The Cheapest Way to Host & Deploy websites: Self-Hosting Coolify on Ubuntu (Vercel & Netlify Alternative!)

Looking for the cheapest way to host and deploy your web apps? If you’re tired of paying high fees for Vercel.com , Netlify.com , or Render.com , Coolify is the perfect self-hosted alternative. It’s an open-source deployment platform that lets you launch and manage applications effortlessly—just like Vercel or Netlify—but at a fraction of the cost.

With Coolify, you can deploy Next.js, React.js or any Node.js projects even PHP, and more with a simple and intuitive UI, all running on your own server. Whether you’re using Hetzner, AWS, DigitalOcean, or any VPS, this guide will show you how to install Coolify on Ubuntu from scratch—step by step.

By the end of this guide, you’ll have a fully operational Coolify server, ready to deploy your applications cheaply and efficiently!

What is Coolify?

Coolify is a self-hosted PaaS (Platform-as-a-Service) that allows you to deploy applications without the complexity of Kubernetes. It provides a user-friendly UI, automatic SSL certificates, one-click deployments, and supports applications like Next.js, Node.js, Laravel, Python, and more.

• Cheaper than Vercel & Netlify – No high hosting fees or hidden costs.

• Supports multiple applications – Deploy multiple apps on a single server.

• Automatic SSL – Built-in Let’s Encrypt support for free HTTPS.

• Docker-based deployment – Easy to manage, scale, and deploy in containers.

• Database support – Seamlessly run PostgreSQL, MySQL, Redis, and MongoDB.

• GitHub Integration – Deploy directly from your repositories.

• Built-in CI/CD – Automatically build and deploy apps with every commit.

With Coolify, you get the power of Vercel, Netlify, and Render—but without the high costs!

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Prerequisites:

Before installing Coolify, make sure your Ubuntu server meets the following requirements:

✔ Ubuntu 20.04 / 24.04 , AMD64 or ARM64

✔ Root or sudo access

✔ At least CPU: 2 cores, 2GB RAM (Recommended: 4GB)

✔ A domain name (Optional, but useful for SSL)

✔ Storage: 30 GB of free space

Heads up!

If you’re running both builds and Coolify on the same server, keep an eye on resource usage. High load can make your server unresponsive.

To prevent issues, consider enabling swap space or upgrading your server if needed.

For the best experience, install Coolify on a fresh server to prevent conflicts with any existing applications.

Update and Upgrade Ubuntu

Before we start installing Coolify, update your server’s package list and upgrade existing packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

This ensures that you have the latest security patches and software updates.

·       Log in as the root user (non-root users are not fully supported yet).

·       Install and Configure SSH and open ports 80, 443, 8000 in the firewall.

·       Ensure that curl is installed (it usually comes pre-installed).

Quick Installation (Recommended)

This one-liner will automatically download and install Coolify, setting up everything you need to get started. It takes care of dependencies, Docker installation, and initial configurations—all in just a few minutes!

Before running this script, make sure you are (root) and your server meets the minimum requirements above. For advanced configurations, including firewall setup and troubleshooting, check out the official documentation.

curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | sudo bash

And that's it! you are ready to run 😎

Dont forget to: Secure your Coolify server

Coolify uses Traefik as a reverse proxy and handles HTTPS automatically with Let’s Encrypt.

But Traefik alone is not enough—bots and scanners will still hit your server.

To protect your apps and server from abuse, I recommend installing CrowdSec Firewall (with a free community-driven IP ban list) + optionally enabling Traefik AppSec WAF for extra protection. Check this:

Full guide: Secure your Coolify server & websites with CrowdSec and Traefik

Manual Installation? You can walk through the following steps:

Make sure you are using root user!

1. Install Docker & Docker Compose:

Coolify runs on Docker, so we need to install Docker and Docker Compose first.

A.   Install Docker (version 24+)

Run the following command to install Docker:

 curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
 sudo sh get-docker.sh

After installation, verify Docker is running:

docker --version

Enable and start Docker:

sudo systemctl enable --now docker

B. install Docker Compose:

sudo apt install docker-compose -y

Check if it’s installed correctly:

docker-compose --version

2. Install Coolify on your hosting:

Now that your server is ready, it’s time to install Coolify. Simply clone the Coolify repository and run the installation script:

git clone https://github.com/coollabsio/coolify.git

cd coolify/scripts

./install.sh

Follow the on-screen instructions, and Coolify will be up and running in no time.

Open Coolify install in Your Browser:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:8000

Visit the URL, and you’ll be taken to the registration page to set up your first admin account.

⚠️ Important Warning: Create your admin account immediately after installation. If someone else reaches the registration page before you, they could take full control of your server.

Congrats! You’ve successfully installed Coolify and hosted on your Ubuntu server. Once your Coolify server is live, secure it with CrowdSec Firewall to block bots, scanners, and attacks automatically on Coolify.

Final Thoughts & Tips:

• Coolify + Traefik gives you powerful self-hosted deployment

• Works great as a Vercel/Netlify alternative

• Combine it with CrowdSec Firewall for production-ready security

• Keep your Coolify server updated.

• Use CrowdSec Firewall + Traefik AppSec WAF for better security.

• Use cloud firewall to block unnecessary traffic.

• Monitor your apps with Grafana + Prometheus.

I use this stack to run 100+ Next.js sites with full automation.

Next steps:

I’ll guide you through configuring Coolify, securing your setup, and deploying your first application here: Configure Coolify, Deploy and Manage Your First Project Like a Pro

Secure your Coolify server and websites: CrowdSec Firewall guide on your coolify server

More tutorials coming — follow my blog to stay updated!

But don’t forget: in production, securing your server is critical.

I highly recommend protecting it with CrowdSec Firewall + Traefik integration — free, easy to install, and very effective.

If you want a full guide on how to set up Fail2Ban or compare CrowdSec vs Fail2Ban, stay tuned—I will publish it soon.

Found this useful or inspiring? You can support my work, feel free to Buy me a coffee! ☕

https://www.paypal.me/mustafaramx

https://buymeacoffee.com/mustafa.ramx

Every little bit helps keep the magic alive — and my brain awake 😅

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Need Help Setting Up Coolify?

Looking for expert assistance with installing, configuring, or managing your Coolify server? You can hire me! Whether it’s deployment, troubleshooting, or optimizing your setup, I’ll guide you every step of the way.

📩 Reach out anytime! Let’s get your self-hosted deployment running smoothly and efficiently.

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FAQ

Can I use Fail2Ban with Coolify?

Yes, but a better option is CrowdSec Firewall, which integrates perfectly with Traefik and Coolify and is faster and more flexible than traditional Fail2Ban.

What is the best way to secure Coolify?

Use CrowdSec Firewall to protect your apps and server + configure Traefik properly (don’t expose ports you don’t need).