Deplexo vs CapRover
CapRover is an open-source self-hosted PaaS that uses Docker Swarm. Deplexo is a managed PaaS with secure container defaults.
Feature comparison
| Feature | Deplexo | CapRover |
|---|---|---|
| License | Proprietary (managed PaaS) | Open-source (modified Apache 2.0) |
| Container orchestration | Managed containers | Docker Swarm |
| Container security defaults | Locked-down security defaults | Docker Swarm defaults (standard Docker security) |
| Managed hosted option | Yes: deplexo.com, free tier included | No, self-host only |
| Free managed tier | Yes: 128 MB RAM, 1 app, no card | N/A (must own a server) |
| OAuth Git integration | GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Codeberg | GitHub (webhook-based), custom Dockerfile only |
| Build method | Dockerfile (default) or auto-detect via deplexo.yaml | Via captain-definition file or Dockerfile |
| Custom Dockerfile | Yes | Yes |
| Env vars encrypted at rest | Yes | Stored in plaintext in the Swarm config |
| Reverse proxy | Built-in reverse proxy | Nginx (managed by CapRover) |
Orchestration: Swarm vs standalone
CapRover uses Docker Swarm as its container orchestration layer. Swarm brings its own services, tasks, overlay networks, and manager state. On a single server you don't use Swarm's distributed features, but you still carry the operational overhead.
Deplexo runs your containers for you. You have no Swarm state to manage, and adding capacity is handled on Deplexo's side.
Container security
CapRover runs containers with Docker's default security profile. Deplexo applies a locked-down security profile to every container by default, with nothing to opt into.
Configuration files
CapRover requires a captain-definition JSON file in your repo to specify how the app is built. Deplexo builds from your Dockerfile by default. For repos without one, add a deplexo.yaml to configure auto-detect, and Deplexo generates a Dockerfile for Node.js, Python, Go, Ruby, Rust, Java, PHP, Elixir, and static sites.
FAQ
- Can I migrate a CapRover app to Deplexo?
- Yes. Connect the same GitHub repo. If the repo has a Dockerfile, Deplexo uses it. Copy your environment variables from CapRover's app config panel to Deplexo's env vars panel and deploy.
- Do I need a captain-definition file?
- No. Deplexo builds from your Dockerfile by default. You can optionally add a deplexo.yaml for auto-detect builds.
- Does Deplexo support Docker Compose?
- No. Deplexo deploys one container per app and doesn't support multi-container compositions. Each service, such as an app, database, or cache, becomes a separate Deplexo app.
- Does Deplexo support one-click apps like CapRover?
- No. Deplexo deploys your own code from a git repo. It has nothing like CapRover's one-click marketplace for third-party apps such as Wordpress or Nextcloud.
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