The Laravel-native Kamal alternative
Comparison last updated: · reflects Cipi 5 and current Kamal pricing/features
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 + optional GUI | CLI |
| Server provisioning | Yes — full stack | No — deploy only |
| Deployment model | Native LEMP stack | Docker containers |
| Laravel-native (Deployer, artisan, queues) | Yes | Partial |
| Laravel Octane (FrankenPHP) | Yes — CLI native | No |
| 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 |
| PostgreSQL support | Optional | DIY |
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 (optional PostgreSQL), 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.
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 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.
How to migrate from Kamal to Cipi
Moving from Kamal 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.
- Keep your Git repository as-is. With Cipi you won't need a Dockerfile, config/deploy.yml or a container registry — apps deploy straight from Git onto a native LEMP stack.
- 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 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 (optional PostgreSQL), 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 (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 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.
Can I migrate a Laravel app from Kamal to Cipi?
Yes, and it usually gets simpler: provision an Ubuntu VPS, install Cipi, create the app with cipi app create and connect the same Git repository. Cipi deploys natively without Docker images, registries or deploy.yml files, so there is less machinery to maintain.
Can Cipi deploy non-Laravel apps like Kamal does?
Cipi focuses on the PHP ecosystem: Laravel apps, generic PHP apps and static sites. Kamal remains the better choice for polyglot containerized workloads such as Rails, Node or Go; Cipi is the deeper tool for Laravel on a classic LEMP stack.
