The self-hosted 20i alternative for Laravel
Comparison last updated: · reflects Cipi 5 and current 20i products
20i is a full hosting company — reseller plans, managed cloud, WordPress, VPS, domains and the My20i panel, with 60+ data centers and 24×7 support. Cipi is not a hosting company: you bring any Ubuntu VPS, get a Laravel-first deploy CLI, full root, and a fixed bill. Free, open source, and built for developers who already own the server.
Cipi vs 20i at a glance
| Feature | Cipi | 20i |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free + fixed VPS cost | Hosting plans (cloud from ~$10.99/mo) |
| License | Open source (MIT) | Proprietary |
| Root / SSH access | Full control | Depends on product (VPS vs shared/cloud) |
| Own the infrastructure | Yes — any provider | 20i / AWS / GCP hosting |
| No vendor lock-in | Portable stack | My20i / StackCP ecosystem |
| Laravel Octane (FrankenPHP) | Yes — CLI native | Managed Laravel hosting, not Octane-first |
| CLI & pipeline automation | Yes | Git + panel |
| AI / MCP server | Dual MCP | No |
| Focus | Laravel deploy CLI | Reseller, WordPress, ecommerce, VPS, domains |
| CDN, email, domains | Bring your own | Bundled platform |
| 24×7 hosted support | Community / GitHub | In-house support |
| Config encryption at rest (AES-256) | On your VPS | Managed panel |
Why teams choose Cipi over 20i
A deploy tool, not a hosting contract
Cipi is free software on a VPS you already pay for. 20i is a hosting vendor — reseller, cloud, WordPress and VPS products billed through their platform.
You pick the provider
Full root on Hetzner, OVH, DigitalOcean, AWS or bare metal. 20i hosts on 20iCloud, AWS or Google Cloud under their panel.
Laravel-first, not generic hosting
Octane, Horizon, Reverb, Deployer, artisan and queue workers are built in. 20i optimizes for agencies, WordPress, Magento/WooCommerce and reseller workflows.
CLI, API and dual MCP
Everything is scriptable over SSH. 20i is panel-first (My20i / StackCP) with Git — not an AI-native, pipeline-first Laravel CLI.
Open source & no panel lock-in
MIT-licensed and auditable. Leaving 20i means leaving their control panel, CDN and reseller tooling; leaving Cipi leaves a standard LEMP box.
Encryption at rest + sovereignty
All configs encrypted with AES-256-CBC on a VPS in the region you choose — no infrastructure data leaves your machine.
Laravel Octane (FrankenPHP)
Create or convert apps with cipi app create --octane / cipi app convert --to=octane. Run Octane beside classic FPM apps on the same server.
Optional PostgreSQL
MariaDB by default; install PostgreSQL with one command and pick an engine per app (cipi db install pgsql).
Install Cipi in one command
Spin up a fresh Ubuntu VPS, then run:
That installs and configures the full production stack — Nginx, PHP-FPM / Laravel Octane, MariaDB, optional PostgreSQL, Redis and Supervisor. See the getting started guide.
Where 20i is the better choice
20i wins as a hosting company: 24×7 human support, a free CDN, one-click migrations, 60+ data centers, reseller/StackCP branding, domains, email, WordPress Manager, Agency Hub, and green energy claims. If you sell hosting, need WordPress-at-scale, or want a single vendor for sites, mail and DNS, 20i is the better fit. Cipi is for developers who already have a VPS and want Laravel deploys without a hosting panel.
How to migrate from 20i to Cipi
Moving from 20i to Cipi is a clean cutover: you stand up a fresh Ubuntu VPS, deploy from the same Git repository, import data, and switch DNS when everything checks out. Your Laravel codebase does not need to change.
- Export your data from 20i. Use their Migration Center or take a database dump and file copy from My20i. Note PHP version, cron, mail and DNS so you can recreate what Cipi should own vs what you keep elsewhere.
- Provision a fresh Ubuntu VPS and install Cipi. Any provider works (Hetzner, DigitalOcean, Vultr, Linode, AWS). On Ubuntu 24.04/26.04 run
wget -O - https://cipi.sh/setup.sh | bashand the full production stack — Nginx, PHP, MariaDB, Valkey, Supervisor — is configured in minutes. - Recreate each app and connect Git.
cipi app createprovisions an isolated app with its own system user, database, PHP pool and Nginx vhost (add--octanefor Laravel Octane). Connecting GitHub or GitLab configures deploy keys and webhooks automatically for zero-downtime deploys. - Move data and cut over. Import your database dump, copy your
.envvalues, issue HTTPS certificates withcipi ssl install, then point DNS at the new server and retire the old setup.
Cipi uses standard Nginx, PHP-FPM / Laravel Octane and Deployer conventions, so there is no vendor-specific configuration to unwind later. Full details in the getting started guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cipi an alternative to 20i?
For Laravel application hosting, yes. Cipi is a free, open-source deploy CLI you install on your own Ubuntu VPS. 20i is a hosting company with reseller, WordPress, cloud and VPS products — a different category if you need domains, email or white-label hosting.
What is the difference between Cipi and 20i?
20i sells managed hosting through My20i, with CDN, migrations and 24×7 support. Cipi does not sell hosting: it provisions a Laravel production stack on a VPS you already own, with CLI, REST API, dual MCP and AES-256 config encryption.
Is Cipi cheaper than 20i?
Cipi itself is free; you pay only the VPS. 20i prices depend on the product (reseller, managed cloud from about $10.99/mo, WordPress, VPS). Compare the VPS plus Cipi against the 20i plan that matches your sites.
When should I still choose 20i?
Choose 20i if you want a hosting vendor with 24×7 support, reseller branding, WordPress tooling, domains, email and a global CDN — not a DIY Laravel CLI on a raw VPS.
Can I migrate from 20i to Cipi?
Yes for Laravel (and other PHP) apps. Provision an Ubuntu VPS, install Cipi, recreate each site, import the database and files, then point DNS. Keep 20i for mail or domains if you still need those products.
Does Cipi include a control panel like My20i?
Optionally. Running cipi gui yourdomain.com installs a free, self-hosted web panel. Unlike My20i, it is opt-in and runs on your infrastructure; Cipi remains fully usable from the CLI alone.
