The Laravel-native Easypanel alternative
Comparison last updated: · reflects Cipi 5 and current Easypanel pricing/features
Easypanel and Cipi are both free, open source, and self-hosted — no SaaS subscription, no vendor lock-in. Easypanel is a Docker-based PaaS with a web dashboard for many stacks; Cipi is a CLI-first tool that runs Laravel on a native LEMP stack with Deployer, artisan, queues, and zero-downtime Git deploys built in.
Cipi vs Easypanel at a glance
| Feature | Cipi | Easypanel |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, forever | Free, forever |
| License | Open source (MIT) | Open source |
| Interface | CLI + REST API + optional GUI | Web GUI dashboard |
| Deployment model | Native LEMP stack | Docker containers |
| Focus | Laravel-first | Generic multi-stack PaaS |
| Laravel-native (Deployer, artisan, queues) | Yes | No |
| Laravel Octane (FrankenPHP) | Yes — CLI native | No |
| CLI & pipeline automation | Yes | GUI + API |
| AI / MCP server | Dual MCP | No |
| Config encryption at rest (AES-256) | Yes | Not advertised |
| Server-to-server sync & failover | Yes | No |
| Docker / container workflows | Native PHP stack | Yes |
| One-click databases & services (GUI) | CLI or GUI | Yes |
| PostgreSQL support | Optional | Yes |
Why Laravel teams pick Cipi over Easypanel
Built for Laravel
Deployer, artisan shortcuts, automatic queue workers and the shared release structure are handled for you — Easypanel treats PHP as one of many generic stacks.
No Docker overhead
Cipi runs PHP-FPM directly on the host. For standard Laravel apps you get lower memory use, simpler debugging, and no container layer to maintain.
CLI-first & pipeline-ready
Every operation is a composable shell command, scriptable in CI/CD and triggerable by webhooks or GitHub Actions.
Webhook zero-downtime deploys
One-command, atomic releases for GitHub & GitLab — designed for Laravel, not bolted on.
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.
Laravel Octane (FrankenPHP)
Create or convert apps with cipi app create --octane / cipi app convert --to=octane. Run Octane beside classic FPM apps, plus first-class Horizon and Reverb — no SaaS panel required.
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 Easypanel is the better choice
Easypanel is an excellent self-hosted PaaS if you want a polished web GUI, Docker-based deployments, one-click databases and services, and the flexibility to host Node.js, Python, static sites, and many other stacks on the same platform. If your workflow is container-first or you need a visual dashboard more than Laravel-specific automation, Easypanel is well worth evaluating.
How to migrate from Easypanel to Cipi
Moving from Easypanel to Cipi is a clean cutover rather than an in-place conversion: you stand up a fresh server next to your current setup, deploy from the same Git repository, and switch DNS when everything checks out. Your Laravel codebase does not need to change.
- Export your data from Easypanel. Export app data and database dumps from the Easypanel-managed Docker volumes before decommissioning the old services.
- 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 a good Easypanel alternative for Laravel?
Yes. Both are free, open-source and self-hosted with no SaaS dependency. Easypanel is a Docker-based PaaS with a web GUI for many stacks; Cipi is Laravel-first, CLI-driven, and runs apps on a native Nginx + PHP-FPM stack with Deployer, artisan, queues, dual MCP, and zero-downtime Git deploys built in.
What is the difference between Cipi and Easypanel?
Easypanel deploys applications as Docker containers through a web dashboard and supports many languages and services. Cipi installs and manages a traditional LEMP stack directly on Ubuntu, is operated entirely from the CLI, and is purpose-built for Laravel with Deployer integration, automatic queue workers, webhook-driven releases, AES-256 config encryption, and a dual MCP server.
Does Cipi use Docker like Easypanel?
No. Easypanel is container-first — every app runs in Docker. Cipi uses a native Nginx, PHP-FPM, MariaDB (optional PostgreSQL), 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 Easypanel?
Choose Easypanel if you want a polished web GUI, Docker-based deployments, one-click databases and services, and the flexibility to host many different stacks on the same platform — and you do not need Laravel-specific automation or CLI-first pipeline integration.
Can I migrate from Easypanel to Cipi?
Yes. Provision a fresh Ubuntu VPS, install Cipi with one command, recreate each app with cipi app create, connect your GitHub or GitLab repository for zero-downtime deploys, import your database dump, then point DNS at the new server. Your Laravel codebase itself needs no changes.
Does Cipi have a web dashboard like Easypanel?
Yes, optionally. Running cipi gui yourdomain.com installs a free, self-hosted web control panel that manages one or more Cipi servers from the browser — apps, databases, SSL, deploys and logs. The dashboard is opt-in, and the server never depends on a panel service or containers to keep running; Cipi remains fully usable from the CLI alone.
