Dokku With a Dashboard and Built-in AI
Dokku is an open-source, Docker-powered PaaS driven from the command line. sh0 gives you the same git-push workflow plus a full web dashboard, 171 one-click templates, a browser terminal, and a Claude AI assistant that manages your infrastructure.
Quick Verdict
Dokku is an open-source, Docker-powered PaaS for developers who work in the terminal. sh0 includes a full web dashboard, one-click templates, built-in monitoring, team RBAC, and an AI assistant -- while keeping the CLI power for those who want it.
Feature-by-feature comparison
Side-by-side breakdown of what each platform offers.
| Feature | sh0 | Dokku |
|---|---|---|
| Web dashboard | Full (15+ pages) | Paid add-on (Dokku Pro, $849 one-time) |
| CLI push deploy | sh0 push: one-command deploy | git push dokku main |
| Auto-SSL | Caddy | Official Let's Encrypt plugin |
| CLI commands | 30+, JSON output | Dokku CLI |
| Install | curl get.sh0.dev | bash | wget bootstrap.sh + sudo bash bootstrap.sh |
Sources (checked on 13 October 2026): Dokku on GitHub· Dokku Pro· Dokku application deployment· Dokku Let's Encrypt plugin
Why Developers Switch
Real problems, real solutions.
Dokku's web UI is a paid add-on
Open-source Dokku is driven by its CLI over SSH. A web UI, Dokku Pro, is sold separately as a $849 lifetime license.
sh0 web dashboard with RBAC
A full 15+ page dashboard with logs, terminal, domains, environment variables, monitoring, file browser, and team management. Four roles for safe access delegation.
Databases come from plugins
Dokku's deployment guide installs a database plugin, then creates the service and links it to the app with CLI commands.
sh0 one-click from 171 templates
Deploy WordPress, PostgreSQL, Redis, Ghost, Plausible, or any of 171 templates with a single click. Pre-configured, ready to use, with auto-SSL.
Key Differentiators
What sets sh0 apart from Dokku.
Built-in Claude AI
106 tools for deployment, debugging, log analysis, and infrastructure management. MCP server for Claude Desktop and Cursor. AI sandbox for safe experimentation.
CLI with sh0 push
30+ commands with JSON output. Deploy with a single sh0 push command -- live in 35 seconds. Scriptable, automatable, CI-friendly.
Full Web Dashboard
15+ pages, browser terminal, file manager, real-time monitoring, team RBAC, and 171 one-click templates -- all included.
Beyond Deployment: Full Backend Services
Dokku deploys apps via Buildpacks. sh0 also includes managed backend services.
PostgREST API
Auto-generated REST API from your PostgreSQL tables. One-click enable.
Auth Service (Logto)
OIDC-compliant auth with social login, MFA, and admin console.
Realtime (Centrifugo)
WebSocket + SSE with channels, presence, and history.
Serverless Functions (Deno)
TypeScript/JavaScript functions, HTTP-invokable.
S3 Storage (MinIO)
S3-compatible object storage with web console and access keys.
Email Hosting (Stalwart)
DKIM/SPF/DMARC auto-config. Cloudflare DNS auto-setup.
Pricing comparison
Dokku is free and open source. sh0 includes a dashboard, AI, and support.
| Tier | sh0 | Dokku |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 (1 stack, unlimited apps) | Free (open source) |
| Solo | $19/mo | Free (self-hosted) |
| Teams | $99/mo | Free (open source); Dokku Pro web UI and teams: $849 one-time |
Ready to upgrade from Dokku?
Install sh0 in 30 seconds. Free forever for 1 stack, unlimited apps.