The self-hosted Ploi Cloud alternative
Comparison last updated: · reflects Cipi 5 and current Ploi Cloud pricing/features
Ploi Cloud (ploi.cloud) is a European Laravel/PHP/Node PaaS — memory-based pricing, Amsterdam/London/Chicago, MCP and CLI — and it is not the same product as Ploi.io (the server panel). Cipi is the self-hosted opposite: you own a VPS at any provider, with full root access, a fixed predictable cost, and no vendor lock-in. Free, open source, and entirely CLI-driven.
Cipi vs Ploi Cloud at a glance
| Feature | Cipi | Ploi Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free + fixed VPS cost | €13.88 per GB RAM / month |
| License | Open source (MIT) | Proprietary |
| Root / SSH access | Full control | No — managed cloud |
| Own the infrastructure | Yes — any provider | No — Ploi Cloud regions |
| No vendor lock-in | Portable stack | Tied to Ploi Cloud |
| Laravel Octane (FrankenPHP) | Yes — CLI native | Laravel-friendly PaaS |
| CLI & pipeline automation | Yes | CLI + MCP |
| AI / MCP server | Dual MCP | MCP server |
| Related product | Self-hosted CLI on your VPS | PaaS (distinct from Ploi.io) |
| Regions | Any VPS you choose | Amsterdam, London, Chicago |
| Managed databases | On your VPS | MySQL, Postgres, Redis, MongoDB, MinIO |
| Zero server management | You run the VPS | Fully managed |
Why teams choose Cipi over Ploi Cloud
Predictable, fixed cost
Cipi is free; you pay only for the VPS. Ploi Cloud bills €13.88 per GB of memory (CPU scales with RAM) — simple, still a hosted invoice that grows with instances.
You own the server
Full root on any provider. Ploi Cloud runs your app in their European (and Chicago) cloud — you do not get the machine.
No vendor lock-in
Cipi uses a standard, portable Ubuntu + Nginx + PHP-FPM / Laravel Octane + MariaDB (optional PostgreSQL) + Supervisor stack you can reproduce anywhere.
Laravel depth on a native stack
Octane, Horizon, Reverb, Deployer and queues are first-class CLI features. Ploi Cloud is Laravel-friendly PaaS, not a full server-management CLI you can audit.
Open source & AI-native
MIT-licensed and auditable, with a dual MCP server. Ploi Cloud also ships MCP and a CLI — on their control plane.
Encryption at rest + sovereignty
All configs encrypted with AES-256-CBC on a VPS in the region you choose. Ploi Cloud is GDPR-oriented EU hosting; Cipi never sends infrastructure data off the box.
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.
Not the same as Ploi.io
Need a panel that manages your VPS instead of a PaaS? See the dedicated Cipi vs Ploi.io comparison — different product, different trade-offs.
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 Ploi Cloud is the better choice
Ploi Cloud wins on zero server management with a Laravel-aware European PaaS: git-push deploys, automatic SSL, auto-scaling, managed databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL, Redis, Valkey, MongoDB, MinIO), Amsterdam/London/Chicago, GDPR-by-design, MCP and CLI. If you want EU data residency as a service and do not want to own a VPS, Ploi Cloud is the better fit. If you already use Ploi.io to manage servers, Cloud is their hosted runtime — Cipi replaces the “own the VPS” side of that story.
How to migrate from Ploi Cloud to Cipi
Moving from Ploi Cloud 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 Ploi Cloud. Dump the managed database, note environment variables, workers and the memory/instance size you were paying for so you can size the new VPS.
- 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 Ploi Cloud the same as Ploi.io?
No. Ploi.io is a SaaS panel that manages servers you own. Ploi Cloud (ploi.cloud) is a hosted European PaaS with memory-based pricing. Cipi is a self-hosted alternative to both: see also Cipi vs Ploi.io.
Is there a self-hosted alternative to Ploi Cloud?
Yes. Cipi is a free, open-source (MIT) and self-hosted alternative to Ploi Cloud. Instead of a managed Laravel/PHP PaaS, you own a VPS at any provider and Cipi installs and manages the full production stack on it.
What is the difference between Cipi and Ploi Cloud?
Ploi Cloud is a fully-managed, memory-priced PaaS in Amsterdam, London and Chicago, with MCP and a CLI. Cipi runs on your own VPS with full root access and a fixed cost, is open source, and adds Laravel Octane, a dual MCP server, and config encryption at rest.
Is Cipi cheaper than Ploi Cloud?
Cipi itself is free; your only cost is the VPS. Ploi Cloud charges €13.88 per GB of memory per month. A small Cloud instance can cost more than an equivalent VPS plus free Cipi.
When should I still choose Ploi Cloud?
Choose Ploi Cloud if you want European-first managed hosting, git-push deploys, auto-scaling and managed databases without running a VPS, and you are comfortable with memory-based billing.
Can I migrate from Ploi Cloud to Cipi?
Yes. Provision an Ubuntu VPS, install Cipi, create the app with cipi app create (add --octane to keep running Octane), restore your database dump, copy environment values and point DNS. You trade PaaS billing for a fixed VPS cost.
