App platforms (PaaS)
A platform as a service takes your code and runs it: builds, deploys, scaling, certificates and logs included. This section explains where that convenience pays off, compares the hosted platforms that replaced Heroku's free tier, looks at self-hosted alternatives on your own server and helps you put a number on the monthly bill.
8 pages
In this section
01
Coolify on a VPS: Installation and First Deploy
Install Coolify on a VPS step by step: server requirements from the official docs, the install command, securing the dashboard, first deployment and backups.
02
DigitalOcean App Platform Review 2026
DigitalOcean App Platform reviewed: per-container pricing, free static sites, EU regions, databases and lock-in, and who it suits or should look elsewhere.
03
Heroku Alternatives 2026: 8 Platforms Compared
Heroku alternatives compared by pricing model, EU regions and company seat: Railway, Render, DigitalOcean, Fly.io, Northflank and three French platforms.
04
PaaS Cost Calculator: Hosted Platform vs. Own Server
Estimate what your app costs per month on a hosted PaaS versus your own server with a self-hosted PaaS, including admin time. How to fill in each field.
05
PaaS vs. IaaS vs. Serverless: Which Model Fits?
PaaS, IaaS and serverless compared: who runs which layer, how each is billed, typical use cases and a simple decision guide for small teams and SMEs.
06
Railway vs. Render: Pricing, Regions and Fit Compared
Railway vs. Render compared: usage-based against instance-based pricing, EU regions in Amsterdam and Frankfurt, free tiers, databases and which suits your app.
07
Self-Hosted PaaS: Coolify vs. Dokku vs. CapRover
Coolify, Dokku and CapRover compared: how each self-hosted PaaS deploys apps, what it needs, what you still maintain and which suits your team and server.
08
What Is PaaS? Platform as a Service Explained
Platform as a service explained: what a PaaS runs for you, what you still own, typical costs and limits, and when it beats a plain server or Kubernetes.
Other sections
European cloud
Hetzner, STACKIT, IONOS, OVHcloud, Scaleway and others compared, plus what sovereign cloud and GDPR-compliant hosting actually require and how to move off AWS or Azure.
Cloud-native basics
What cloud-native really means, when microservices beat a monolith, how small teams ship containers without a platform team, and which managed Kubernetes services run in Europe.
Edge computing
What edge computing is, when moving compute closer to users really cuts latency, and what private 5G campus networks offer businesses.