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Is Coolify Worth It in 2026? Our Honest Verdict
Recommended
Coolify: Coolify is the open-source PaaS every developer wants.
Rating★ 4.4/5
Starting price$5/mo (cloud hosted)
Best forDevelopers who want PaaS convenience on
CategoryDeveloper Tools
Who Coolify Is Worth It For
- ✓Developers who want PaaS convenience on their own servers
- ✓Self-hosted means you own your data
- ✓Incredibly cost-effective
- ✓Active open-source community
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- ✕Not ideal for teams wanting fully managed infrastructure with zero ops
- ✕Requires server management knowledge
- ✕Docs could be better
- ✕Not as polished as commercial PaaS
Is Coolify Pricing Fair?
| Tier | Price |
|---|---|
| Free | Free self-hosted |
| Starter | $5/mo (cloud hosted) |
Pricing verified March 2026.
How Coolify Compares
| Coolify | Dify | AssemblyAI | Clerk | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | $5/mo (cloud hosted) | $59/mo | $0.37/hour | $25/mo |
| Rating | ★ 4.4 | ★ 4.9 | ★ 4.9 | ★ 4.9 |
| Verdict | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended | Recommended |
AICores Verdict on Coolify
Coolify is the open-source PaaS every developer wants. Self-host Heroku on a $5 VPS. The project moves fast and the community is excellent.
AICores Editorial Review
Reviewed by AICores Editorial Team
Last updated: May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Coolify worth the money?▼
Coolify is the open-source PaaS every developer wants. Self-host Heroku on a $5 VPS. The project moves fast and the community is excellent.
Is there a free version of Coolify?▼
Yes, Coolify offers a free tier. Paid plans start at $5/mo (cloud hosted) and include additional features and capacity.
What are the best alternatives to Coolify?▼
Dify, AssemblyAI, Clerk are the top alternatives. Dify is best for teams building llm-powered applications who want a visual development platform and has a 4.9 star rating.
Who should NOT use Coolify?▼
Coolify is not ideal for teams wanting fully managed infrastructure with zero ops. Common drawbacks include: Requires server management knowledge. Docs could be better.