Dokku vs Serversinc
Dokku gives one server a Heroku-style git push. Serversinc runs the apps, databases and backups across a fleet.
Checked against Dokku's public pricing and docs on 2026-09-27.
What Dokku is, and what Serversinc is
Both get your apps running. Here is how each one does it.
Dokku is an open-source PaaS built around a single server. You git push, it builds with Heroku buildpacks or a Dockerfile, and plugins add databases and other services. It's free and driven from the CLI; Dokku Pro adds a paid web UI, and a k3s scheduler covers multi-node setups.
Serversinc is a hosted control plane for every server you run. It builds from GitHub or pulls an image, rolls out behind a health check, and manages databases, backups, metrics and alerts across the fleet. You pay £5 a month for three servers and £2 for each after.
What the bill looks like
Dokku is free and open source. Dokku Pro, a paid add-on, adds a web UI and JSON API.
- Software
- Dokku $0; Dokku Pro is a paid licence Serversinc £5/mo for three servers, £2 per server after
- Dashboard
- Dokku Dokku Pro only Serversinc Included
- Servers per install
- Dokku One by default; multi-node through the k3s scheduler Serversinc Your whole fleet in one organisation
- Alerts
- Dokku Bring your own tooling Serversinc Included
List prices in each vendor's own currency. Server costs from your cloud provider are billed separately on both sides unless stated.
Side by side
Deploys, databases, backups, alerts and automation.
- Interface
- Dokku SSH CLI and git push; web UI with Dokku Pro Serversinc Dashboard, REST API and MCP server
- Sources
- Dokku git push with Heroku buildpacks, Dockerfile or an image Serversinc GitHub App builds and Docker images from any registry
- Deploys
- Dokku Zero-downtime checks before the old container retires Serversinc Rolling or recreate, gated on a health check, with rollback when it fails
- Databases
- Dokku Official plugins for Postgres, MySQL, Redis and more Serversinc Postgres, MySQL or MariaDB with users, schemas, grants and password rotation
- Backups
- Dokku Database plugin backups to S3, set up per service from the CLI Serversinc Database and volume backups to S3, R2, B2 or Spaces, scheduled from the dashboard
- Servers
- Dokku One server by default; a k3s scheduler for multi-node Serversinc Many servers, imported or provisioned on DigitalOcean or Hetzner
- Monitoring
- Dokku Not included Serversinc Server metrics and disk insights, to email, Slack or a webhook
- Team access
- Dokku SSH keys on the server Serversinc Organisation members, 2FA, session control and an activity log
Both are good tools. Pick the one that fits.
Where each one is the stronger choice, stated plainly.
Pick Dokku if
- You run everything on one server and want a free, Heroku-style git push.
- You rely on Heroku buildpacks rather than Dockerfiles.
- You want Redis or other plugin-managed services next to your database.
- You're comfortable in the shell and want no hosted service in the loop.
Pick Serversinc if
- You run more than one server and want them all on one screen.
- You want a dashboard and API your team can use without SSH keys.
- You want backups, metrics and alerts set up from one place.
- You deploy prebuilt images from CI.
Dokku vs Serversinc, answered
Connect your first server
Import a server you already run, or provision one on your own cloud account. The first three servers are £5 a month.