Coolify alternative: containers and WordPress without running the platform
4 min read
Considering a Coolify alternative? Zefily is a hosted panel that runs classic PHP and WordPress sites and containers side by side, with no platform of your own to maintain.
Coolify is an open-source, self-hosted PaaS: free to run on your own server, or $5 a month for 2 servers (plus $3 per extra server) on Coolify Cloud. It is built around containers. Zefily is for teams that want containers and classic web stacks, without operating a platform themselves.
In short
- Nothing to self-host: the panel is run for you; only a small agent runs on your servers.
- Classic PHP and WordPress sites run natively (nginx or OpenLiteSpeed, PHP-FPM per site) next to rootless containers and Compose files.
- Servers are hardened and patched for you: firewall, CrowdSec, automatic security updates, malware scanning, vulnerability notices.
- Free plan for 1 server; paid plans from $8 a month.
At a glance
| Coolify | Zefily | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Self-hosted free (open source); Cloud $5/month for 2 servers + $3 per server | Free for 1 server and 2 sites, no time limit; from $8/month for 3 servers |
| Where the panel runs | Self-hosted on your server, or Coolify Cloud | Hosted panel; a small agent on each server, no admin port |
| Apps | Container-based deploys | PHP 7.3–8.5, Node.js, Python, Go, Java, .NET, Ruby, Bun, Deno, containers |
Competitor details are taken from their own pages in October 2026 and may change. Zefily prices are in US dollars, excluding VAT.
What you get with Zefily
A web stack we build and patch
Zefily ships its own nginx build with HTTP/3 and Brotli, and its own signed PHP packages so PHP 7.3–8.5 run even on Ubuntu 26.04 (amd64 and arm64). Security fixes for PHP, nginx, OpenLiteSpeed and PostgreSQL install automatically, and you can switch a running server between nginx and OpenLiteSpeed in place.
A WordPress toolkit in every plan
Core, plugin and theme updates with a snapshot taken first, vulnerability checks, malware scans, cloning and staging copies, included in every plan, Free too.
Malware scanning with quarantine
ClamAV scans every site's files on demand, daily or weekly, and can move what it finds to a root-only quarantine. Upload scanning checks every file the moment it is written (SFTP, deploys, plugin installs, upload forms) and quarantines infected files at once. Scans need a server with 2 GB of memory, upload scanning 4 GB. More on our security tools.
Vulnerability scans and notices
Installed packages are checked against the OSV database (Debian and Ubuntu advisories), WordPress core, plugins and themes against WPVulnerability, and you are told by email when security updates have been waiting for more than two days or an installed Node.js version has a security release.
Servers that look after themselves
Failed services (web server, PHP, databases, Valkey, CrowdSec, cron) are restarted automatically, a full disk is cleaned safely, planned maintenance windows silence alerts, and a weekly digest sums up what needs you.
Signed jobs and passkey approvals
Every change to a server is signed by the panel and by a separate signing service on its own machine; risky actions (a root terminal, deleting a site or database, opening a database port) also need your passkey. A stolen session, or even a compromised panel, cannot quietly change your servers. How it works.
Backups you own
Encrypted restic backups to your own S3, Google Drive, SFTP or FTP storage, with your own repository password, restorable without Zefily. Why that matters.
When Coolify may still be the right fit
If everything you ship is already a container image and you enjoy running your own platform, a self-hosted PaaS like Coolify is a natural fit.
Moving from Coolify to Zefily
- Connect a server to Zefily: a fresh Ubuntu or Debian server at any provider works best, since Zefily does not take over software it did not install.
- Create the site with the PHP version (or runtime) it uses today.
- Copy the files over SFTP and import the database in the site's database section.
- Test on the site's free
zefily.appaddress before you touch DNS. - Switch DNS; the certificate is issued automatically.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Coolify and Zefily?
Coolify is a self-hosted, container-first PaaS that you install and operate. Zefily is a hosted panel that manages your servers for you and runs classic PHP and WordPress sites natively next to containers.
Can Zefily run Docker containers?
Yes. Zefily runs rootless containers from a registry image or your repository, and Compose files, each as the site's own Linux user.
Do I need to maintain Zefily myself?
No. The panel is run for you; on your servers Zefily keeps the web stack, security updates, certificates and backups going.
Is there a free Coolify alternative that is hosted?
Yes. Zefily's free plan covers 1 server and 2 sites with no time limit.
Which apps can I install with one click?
Ghost, Nextcloud, Uptime Kuma and Supabase, among others; they are upgraded one major version at a time with a backup taken first.
Start free with one server: no time limit, and your first site can be live on a free zefily.app address in minutes.