The free, Laravel-native ServerPilot alternative
Comparison last updated: · reflects Cipi 5 and current ServerPilot pricing/features
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 + optional GUI | Web GUI (SaaS) |
| Laravel-native (Deployer, artisan, queues) | Yes | No |
| Laravel Octane (FrankenPHP) | Yes — CLI native | 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 |
| PostgreSQL support | Optional | MySQL-first |
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.
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 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.
How to migrate from ServerPilot to Cipi
Moving from ServerPilot 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.
- Take inventory in ServerPilot. List the apps and system users ServerPilot manages, and dump each MySQL database you need to move.
- 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 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.
Can I migrate from ServerPilot 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 ServerPilot?
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. Unlike ServerPilot, the dashboard is opt-in and runs on your own infrastructure; Cipi remains fully usable from the CLI alone.
