CapRover alternative: self-hosted deploys without Docker Swarm

Keep the simple CapRover workflow, drop the Swarm dependency Levelrail runs apps on plain Docker containers with its own reconciler and a small agent per extra server. Git push to deploy, automatic HTTPS, rollback and an importer for your CapRover apps. Get started | View on GitHub

curl -fsSL https://levelrail.com/install.sh | sudo sh

Where Levelrail differs

No Swarm, plain Docker

Apps run as ordinary containers. A level-triggered reconciler compares desired and observed state and converges, recording a reason after every pass.

Agent per node

Extra servers run a small agent that dials out to the control plane with mutual TLS, so managed servers need no inbound port.

Observability included

Node-local metrics, full-text log search, crashloop detection and alerts to eighteen channels ship in the core, with deploy markers on the charts.

Bring your apps with you

The importer reads your existing instance through its own HTTP API and never changes anything there. Run it with —dry-run first.

install, import, verify

curl -fsSL https://levelrail.com/install.sh | sudo sh
# control plane running as a systemd service
levelrail-cli import platform caprover --url https://captain.example.com --dry-run
# dry run: report only, nothing is written here or changed there
levelrail-cli import platform caprover --url https://captain.example.com --only web,api
# apps and databases created, ready to deploy

CapRover and Levelrail, side by side

CapRover is a long-standing project with a large install base and a one-click app store. These are the design differences.

	CapRover	Levelrail
Server management	Docker Swarm	Agent per node over gRPC with mutual TLS, Docker Engine API
Orchestration	Swarm services	Level-triggered reconciler over plain Docker
Ingress	nginx	Caddy embedded in the control plane
Runs as	A web application running as a Swarm service	One Go binary with embedded SQLite
License	Open source	Apache 2.0, one edition

Read the full comparison

Move over safely

Install on a spare server

One script checks the host, installs Docker if missing and starts the control plane.

Dry-run the importer

Point it at your CapRover URL with —dry-run. The importer is read-only against the source.

Import and compare

Import a subset with —only, deploy it, and run both for a while before switching DNS.

Frequently asked questions

Does Levelrail need Docker Swarm?

No. It runs plain Docker containers on each node. Placement across servers is explicit, and cordon and drain are supported.

How do I migrate from CapRover?

Use levelrail-cli import platform caprover with your CapRover URL. It is read-only against the source and supports —dry-run and —only.

Does it have a one-click app store?

Levelrail ships a curated template catalog and is expanding it, but CapRover’s app store is larger today. Check that the services you need are covered.

Is it free?

Yes. Apache 2.0, one edition, nothing behind a paywall.

Try it beside your CapRover setup

Import read-only, run both, and keep what works. Get started | View on GitHub

Explanation

Compare and choose

Design proposals

CapRover alternative: self-hosted deploys without Docker Swarm

Where Levelrail differs

No Swarm, plain Docker

Agent per node

Observability included

Bring your apps with you

CapRover and Levelrail, side by side

Move over safely

Frequently asked questions

Try it beside your CapRover setup

​Where Levelrail differs

No Swarm, plain Docker

Agent per node

Observability included

​Bring your apps with you

​CapRover and Levelrail, side by side

​Move over safely

​Frequently asked questions

​Try it beside your CapRover setup

Where Levelrail differs

Bring your apps with you

CapRover and Levelrail, side by side

Move over safely

Frequently asked questions

Try it beside your CapRover setup