Netlify vs Coolify for Solo Developers

Quick Comparison

Netlify Overview

Netlify is the go-to for static site hosting. Push to Git, your site builds and deploys to a global CDN within seconds. Free SSL, preview deployments, form handling, serverless functions. The platform handles everything infrastructure-related so you can focus on code. The free tier is generous enough for most solo developer projects.

I use Netlify for frontends where I want zero operational overhead. It just works. Deploy a React app, an Astro blog, or a plain HTML site and the workflow is identical. Push code, it builds, it's live. No servers to manage, no security patches to apply, no CDN to configure.

The downside is the same as always. Netlify handles static content. If you need databases, persistent backend services, or full-stack hosting, you need another tool.

Coolify Overview

Coolify is an open-source, self-hosted alternative to platforms like Netlify, Vercel, and Heroku. You install it on your own server (Hetzner, DigitalOcean, any VPS), and it gives you a web dashboard for deploying applications, databases, and services. Think of it as building your own PaaS that you fully control.

I set up Coolify on a Hetzner VPS and was genuinely impressed. The installation is a one-line script that takes about five minutes. After that, you get a dashboard where you can connect Git repos, deploy Docker containers, spin up Postgres or Redis, configure domains with automatic SSL, and manage everything visually. It felt like having my own Heroku for the cost of a $5/month VPS.

Coolify supports deploying virtually anything. Static sites, Node apps, Python backends, Docker Compose stacks, and common one-click services like Plausible Analytics, Minio, and Gitea. The Git-based auto-deploy works like Netlify's, watching your repo and rebuilding on push.

Key Differences

Hosted vs self-hosted. Netlify manages everything. You interact with their platform, and they handle servers, CDN, scaling, and uptime. Coolify runs on your own server. You're responsible for the VPS, backups, and making sure the server stays healthy. The upside is full ownership and control. The downside is that infrastructure problems are yours to solve.

Cost model. Netlify's free tier costs nothing, and Pro is $19/month. Coolify is free software, but you need a VPS to run it. A Hetzner VPS starts at EUR 3.29/month. For a single static site, Netlify's free tier wins. For hosting multiple projects with databases and backends, Coolify on a cheap VPS is dramatically more cost-effective.

What you can deploy. Netlify deploys static sites and serverless functions. Coolify deploys anything that runs in a Docker container, plus managed databases, plus pre-configured services. The gap in capability is huge. Coolify can replace Netlify, Railway, and a managed database provider all on one server.

CDN and edge performance. Netlify serves static content from a global CDN with edge caching. Coolify serves everything from your single VPS location. For a global audience, Netlify's CDN delivers faster static content. You can put Cloudflare in front of your Coolify server to add caching, but it's extra setup.

Maintenance burden. Netlify requires zero maintenance. Coolify requires occasional updates, server monitoring, and troubleshooting when things break. Docker updates, disk space management, SSL renewal issues. These happen infrequently but they do happen, and you need to handle them.

Multi-project hosting. On Netlify, each project has its own deploy and its own resource allocation. On Coolify, all your projects share one server. This is actually an advantage for solo developers. One $10/month VPS can host 5-10 small projects with databases. On managed platforms, that same setup could cost $50-100/month.

When to Choose Netlify

• You want zero maintenance and zero operational overhead
• Your project is a static site or frontend that doesn't need a backend
• You value the global CDN for serving content fast worldwide
• Free hosting for small projects is a priority
• You don't want to manage servers at all

When to Choose Coolify

• You want to host multiple projects affordably on one server
• Your projects need databases, backend services, and full-stack support
• You're comfortable with basic server management
• You want full control over your data and infrastructure
• You're running services like analytics, storage, or CI tools alongside your apps

The Verdict

Netlify and Coolify represent two different philosophies. Netlify is the managed, hands-off approach. Coolify is the self-hosted, own-everything approach. Both are valid, and the right choice depends on what you value.

For a single static site or frontend project, Netlify is simpler and free. Don't set up Coolify on a VPS just to serve a blog. Netlify already does that perfectly.

For solo developers running multiple projects with backends and databases, Coolify is a fantastic option. Install it on a $10/month Hetzner VPS and you have a personal PaaS that can host a dozen services. The combined cost is a fraction of using managed platforms for each project separately.

The power move is combining them. Use Netlify for your public-facing static sites (free, fast CDN) and Coolify on a VPS for your backends, databases, and internal tools. You get the best of both models.