The Laravel-native Kamal alternative
Kamal and Cipi are both free, open source, and CLI-first — born from the 37signals/Laravel ecosystem. Kamal deploys Docker containers to existing hosts; Cipi provisions the full server, runs Laravel on a native LEMP stack with Deployer, artisan, queues, and a REST API for the complete app lifecycle.
Cipi vs Kamal at a glance
| Feature | Cipi | Kamal |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, forever | Free, forever |
| License | Open source (MIT) | Open source (MIT) |
| Interface | CLI + REST API | CLI |
| Server provisioning | Yes — full stack | No — deploy only |
| Deployment model | Native LEMP stack | Docker containers |
| Laravel-native (Deployer, artisan, queues) | Yes | Partial |
| AI / MCP server | Dual MCP | No |
| Config encryption at rest (AES-256) | Yes | No |
| Server-to-server sync & failover | Yes | No |
| REST API for full app lifecycle | Yes | Deploy-focused |
Why Laravel teams pick Cipi over Kamal
Full server provisioning
Kamal deploys to existing Docker hosts — you still need to set up the server. Cipi installs Nginx, PHP-FPM, MariaDB, Redis, and Supervisor in one command.
Native LEMP, no Docker
Run PHP-FPM directly on the host for lower memory use, simpler debugging, and no container layer to maintain.
Built for Laravel
Deployer, artisan shortcuts, automatic queue workers, and zero-downtime Git deploys are built in — Kamal treats Laravel as one of many Dockerized stacks.
REST API for the full lifecycle
Manage servers, apps, databases, SSL, and deploys programmatically — not just container pushes.
AI-native with dual MCP
Per-app and global MCP servers for full AI-driven infrastructure management from any MCP-compatible agent.
Encryption at rest & server sync
AES-256-CBC Vault encryption for all configs, plus built-in encrypted server-to-server sync for failover replication.
Install Cipi in one command
Spin up a fresh Ubuntu VPS, then run:
That installs and configures the full production stack — Nginx, PHP, MariaDB, Redis and Supervisor. See the getting started guide.
Where Kamal is the better choice
Kamal is an excellent deploy tool if you want container isolation, portable Docker images, a multi-app Docker architecture on existing hosts, and a lightweight CLI when you only need deploys — not full server provisioning or a management panel. If your workflow is container-first and you already have Docker infrastructure, Kamal is well worth evaluating.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cipi a good Kamal alternative for Laravel?
Yes. Both are free, open-source CLI tools with no SaaS dependency. Kamal deploys Docker containers to existing hosts; Cipi provisions the full server, runs Laravel on a native LEMP stack with Deployer, artisan, queues, dual MCP, encryption at rest, and server sync built in.
What is the difference between Cipi and Kamal?
Kamal is a deploy-only CLI that pushes Docker images to any Docker host — it does not provision servers or manage a full stack. Cipi installs and manages Nginx, PHP-FPM, MariaDB, and Supervisor on Ubuntu, handles the full app lifecycle via CLI and REST API, and is purpose-built for Laravel with Deployer integration, automatic queue workers, and AES-256 config encryption.
Does Cipi use Docker like Kamal?
No. Kamal is Docker-first — every deploy runs as a container. Cipi uses a native Nginx, PHP-FPM, MariaDB, and Supervisor stack on the host OS. For standard Laravel apps this means lower overhead, simpler debugging, and no container layer to manage.
When should I still choose Kamal?
Choose Kamal if you want container isolation, portable Docker images, a multi-app Docker architecture on existing hosts, and a lightweight deploy tool when you already have infrastructure — and you do not need full server provisioning, Laravel-specific automation, or a native PHP stack.
