ArduMaker vs Dokku
Git push and a terminal, or a web panel with one-click apps?
Verdict
10–4
ArduMaker wins
Criteria won: ArduMaker 8, Dokku 2. Tied on 2.
Only criteria that resolve to yes, partial or no are counted. Price has no single winner: it depends on each case.
Comparison table
| Criterion | ArduMaker | Dokku | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type of service | VPS with panel and MCP | Heroku-style command-line PaaS | Depends |
| Starting price | From €5.00/month, flat | Free; Dokku Pro $849 one-time | Depends |
| Root and SSH | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Server included | Yes | No | ArduMaker |
| Deploy from Git | Yes | Yes | Tie |
| Docker and one-click apps (n8n) | Yes | Manual · Docker images via commands | ArduMaker |
| Databases | Yes | Via integration · Official plugins per database | ArduMaker |
| Automatic SSL | Yes | Via integration · Official Let's Encrypt plugin | ArduMaker |
| Backups | Yes | Via integration · Databases to S3 via plugins | ArduMaker |
| Teams and permissions | Yes | Depends on plan · Per-app permissions in Dokku Pro | ArduMaker |
| MCP and AI management | Yes | Via integration · Community servers only | ArduMaker |
| Panel maintenance | Yes | Manual · Dokku, plugins and OS are yours | ArduMaker |
| Open source | No | Yes | Dokku |
| Start for free | Partial · Free tools, paid VPS | Yes | Dokku |
Dokku is a minimal open source PaaS that brings the Heroku git push workflow to your server, all from the terminal. ArduMaker adds a web panel, one-click apps and MCP with OAuth.
Quick summary
ArduMaker
- Who it is for: People who like Dokku's Git deploys but want a web panel, ready-made databases and apps, and no server to administer.
- Biggest strength: Everything happens in a panel or over MCP: databases, n8n, domains, SSL, email and backups, with no plugins to install.
Dokku
- Who it is for: Terminal-friendly developers coming from Heroku who want that workflow for free on their own server.
- Biggest strength: It is free, very lightweight (1 GB of RAM) and compatible with Heroku buildpacks and Procfiles.
The main difference: Dokku is a command-line tool you extend with plugins on your server; ArduMaker is a service with the server, the panel and the integrations already sorted.
Last reviewed: 2026-10-17
Key differences
Terminal and plugins vs a web panel
Dokku is driven over SSH with commands like apps:create or postgres:create, and each extra capability comes as a plugin. A web UI exists as paid Dokku Pro. On ArduMaker everything has a web panel and can also be run over MCP.
Same Git workflow, different scope
Dokku builds on every git push with buildpacks or a Dockerfile and reads the Procfile. ArduMaker links a GitHub repo, deploys in phases on every push and lets you roll back to an earlier commit from the panel. Either way, the code runs on your server.
Teams
Dokku tells named SSH keys apart and gives admin privileges to those with admin in the name; teams with per-app and per-service permissions come with Dokku Pro. ArduMaker includes companies with admins, members and per-project roles.
What a backup covers
Dokku's database plugins push dumps to S3 on a cron schedule, and you back up everything else. ArduMaker takes a weekly full VPS backup, keeps 4 and lets you request one manually or download it.
Pricing and costs
Dokku is free: you pay for the server and for S3 storage if you want database backups. If you'd like a web UI, Dokku Pro is sold as an $849 lifetime license for one production and two pre-production servers, with a price the project says will rise. The rest of the cost is your time: installing plugins, renewing SSL and updating the OS. ArduMaker charges a fixed plan with the VPS and the panel.
| Item | ArduMaker | Dokku |
|---|---|---|
| Entry plan | VPS with panel from €5.00/month | Free software |
| Server | Included | Separate, 1 GB of RAM minimum |
| Web panel | Included | Dokku Pro: $849 lifetime |
| Teams with permissions | Included | With Dokku Pro |
| Backups | Weekly full VPS backup included | Database dumps to your S3, plus that storage cost |
Assumptions: Dokku details checked on October 17, 2026 at dokku.com and pro.dokku.com, in US dollars, with no taxes stated. Server and S3 storage are not included. ArduMaker: list price of the entry plan.
Real-world scenarios
Rails or Django app coming from Heroku
On ArduMaker: You link the GitHub repo, define build and start commands plus web and worker processes in the deploy document; PostgreSQL installs from the panel.
On Dokku: You git push with the same Procfile and buildpack, then create and link the database with postgres:create and postgres:link.
n8n for automations
On ArduMaker: One-click n8n with workers, PostgreSQL and Redis.
On Dokku: You create the app, deploy it from the n8n image, link a database with its plugin and set up the domain and Let's Encrypt by hand.
HTTPS for a new domain
On ArduMaker: You publish the domain from the panel and the certificate is issued on publish.
On Dokku: You install the Let's Encrypt plugin, set the email, enable it on the app and schedule renewal.
An agent that restarts processes
On ArduMaker: The agent connects to the MCP server over OAuth and sensitive actions ask for human approval.
On Dokku: There is no official MCP: you use a community one that runs Dokku commands over SSH, with a blocklist of commands.
When Dokku is the better fit
- You come from Heroku and want the same git push and Procfile workflow without paying for a platform.
- You're more at home in the terminal than in a web panel.
- You want the lightest possible PaaS on a 1 GB server.
- You need a k3s scheduler to spread apps across several nodes.
- You want a plugin ecosystem you can extend to fit your needs.
When ArduMaker is the better fit
- You want a web panel included, with no separate license.
- You want one-click n8n, databases and WordPress, with no plugins to install.
- You work with a team that needs per-project roles.
- You want an AI agent to run the server through an official MCP with human approval.
- You don't want to keep the OS and the PaaS updated.
How to migrate from Dokku to ArduMaker
Dokku apps follow the Heroku model, so they move well: repo, Procfile, variables and databases.
- Export configuration: Use config:export to save each app's variables, and note domains, Procfile processes and linked databases.
- Create the VPS: Pick an ArduMaker plan with the RAM your containers and builds use today.
- Dump the databases: Use postgres:export, mysql:export or the plugin's equivalent, create the database in the ArduMaker panel and restore the dump.
- Set up the deploy: Link the GitHub repo and translate the Procfile into processes in the deploy document: web, workers and scheduled jobs.
- Load variables: Paste the exported variables into the app and update connection URLs for the new database.
- Copy persistent storage: If you used storage:mount, copy those host folders' contents to the VPS over SSH.
- Domains and SSL: Lower the TTL, point DNS at the VPS and publish each domain; the certificate is issued on publish.
- Verify and roll back: Check the app, workers and logs. If something fails, point DNS back to the Dokku server, which is still intact.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dokku free?
Yes, it is open source and free. The paid part is Dokku Pro, which adds a web UI, users and teams, with an $849 lifetime license for one production and two pre-production servers.
Does Dokku have a web UI?
Free Dokku is used from the command line. The web UI, with app, datastore and SSH key management, is part of Dokku Pro. ArduMaker includes a web panel and an MCP server.
What server does Dokku need?
Its docs list Ubuntu 22.04, 24.04 or 26.04, or Debian 11+, with 1 GB of memory for the Docker scheduler; k3s needs 2 GB per node. Under 1 GB it recommends adding swap.
How do I add a database in Dokku?
With official plugins: install, for example, dokku-postgres, create the service and link it to the app, which receives DATABASE_URL. The same plugin schedules backups to S3.
Is Dokku a Heroku alternative?
Yes, that is its pitch: git push, buildpacks and Procfiles on your server, in exchange for running it yourself. ArduMaker is another option if you'd rather not maintain the server and want a web panel, teams and MCP.
Can I keep using a Procfile on ArduMaker?
Yes. GitHub deploys recognize repos with a Procfile and propose the processes; you can adjust them in the deploy document before the first deploy.
Sources
Dokku data checked on 2026-10-17 on its official pages. Prices change: confirm them before deciding. Logos belong to their owners and are shown only to identify each service.