Complete Guide to Deploying Laravel & Node.js Applications on Coolify
Deploying modern web applications like Laravel (PHP framework) and Node.js/Express has always been a challenge for developers who want speed, flexibility, and cost-efficiency. Traditional shared hosting often fails when projects grow, while managed hosting is expensive.
Here comes Coolify: an open-source, self-hosted PaaS (Platform as a Service) that makes deployment easy without deep DevOps skills. In this guide, we’ll explore how to deploy Laravel and Node.js applications on Coolify, integrate CI/CD pipelines, and optimize your setup for performance, security, and scalability.
Why Choose Coolify?
Coolify combines the simplicity of a hosting platform with the flexibility of Docker containers.
Key Benefits:
Easy Deployment: Simple UI for deploying apps.
Container-based: Built on Docker for resource efficiency.
Framework Support: Works smoothly with Laravel, Node.js, Express, Next.js, and more.
CI/CD Integration: Connect GitHub/GitLab for automated deployments.
Cost-Effective: Run apps on a cheap VPS ($5–$10/month).
Customizable & Secure: Manage servers with full control.
Step 1: Setting Up Coolify
1. Rent a VPS (e.g., Hetzner, DigitalOcean, Vultr, Time4VPS).
2. Install Docker and Docker Compose.
3. Run Coolify setup script:
curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | bash
4. Access Coolify dashboard via your VPS IP address.
???? In less than 10 minutes, you’ll have your own PaaS running.
Step 2: Deploying a Laravel Application
Preparing Your Laravel App
Ensure .env file has correct DB & APP settings.
Use SQLite/MySQL/PostgreSQL depending on project.
Run php artisan config:cache to optimize configs.
Deployment Process on Coolify
1. Connect GitHub repo with Laravel code.
2. Select PHP + Composer + Nginx + MySQL stack.
3. Add build commands:
composer install --optimize-autoloader --no-dev
php artisan migrate --force
php artisan config:cache
php artisan route:cache
4. Add environment variables inside Coolify.
5. Deploy.
✅ Your Laravel app is now running inside containers with better performance than shared hosting.
Step 3: Deploying a Node.js (Express/Next.js) App
Preparing Your Node.js Project
Ensure package.json has correct start script:
"scripts": {
"start": "node server.js"
}
Deployment Process
1. Connect Git repo.
2. Choose Node.js runtime from Coolify.
3. Add build commands:
npm install --production
npm run build # for Next.js
npm start
4. Expose port (default: 3000).
5. Deploy.
???? Node.js + Express apps scale easily with Docker, and Coolify ensures container isolation.
---
Step 4: CI/CD Integration (GitHub & GitLab)
Coolify supports automatic deployments whenever you push code.
Connect GitHub/GitLab repo to Coolify.
Enable auto-deploy.
Every commit to main triggers a fresh build + deployment.
This ensures a smooth DevOps pipeline without extra tools.
Step 5: Scaling & Load Balancing
Coolify allows:
Horizontal scaling (multiple containers).
Load balancing via Traefik reverse proxy.
Easy upgrades to larger VPS when traffic grows.
Example: A Laravel + Node.js stack can handle thousands of requests/sec with minimal downtime.
Step 6: Security Best Practices
Always use HTTPS with Let’s Encrypt SSL (built-in with Coolify).
Use separate databases for staging & production.
Regularly update dependencies with composer update or npm audit fix.
Limit root access on your VPS.
Step 7: Monitoring & Logs
Coolify provides:
Real-time logs per container.
Metrics for CPU, RAM, disk usage.
Alerts for failed deployments.
This helps developers troubleshoot quickly and keep apps stable.
Pros and Cons of Coolify
✅ Pros
Faster deployments than manual Docker setups.
Cheaper than managed hosting.
Supports multiple frameworks (Laravel, Node.js, Next.js).
Integrated CI/CD and SSL.
❌ Cons
Requires VPS knowledge.
Still new compared to Heroku/Render.
Limited enterprise support.
Conclusion
Coolify makes it easy, affordable, and powerful to deploy Laravel and Node.js apps without needing full DevOps skills.
For Laravel developers: Faster performance, optimized queue management, and lower costs.
For Node.js developers: Seamless scaling, container isolation, and CI/CD automation.
For businesses: More control, flexibility, and budget-friendly hosting.
???? If you want the power of Docker without the complexity, Coolify is one of the best modern hosting solutions in 2025.
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