The free, Laravel-native ServerPilot alternative
ServerPilot automates PHP-FPM and Nginx for WordPress, but offers no Laravel tooling, no app CLI, and no zero-downtime deploys. Cipi is built for Laravel: one-command provisioning, Git deploys, queues and SSL — free, open source, and fully scriptable on your own Ubuntu VPS.
Cipi vs ServerPilot at a glance
| Feature | Cipi | ServerPilot |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, forever | $12–49/mo per server |
| License | Open source (MIT) | Proprietary |
| Interface | CLI + REST API | Web GUI (SaaS) |
| Laravel-native (Deployer, artisan, queues) | Yes | No |
| Zero-downtime Git deploys | Yes | No |
| App-management CLI | Yes | No |
| Runs entirely on your VPS | Yes | No — SaaS |
| AI / MCP server | Dual MCP | No |
| Hands-off WordPress PHP updates | Laravel-first | Yes |
Why Laravel developers switch from ServerPilot to Cipi
Built for Laravel
Deployer, artisan, Supervisor queues and zero-downtime releases are automatic. ServerPilot has none of this.
$0 instead of $12–49/mo
ServerPilot charges per server every month. Cipi is free for all your servers, forever.
Full app CLI & REST API
Create, deploy and manage apps from the terminal or programmatically. ServerPilot has no application CLI.
No SaaS dependency
Cipi runs entirely on your VPS; ServerPilot manages servers from its own cloud.
AI-native with dual MCP
Manage your whole server from any MCP-compatible IDE or AI agent.
Open source & encrypted at rest
MIT-licensed and auditable, with AES-256-CBC encryption for all configs 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 ServerPilot is still the better choice
ServerPilot is aimed at WordPress developers who want automated PHP updates and a fully managed, hands-off experience without touching server internals. If that's your workload, ServerPilot is purpose-built for it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free alternative to ServerPilot?
Yes. Cipi is a free, open-source (MIT) and self-hosted alternative to ServerPilot. 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 ServerPilot?
ServerPilot is a PHP/WordPress-focused SaaS panel ($12–49/month) that automates PHP-FPM and Nginx but has no Laravel-specific tooling, no CLI for application management, and no zero-downtime deploy system. Cipi is Laravel-native, free, and fully CLI-driven with zero-downtime Git deploys.
Does ServerPilot support Laravel deployments?
ServerPilot has no Laravel-specific deployment tooling — no Deployer, no artisan shortcuts, and no zero-downtime release system. Cipi provides all of this automatically out of the box.
When should I still choose ServerPilot?
Choose ServerPilot if you mainly run WordPress and want automated PHP updates and a hands-off managed experience without thinking about server internals.
