Dokploy is an open-source self-hosted deployment platform that turns a cheap VPS into a Vercel or Heroku alternative. Using Docker and Traefik under the hood, it lets you connect a GitHub repo and deploy apps with a single command, complete with HTTPS, logs, metrics, one-click rollbacks, built-in database support, automatic backups, and Docker Swarm scaling. Compared to paid PaaS platforms like Vercel or Railway, there are no usage fees. Compared to Coolify, the UI is reportedly cleaner and Swarm support is built in. Downsides include sparse documentation, occasional volume mount quirks, and some paid features, but the core is free. It's positioned as a practical middle ground for solo devs and small teams who want cloud-like simplicity without the escalating bills.