The free, Laravel-native RunCloud alternative
RunCloud is a PHP control panel, but it isn't Laravel-native — deploying Laravel means wiring up Deployer, queues and artisan by hand. Cipi understands Laravel out of the box: automatic Deployer integration, queue workers, zero-downtime releases — free, open source, and fully CLI-driven on your own Ubuntu VPS.
Cipi vs RunCloud at a glance
| Feature | Cipi | RunCloud |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, forever | $12–18/mo per server |
| License | Open source (MIT) | Proprietary |
| Interface | CLI + REST API | Web GUI (SaaS) |
| Laravel-native (Deployer, artisan, queues) | Yes | No — manual setup |
| Zero-downtime Git deploys | Yes | Scripts only |
| Runs entirely on your VPS | Yes | No — SaaS |
| AI / MCP server | Dual MCP | No |
| Config encryption at rest (AES-256) | Yes | No |
| Apache support / WordPress focus | No (Laravel-first) | Yes |
Why Laravel developers switch from RunCloud to Cipi
Laravel-native, zero config
Cipi auto-configures Deployer, artisan shortcuts, Supervisor queue workers and the shared directory structure. RunCloud needs manual wiring.
$0 instead of $12–18/mo
RunCloud bills per server every month. Cipi is free for all your servers, forever.
True zero-downtime releases
Webhook-driven, atomic releases for GitHub & GitLab in one command — not hand-written deploy scripts.
No SaaS dependency
Cipi runs entirely on your VPS; RunCloud manages servers from its own cloud panel.
AI-native with dual MCP
Manage apps, deploys and SSL across the whole server from any MCP-compatible IDE or agent.
Open source & encrypted at rest
MIT-licensed and auditable, with all configs encrypted using AES-256-CBC on your server.
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 RunCloud is still the better choice
RunCloud supports both Nginx and Apache and is popular for WordPress and generic PHP hosting with a friendly visual panel. If your workload is mostly WordPress or non-Laravel PHP and you prefer a GUI, RunCloud is a reasonable fit.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to RunCloud?
Yes. Cipi is a free, open-source (MIT) and self-hosted alternative to RunCloud. It installs and manages a complete production stack on any Ubuntu VPS with no monthly subscription and no per-server fee.
What is the difference between Cipi and RunCloud?
RunCloud is a PHP-oriented SaaS control panel ($12–18/month per server) that is not Laravel-native: no built-in Deployer, no artisan shortcuts, and no automatic Supervisor configuration for Laravel queues. Cipi is Laravel-native and handles all of this automatically, for free, from the CLI.
Is Cipi better than RunCloud for Laravel?
For Laravel specifically, Cipi gives you far more out of the box — automatic Deployer integration, artisan commands, queue workers and zero-downtime releases — at zero cost. RunCloud requires manual configuration of pieces Cipi handles automatically.
When should I still choose RunCloud?
Choose RunCloud if you host mostly WordPress or generic PHP apps, need Apache support alongside Nginx, and prefer a visual web panel over a CLI-first workflow.
