Short answer: Coolify is an open-source Netlify alternative you run on your own server. It deploys static sites from GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or Gitea, creates a preview deployment for a pull request, and serves your domain with automatic HTTPS. The same server can also run a server-side app and a database.
$curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | sudo bash Static sites from Git
The Static build pack serves HTML, CSS, and
JavaScript that are already in the repository, using Nginx. Set the base directory to / or to a
folder such as /dist.
If the site needs a compile step, use Nixpacks or Railpack, choose static as the site type, and set the publish directory to the build output.
Connect a public repository, a deploy key, or a Git app. Sources. On GitHub, a GitHub App, GitHub Actions, or a webhook can deploy when you push. GitLab, Bitbucket, and Gitea are documented sources too. Install steps are in the VPS guide.
Preview deployments
A preview deployment runs the pull request or merge request apart from production. It can have its own domain and its own environment variables. Coolify deletes an automatically created preview after the request is closed or merged. GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Gitea are documented.
The default preview hostname template is {{pr_id}}.{{domain}}. A name such as
123.preview.example.com needs a wildcard DNS record that points at the server.
Custom domains and HTTPS
Point DNS at the server. Add the hostname with https://. Traefik or Caddy requests and renews the
certificate. Ports 80 and 443 must reach the proxy.
Domains.
Generated sslip.io test URLs stay on HTTP. Use a domain you control when you want HTTPS.
Apps and databases on the same server
Nixpacks, Railpack, a Dockerfile, or Compose can run a server-side app on the server you connect. You can also add PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, MongoDB, Redis, Dragonfly, KeyDB, ClickHouse, or SQLite. Databases. Apps on the same Docker network use the internal database URL. A new database stays on the private network unless you publish it. Build servers cannot host databases. PostgreSQL. Postgres with backups.
Self-hosted Coolify has no license fee (Apache-2.0). You pay for the server. Coolify Cloud hosts the dashboard only, and your sites still run on your servers. See pricing. Netlify's own pages are the source for Netlify facts on the Netlify comparison. The cost model is also on the free Heroku alternatives page.
FAQ
Can Coolify host a static site?
Yes. If the repository already contains the HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, the Static build pack serves them with Nginx. If the site needs a build command, use Nixpacks or Railpack, set the site type to static, and set the publish directory.
Does Coolify create a preview for a pull request?
Yes. A preview deployment runs that pull request or merge request separately, with its own domain and environment variables. GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, and Gitea are documented. Coolify removes an automatically created preview after the request is closed or merged.
Can I use my own domain with automatic HTTPS?
Yes. Point DNS at your server and add the hostname with https://. Traefik or Caddy requests and renews the certificate. Ports 80 and 443 must reach the proxy.
Can the same server run an app and a database?
Yes. You can deploy a server-side app with Nixpacks, Railpack, a Dockerfile, or Compose, and run a database on a server you connect. Apps on the same network use the internal database URL. Build servers cannot host databases.
Get started.
Install Coolify and deploy a site from Git. If you would rather not run the dashboard, Coolify Cloud hosts it. Your sites stay on your servers.