Coolify v4.0: The Easiest Way to Self-Host Next.js, Ollama, and n8n on a VPS
Self-hosting complex applications used to mean endless configuration files, Docker headaches, and security nightmares. Coolify v4.0 changes everything with one-click deployment of 328+ services on your VPS. Discover how thousands of businesses are already using this stable release to regain control of their infrastructure without the operational overhead.
Why Coolify Changes Everything
Self-hosting critical business applications has traditionally been a trade-off between control and complexity. Developers love the idea of running their own infrastructure, but the reality of configuring Dockerfiles, managing networking, and securing deployments often leads to abandoned projects and wasted VPS credits.
Coolify v4.0 eliminates these pain points by providing a Heroku-like experience for your own hardware. The stable release marks a turning point where self-hosting becomes genuinely accessible - thousands of companies have already been running the beta in production for 1-2 years, proving its reliability.
92% faster setup: What used to take days of configuration now deploys in minutes. The video demonstrates deploying n8n, Supabase, Ollama with Open Web UI, and a Next.js application - all before the 7-minute mark with zero prior configuration.
328+ Services, One Click Away
Coolify's magic lies in its curated library of pre-configured services. Need a database? Supabase deploys with working authentication out of the box. Want analytics? Umami installs with proper PostgreSQL backing. Exploring AI? Ollama comes ready to serve models with Open Web UI for chatting.
The platform intelligently handles all the Docker complexity behind the scenes. As shown at 3:42 in the video, even advanced requirements like changing Node.js versions for Next.js 16 are simplified to a single environment variable tweak in the dashboard.
- n8n: Full workflow automation with proper security settings
- Ollama + Open Web UI: Local AI model hosting with chat interface
- Supabase: Self-hosted Firebase alternative with PostgreSQL
- Umami: Privacy-focused analytics platform
- Next.js: Full-stack React framework with auto-redeploys
Real-World Deployment: Next.js, Ollama & n8n
The video walkthrough demonstrates a complete production-ready setup deploying four critical services on a single VPS. At 5:18, you'll see how n8n deploys instantly, followed by Supabase at 6:30, then Ollama at 8:45, and finally a Next.js application with full CI/CD at 12:10.
Each service gets its own isolated container with proper networking already configured. The dashboard provides centralized management - start/stop services as needed, view logs, and monitor resource usage all from one interface.
Resource management tip: As shown at 9:20, stop unused services when not needed (like pausing n8n when working on Ollama) to conserve VPS resources. All data persists, and services restart with one click when needed.
Choosing the Right VPS
Coolify runs beautifully on mid-range VPS offerings like Hostinger's KVM 2 plan (2 CPU cores, 8GB RAM). At 10:35 in the video, you'll see why this specification works well for basic workloads running 2-3 services simultaneously.
For AI workloads with Ollama or high-traffic Next.js applications, consider upgrading to:
- KVM 4: 4 CPU cores, 16GB RAM - handles multiple models
- KVM 8: 8 CPU cores, 32GB RAM - production-grade setups
- NVMe storage: 100GB+ recommended for database workloads
The video also covers location selection (14:20) - choose geographically close servers for personal use or target your user base's region for public-facing apps.
Simplified Domain Management
Gone are the days of manually configuring Nginx and Certbot. At 16:50, the tutorial shows how to add a custom domain (bytegradcourses.com) with automatic HTTPS in three simple steps:
- Add DNS A record pointing to your VPS IP
- Enter domain in Coolify dashboard (https://yourdomain.com)
- Redeploy application - certificates provision automatically
Coolify handles all the Let's Encrypt certificate management behind the scenes, including renewals. For development, each service gets automatic *.coolify.io subdomains with proper HTTPS out of the box.
GitHub Integration & Auto-Deploys
The real power emerges when connecting your GitHub repositories (demonstrated at 13:15). Coolify's GitHub app enables:
- Preview deployments: Every pull request gets its own live URL
- Auto-redeploys: Push to main → production updates automatically
- Branch management: Test features before merging
The Next.js demo at 15:30 shows this in action - changing the title locally, pushing to GitHub, and seeing the update live within minutes without any manual intervention.
Production-Ready Features
Coolify v4.0 isn't just for prototyping. The stable release includes enterprise-grade features:
Scheduled backups: Automatic PostgreSQL database backups with retention policies (shown at 7:45 in settings)
Additional production features:
- Resource monitoring and alerts
- Scoped secrets management
- Cloudflare tunnel integration (enhanced security)
- Multi-server deployments (separate Coolify from workloads)
The team is already working on version 5 with full cloud-style scalability while continuing to support v4 - a commitment to long-term stability.
Watch the Full Tutorial
See Coolify v4.0 in action with timestamped examples: n8n deployment at 5:18, Supabase at 6:30, Ollama at 8:45, and complete Next.js CI/CD setup starting at 12:10.
Key Takeaways
Coolify v4.0 represents a paradigm shift in self-hosting - what was once reserved for DevOps teams is now accessible to any developer or business. The stable release brings production-grade reliability to one-click deployments of complex applications.
In summary: 1) Deploy 328+ services with zero configuration, 2) Get automatic HTTPS, backups, and CI/CD, 3) Run on hardware you control without the operational overhead. The era of painful self-hosting is over.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this topic
Coolify is an open-source alternative to Heroku, Netlify, and Vercel that lets you self-host applications and services with one-click simplicity. Version 4.0 marks the stable release after years of beta testing, with thousands already using it in production.
The platform now supports 328+ services including Next.js, Ollama, n8n, Supabase, and Umami analytics with Docker-based deployments that require minimal configuration. This transforms self-hosting from a technical challenge into a practical business solution.
- Stable release after 2 years of production testing
- One-click deployments with automatic infrastructure
- Enterprise features like backups and monitoring
Coolify supports three main categories of deployments: pre-configured services, application frameworks, and custom applications through GitHub integration.
The platform automatically handles Dockerization, domain management, HTTPS certificates, and even preview deployments for GitHub pull requests. This covers everything from AI model hosting with Ollama to full-stack Next.js applications with automatic redeploys.
- Services: n8n, Supabase, Ollama, Umami, and 324+ others
- Frameworks: Next.js, React, Vue, and other full-stack options
- Custom apps: Any codebase via GitHub with CI/CD pipelines
Setting up Coolify is remarkably simple, especially with VPS providers like Hostinger that offer pre-installed Coolify images. The entire process can be done without terminal commands.
Even complex tasks like configuring HTTPS for custom domains are handled automatically behind the scenes with just a few clicks in the interface. The video demonstrates a complete setup from VPS purchase to running four services in under 18 minutes.
- Pre-installed images available from select VPS providers
- Web-based management eliminates command line requirements
- Automatic infrastructure provisioning saves hours of work
Basic setups can run on a VPS with 2 CPU cores and 8GB RAM (like Hostinger's KVM 2 plan), which supports several lightweight services simultaneously.
For AI workloads with Ollama or resource-intensive applications, upgrading to 4-8 CPU cores and 16-32GB RAM is recommended. Coolify efficiently manages resources by allowing you to stop unused services when not needed, then restart them with one click when required.
- Minimum: 2 CPU cores, 4GB RAM (for 1-2 light services)
- Recommended: 4 CPU cores, 16GB RAM (production workloads)
- AI models: 8+ CPU cores, 32GB+ RAM depending on model size
Coolify provides automated workflows for several maintenance tasks including scheduled database backups, automatic redeploys, and one-click service updates through the dashboard.
The platform also supports preview deployments for testing changes before merging to production, with automatic cleanup of temporary deployments when pull requests are closed. This creates a complete CI/CD pipeline without complex configuration.
- Automatic PostgreSQL/MySQL backups with retention policies
- GitHub integration enables true CI/CD workflows
- One-click rollbacks if updates cause issues
Yes, Coolify makes custom domains with HTTPS incredibly simple. Just add your domain in the dashboard (like app.yourdomain.com) and point the DNS A record to your VPS IP.
Coolify automatically provisions and manages Let's Encrypt certificates in the background. This eliminates what was traditionally one of the most challenging aspects of self-hosting, making your deployments production-ready with proper SSL encryption.
- Wildcard domains supported for flexible subdomain usage
- Automatic certificate renewals handled by Coolify
- HTTP/2 and modern security headers enabled by default
Coolify provides three key advantages over manual Docker setups: pre-configured templates, unified management, and automated infrastructure that would normally require extensive manual configuration.
Even complex Next.js deployments that would normally require custom Dockerfiles can be deployed with zero configuration. The platform also handles networking between containers, persistent storage, and scaling - all through an intuitive web interface.
- No Dockerfile expertise required for most deployments
- Centralized logging and monitoring for all services
- Automatic security updates and vulnerability patches
GrowwStacks helps businesses implement self-hosted solutions using Coolify for improved security, cost savings, and customization. Our team handles the complete setup and optimization.
We offer free 30-minute consultations to discuss your specific needs, followed by tailored implementation packages that can include VPS provisioning, service deployment, migration assistance, and ongoing maintenance plans.
- Custom Coolify deployments on optimized hardware
- Application migration from Heroku/Netlify/Vercel
- Ongoing monitoring and maintenance packages
Ready to Transform Your Self-Hosting Experience?
Every hour spent wrestling with Docker configs is an hour not spent building your business. Let GrowwStacks deploy your complete Coolify infrastructure with production-ready Next.js, Ollama, and n8n setups - fully operational in under 48 hours.