster.
Key Takeaways
- To install Coolify on a VPS you need Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 or Debian, 2+ GB RAM, and a domain pointed at the server.
- The official one-line installer sets up Docker and the whole platform in about 10 minutes.
- After you install Coolify, you get unlimited app and database deployments with free SSL for the flat cost of your VPS.
- Harden the install with HTTPS, automated backups, SSH keys, and a locked-down firewall before going live.
- A cheap 4 GB VPS from providers like Contabo or Ultahost is plenty for a personal or agency Coolify instance.
Related Guides
- Best VPS Providers with Open Port 25 — pick the right server before you install anything.
- How to Install Zimbra Mail Server — another self-hosted workload that runs great on your own VPS.