Dokploy vs Cloudways: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Dokploy and Cloudways comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Dokploy
Free self-hosted PaaS alternative to Vercel and Netlify
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.7/10 vs 7.0/10)
- • You need something completely free
- • Free self-hosted PaaS alternative to Vercel, Netlify, and Heroku for deploying applications and databases
- • Supports Nixpacks, Heroku Buildpacks, Dockerfile, and native Docker Compose with one-click SSL
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform
Best for you if:
- • Managed cloud hosting from $11/month on DigitalOcean to $37/month on Google Cloud
- • Pay-as-you-go with free SSL, backups, staging, and 24/7 support across all plans
| At a Glance |  Dokploy |  Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Paid |
Best For | Hosting & Deployment | Hosting & Deployment |
Rating | 87/100 | 70/100 |
| Feature | Dokploy | Cloudways |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 87 | 70 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Hosting & DeploymentCI/CD | Hosting & DeploymentVPS & Servers |
How Dokploy and Cloudways Compare
Dokploy
Free self-hosted PaaS alternative to Vercel and Netlify
Free · 87/100 score
Cloudways
Managed cloud hosting platform
Paid · 70/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Dokploy is free. Cloudways is paid.
Go with: Dokploy
Want the highest-rated option?
Dokploy: 87/100. Cloudways: 70/100.
Go with: Dokploy
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Dokploy
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Dokploy is free. Cloudways is paid. Go with Dokploy if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Both are hosting & deployment tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Dokploy scores higher: 87/100 vs 70/100.
Key Takeaways
Dokploy
- Higher score: 87/100 vs 70
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Cloudways
The Bottom Line
Dokploy (87/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dokploy or Cloudways better?
Dokploy scores 87/100 in our evaluation. Dokploy is free and Cloudways is paid.
What are Dokploy and Cloudways used for?
Dokploy: Free self-hosted PaaS alternative to Vercel and Netlify. Cloudways: Managed cloud hosting platform.
What does Dokploy cost vs Cloudways?
Dokploy is completely free. Cloudways is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.