Ploi
Dutch dashboard that installs, deploys and monitors apps on servers you rent from Hetzner, DigitalOcean, UpCloud or another provider
Quick Overview
| Company | WebBuilds B.V. |
|---|---|
| Category | PaaS Platforms |
| Headquarters | The Netherlands, Netherlands |
| Founded | Not stated |
| EU Presence | Yes - Netherlands (EU) |
| Data Location | Your servers sit with the provider you choose; Ploi states it is hosted in Europe |
| Open Source | No |
| GDPR Compliant | Yes |
| Self-Hosting | Servers are yours; the Ploi panel itself is a hosted service |
| Main Features | Server installation, site management, zero-downtime deployment, Laravel detection, load balancing, status pages, teams, site and server monitoring, backups, API and mobile app |
| Pricing | Free €0; Basic €8, Pro €13 and Unlimited €30 per month; yearly billing saves 10 percent; server fees are not included |
| Best For | Laravel and PHP developers who want a Forge-style panel run by a Dutch company |
| Replaces | Laravel Forge, Heroku for PHP, Render web services |
Detailed Review
Ploi is not a platform that hosts your code. You rent a virtual server from a provider such as Hetzner or DigitalOcean, connect it, and Ploi installs the web stack and handles deployments, queues, cron jobs and certificates from a dashboard.
The company calls itself bootstrapped and European, created in the Netherlands and part of WebBuilds B.V.
A Panel Over Your Own Servers
Because the servers live in your account, the compute bill goes to the provider and Ploi charges only for the panel. The Free plan covers one server and one site with five deployments a month; Unlimited removes the server limit at €30 a month.
From Basic upward the pricing page lists unlimited deployments, and its comparison table names zero-downtime deployment, scheduled deployments, file and database backups and site monitoring.
PHP First, Node Supported
The product detects Laravel applications and has one-click installs for WordPress, Statamic, Craft CMS and Nextcloud, with multiple PHP versions per server. NodeJS support is listed among the services as well.
Load balancing across servers, status pages and team sharing appear in the feature list as well.
Small Team, Public Roadmap
The about page names a founder, a developer and a support person, and states the project has never taken outside funding. A public roadmap lets users submit features.
Support is not 24/7, and the pricing page says so directly.
Limitations to Consider
Ploi is a management layer, not a PaaS: you pay a server provider separately, and you remain responsible for sizing the machine. Support is not offered around the clock. It is aimed at PHP, with Node.js listed as supported, so teams on other stacks will find a better fit elsewhere, for example Sliplane for containers. The free plan allows five deployments a month.
Who Should Use Ploi
PHP and Laravel developers and small agencies who already rent cheap VPS capacity and want deploy, queue and certificate handling from a Dutch vendor.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Prices from €0, paid plans €8 to €30 per month
- Servers stay in your own provider account
- Laravel detection and one-click installs
- Zero-downtime and scheduled deployments
- Lifetime plans available on request
Cons
- Server costs come on top
- Not a managed runtime
- No 24/7 support
- Five deployments per month on the free plan
Alternatives to Ploi
Other European paas platforms worth comparing before you decide:
Scalingo
France · Strasbourg git-push PaaS with HDS and SecNumCloud options
Zerops
Czech Republic · Prague developer cloud on its own hardware, billed per minute
Sliplane
Germany · Berlin Docker hosting with unlimited apps per flat-priced server
Upsun
France · Paris platform with a full environment for every branch
See all European paas platforms or compare them directly against Laravel Forge on our alternatives page.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The pricing FAQ says its pricing does not include server fees and that it is a separate, standalone product from your hosting provider.
The FAQ states Ploi will never stop or halt services on your servers or sites because of your subscription status.
Yes. Payment methods listed include PayPal, iDEAL, Apple Pay, Bancontact, Belfius Direct Net, Paysafecard, Przelewy24, EPS, TWINT and KBC/CBC.