Caprover
CapRover is a free, open-source Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that lets developers self-host and deploy web apps, APIs, and databases on their own servers using Docker containers and an Nginx reverse proxy, all managed through a web…
Definition
CapRover is a free, open-source Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) that lets developers self-host and deploy web apps, APIs, and databases on their own servers using Docker containers and an Nginx reverse proxy, all managed through a web dashboard.
Overview
CapRover packages the operational plumbing that normally sits between a developer and a running application — building images, wiring up a reverse proxy, provisioning HTTPS certificates, and restarting services on deploy — behind a single web dashboard and CLI. Under the hood it runs on Docker in Swarm mode, so every app, database, or add-on service is deployed as a container that CapRover schedules, load-balances, and keeps alive across restarts. A built-in Nginx layer handles routing and automatic Let's Encrypt HTTPS for every app and subdomain, removing one of the fiddlier parts of running services on a bare VPS. CapRover also ships a library of "one-click apps" — ready-made templates for common tools such as WordPress, PostgreSQL, and Redis — that can be deployed in a couple of clicks instead of hand-written Compose files. It's commonly positioned as a self-hosted alternative to Heroku for teams and hobbyists who want PaaS-style convenience — git-push deploys, automatic builds, environment variables, easy scaling — without paying platform fees or giving up control of the underlying infrastructure. Because it's just Docker and Nginx underneath, it pairs naturally with hands-on learning in a course like Docker & Containers.
Key Features
- Web dashboard for deploying, monitoring, and configuring apps without a command line
- Runs on Docker Swarm mode for container scheduling and horizontal scaling
- Built-in Nginx reverse proxy with automatic HTTPS via Let's Encrypt
- One-click app templates for databases and popular open-source software
- Git-based and CLI-based deployment workflows, including webhook-triggered builds
- Custom domain and subdomain routing per app
- App-level environment variables, persistent volumes, and resource limits
- Free and open source, self-hosted on any VPS or bare-metal server