Dokku vs Railway.app Comparison

Most business owners are undoubtedly aware that choosing the right platform for their application is crucial for success. The two options, Dokku and Railway App, are both popular choices (PaaS platforms) in the market, and each has its advantages.

Both platforms are robust and have features designed to make building apps easier. In this blog, we’ll discuss the features and price packages of Dokku and the Railway App to help you decide which platform is perfect for your needs. Let’s get started. 

Dokku Overview  

Dokku implements Docker’s Platform-as-a-Service, which lets programmers create apps that can run in their secure containers. To get your code running on this platform, you add it to a repository where the official build kits will be found, and the process of building your application will begin immediately. 

Developers working with Dokku should be familiar with server architecture since they may be asked to make changes to Nginx configurations, edit and install plugins, and debug code by hand.

It is an open-source platform that allows for automated SSL deployment and several database-related plugins. Dokku handles server settings on your behalf, freeing up time for developers to focus on making apps more user-friendly.  

Dokku Features 

  • Nginx and Instant Subdomains

When you create an app on Dokku, the platform automatically handles domain management and gives each user a subdomain. On top of that, it handles the Nginx setup and directs traffic to the appropriate Docker container. 

  • Compatible with Heroku buildpacks

Dokku detects Node apps automatically and compiles and deploys app stacks using standard Heroku build packs. It will support your application if it is compatible with Heroku. 

  • Easy server deployment

Ubuntu, Debian, and CentOS are all supported by Dokku, and application deployment is handled by pushing them into containers. It makes deploying servers much less complicated by automatically managing container lifetimes and Nginx. 

  • Free and open source

Dokku strikes an excellent balance between price and features because it is an open-source program that can be installed and used on top of your existing app development environment. In addition, the Docker file allows you to tailor the app deployment procedure to your requirements. 

  • Rich command-line interface

Dokku’s extensive command-line interface (CLI) provides access to the whole program, including its proxy commands and containers, applications, and variable-specific inputs. By using these instructions, developers may rapidly create and release apps. 

  • Variety of plugins

Using the available plugins, developers may expand the capabilities of their app. You may add extra features and security to your app, like SSL certificates and domain-specific Nginx configurations, without increasing the overall size of the program. 

Dokku Pricing

You can use this platform for life by paying a one-time subscription fee of $849. This is a limited-time price; you will get free upgrades once you pay this amount.

Furthermore, for your app development, you will get one production server, two pre-production servers, full access to the web UI, JSON-API Rest API, HTTPS Git push, and email support. 

Railway.app Overview 

Railway.app is a platform as a service (PaaS) that offers a complete environment for building and releasing applications in the cloud. It is a cloud-based infrastructure platform that can accommodate large and small projects of varying complexity.  

Since every development endeavor calls for a unique set of plugins to accomplish its goals, this framework makes it easy to integrate new functionality into your program by employing plugins.  

Railway.app Features 

With Railway.app, you will get many intuitive and useful features, and below are the best three. 

  • Infrastructure based on microservices

The infrastructure here is tailored to the specific needs of your microservice-based project, and it grows as those needs do. Any necessary microservices, such as a database or a cron job, may be added to the app. These will continue to expand as your application progresses while using Railway.app.

  • Connect with any terminal.

Using the Railway CLI, you may link your entire system to any terminal in your network. One of Railway.app’s most prominent features is that it centralizes all your team’s information, making it easier to manage. 

  • Instant deployment with automatic builds

It offers secure, fast deployment services for any project. After deployment, the procedure will pick up speed as project iterations are made. The automatic build feature of the Railway.app means you will never have to utilize CI again.

Railway.app Pricing 

The excellent quality of the Railway.app is that it uses a pay-as-you-go pricing method, so you only have to pay for the resources you use. So, here are some valuable resources and their costs: 

  • Starter Pack: As the name suggests, this slab is created for those developers who want to check out this platform and is, therefore, available for free. You will get 512 MB of RAM and 1 GB of storage on this slab. 
  • Developer: If your requirements are high, you can choose the Developer slab, in which you will get 8 GB of RAM, 100 GB of disk space, and unlimited execution time. However, it is still free for less than $5 per month. However, once the limit is breached, you have to pay $0.000231 per GB per minute for RAM and $0.000463 per vCPU per minute for CPU. 
  • Team: If you want a platform for your entire team, you must pay $ 20 per seat. You will get 32 GB of RAM, 2 TB of disk space, and a direct support line. The price charged will be the same as that of the developer slab. 

The Railway.app website’s pricing section includes a tool that quantifies resource usage and displays projected costs for all available resources. You obtain the best outcomes because smart strategies are worth your money. 

Railway.app vs Dokku Comparison  

    Railway appDokku app
Parent Company    Independent 
(Series A) 
 Independent 
Year Launched    2020   2017 
Free Tier    Yes  Yes    
Pricing    One-time payment of $849Pay-as-you-go   
Core Features    Always up to date
Deploys apps faster
Easy troubleshooting
Scales automatically    
Open Source
Self-Hosted
Ease of Use 

Conclusion

After considering the advantages and disadvantages of both Dokku and Railway App, we can conclude that the perfect PaaS platform for your app largely depends on your specific needs.

As a developer, you should evaluate the needs of your app thoroughly and decide which one of these two PaaS platforms is suitable for your app. 

FAQ

What is Dokku?

Dokku is a Docker-powered PaaS (Platform as a Service) that helps users quickly and easily deploy applications, from small side projects to enterprise-scale production workloads. It’s open source, lightweight, and built for maximum flexibility.

What is Railway.app?

Railway.app is a cloud-based platform designed to simplify the development and management of digital projects.


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