What is Dokploy and how to deploy projects using Docker
Published on 2026-10-26 by frfrand
Technical guide and practical examples: What is Dokploy and how to deploy projects using Docker. Comparison with ArduMaker.
You want to run your own apps without relying on an external PaaS, but you also don't want to write all the Nginx files and deployment scripts by hand. Dokploy aims for that middle ground: a deployment panel that operates on servers you manage.
I'm not going to sell you the idea that one platform is perfect for everyone. What's useful is understanding what work it saves you, what work remains yours, and how much it can cost to maintain it when the project stops being a test.
Dokploy: what it really offers you
Dokploy is a self-hosted platform for deploying projects and containers, with flows compatible with Docker and deployment tools. The concrete configuration depends on its version and how your server is set up; check its official requirements before installing it.
An example you could have tomorrow
A reservation project has an API, Redis, and a worker that sends emails. With Docker Compose you can separate processes and identify their dependencies. Dokploy helps you deploy that configuration; you still decide what resources they share, how they are updated, and how they recover.
How to get started without overcomplicating things
- Prepare a compatible VPS and update the system before installing the panel.
- Install Dokploy and protect administrative access, without exposing passwords or unnecessary ports.
- Connect a repository or define a Docker Compose service for the application.
- Configure domain, variables, data volume, and access to the PostgreSQL engine.
- Test updates and restoration: it is not enough for the container to appear as started.
The fifth step is often the one that gets skipped: open the application from another device, perform an operation that writes data, check a log, and verify it again after restarting. That is worth more than a screenshot where the panel says "deployed".
The mistake to avoid
Copying a Compose from a tutorial without understanding volumes and networks can end with an ephemeral or public PostgreSQL. A container panel does not automatically correct those decisions.
There is another simple rule: if the project has clients or payments, do not experiment with migrations directly on the only copy of the database. Test in a separate environment, keep a verifiable copy, and prepare how to roll back.
How would I solve the same in ArduMaker?
In ArduMaker you can manage Docker and VPS services, as well as Git, domain, database, and MCP tools. The useful comparison is how many tasks you need and whether it is worth self-managing another panel on a separately contracted machine.
In a typical case, you could create the VPS on ArduMaker, connect the Git repository, install or manage PostgreSQL according to the application, define the execution process, and publish an HTTPS domain. If there is a worker that takes several minutes, separate it from the HTTP service. And if the project has several clients, organize them by Company to avoid mixed permissions and resources.
| Need | Dokploy | ArduMaker |
|---|---|---|
| Main model | Dokploy is a self-hosted platform for deploying projects and containers, with flows compatible with Dock | VPS with management tools, Git, services, and MCP |
| System access | Depends on the platform or server where it is installed | VPS environment administration |
| Database and workers | Depend on the product and its configuration | Can run on the VPS according to available resources |
| Maintenance | Shared or assumed by you according to the service | Application and system require control and maintenance |
What I would look at before paying or migrating
I wouldn't choose based on a single figure on the pricing page. Note CPU, RAM, persistent storage, traffic, backups, support, and maintenance time. If you have to add a managed database, a worker service, or a licensed panel, include them. If you want redundancy between servers, it also has to be designed: a VPS alone is not high availability.
So, which one would I use?
Dokploy is appealing if you want to install and configure your own deployment environment. ArduMaker aims to offer VPS and administration from a single platform.
An honest test: publish a minimal API, connect it to a database, stop the process to see what the system logs, and try to recover it. The platform your team can repeat those steps with without suffering is usually the one that brings you the most value.
Sources and further reading
- Official Dokploy documentation
- Comparison of Dokploy with ArduMaker
- How VPSs work and what they are for
Final idea: first solve a real problem with the tool. Then compare how much effort it takes to maintain it. That's where the difference between a demo and an application you can deliver to a client appears.