HostStack vs Coolify
Coolify is excellent open-source software you run yourself. HostStack is the same git-push experience, fully managed — so you are not the one patching the server, verifying backups, or on call at 3am.
By Michael Michelsen, Founder of HostStack · Updated May 2026
Why developers choose HostStack
Feature comparison
| Feature | HostStack | Coolify |
|---|---|---|
| Git-push deploy | ||
| Docker runtime | ||
| Managed (no server to maintain) | You run & patch the host | |
| Managed databases (backups + HA) | DB is a container you operate | |
| Automatic security patching | You patch OS + Coolify | |
| Built-in HA / failover | Patroni 3-node (beta) | Single server; multi-server manual |
| One-click services | Curated managed set | 280+ |
| Self-host on your own hardware | ||
| No vendor lock-in | Standard Docker + pg_dump export | Configs live on your server |
| Preview environments per PR | ||
| Support | Email + status page | Community / paid cloud |
| EU data residency | DE, FI (managed) | Wherever you host it |
Pricing comparison
| Tier | HostStack | Coolify |
|---|---|---|
| Software licence | No licence — pay per resource | Free (open source) |
| What you actually pay | From €1/mo all-in, fully managed | $5–$20/mo VPS + your setup & maintenance time |
| Cheapest always-on service | €1/mo Pico (128 MB), managed | Bounded by your VPS — you size and run it |
| Managed Postgres | €4/mo Micro — backups + off-site copies included | Free container; you own backups, upgrades, HA |
| High availability | Patroni 3-node included on Standard/Pro (beta) | DIY multi-server cluster |
| Hosted option | Fully managed by default | Coolify Cloud (paid) if you skip self-hosting |
When NOT to choose HostStack
Coolify is the better fit in some cases. Here's when we'd tell you so.
Migrate from Coolify
Open a HostStack account
Sign up at hoststack.dev with an email — no card during migration. Create a project in Nuremberg or Helsinki.
Connect your repo
Install the HostStack app on the same GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket repo you deploy from Coolify. Framework auto-detection (or your existing Dockerfile) carries the build over.
Import your environment
Copy the environment variables you set in Coolify across with hoststack env bulk svc_… KEY=VAL KEY=VAL …, or paste them in the dashboard.
Move your database
Provision a managed PostgreSQL on HostStack and stream a pg_dump from the Postgres container you run on Coolify directly into it. From here on, backups and HA are handled for you.
Cut over DNS and retire the server
Point DNS at HostStack, wait for TLS to provision, then decommission the VPS that ran Coolify — and stop patching it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between HostStack and Coolify?
Coolify is an open-source, self-hostable PaaS — you install it on your own server (a VPS or bare metal) and operate it yourself. HostStack is a fully-managed PaaS — the same git-push deploy experience, but HostStack provisions the infrastructure, patches the host and platform, secures it, runs managed databases with backups and HA, and stays on call. With Coolify you are the platform team; with HostStack that work is done for you.
Is Coolify really free?
The software is free and open-source (you can run it on your own hardware forever). But "free software" is not "free to run": you still pay for the VPS it runs on (typically $5–$20/month), and you invest your own time to install it, keep the host OS and Coolify patched, configure and verify backups, secure it, and handle failover when the single server goes down. Coolify also offers a paid hosted version (Coolify Cloud) if you would rather not self-host. HostStack bundles the server, patching, backups, and HA into the per-resource price from €1/month.
When should I self-host with Coolify instead of using HostStack?
Coolify is the better choice when you specifically want full control and no vendor lock-in (all configuration lives on your own server), when you are running a homelab or hobby project where your own time is effectively free, when you must keep workloads on-premises or air-gapped, or when you have the ops capacity and want to self-host for data sovereignty on hardware you own. Coolify is genuinely excellent at this — it is the leading open-source self-hosted PaaS, with 52,000+ GitHub stars and 280+ one-click services.
Can I migrate from Coolify to HostStack?
Yes, and it is straightforward because both use a git-push, Docker-based model. Connect the same GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket repo, import your environment variables, stream a pg_dump from the Postgres container you run on Coolify into a managed HostStack database, and cut over DNS. You stop being responsible for patching and backups the moment you switch.
Ready to switch?
Start for free. No credit card required. Migrate in minutes.