EasyPanel: The Docker Control Panel That Runs Any App — Specs, Features, and Real-World Use Cases
Traditional server control panels like cPanel or Plesk are great for shared hosting, but they fall short when you want to run modern applications built in multiple languages.It is a self-hosted Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) — web interface that run any application inside Docker containers.
Introduction
Traditional server control panels like cPanel or Plesk are great for shared hosting, but they fall short when you want to run modern applications built in multiple languages. EasyPanel solves this by acting like a self-hosted Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) — a clean web interface that can run any application inside Docker containers.
Unlike most panels, EasyPanel supports:
- Node.js, PHP, Python, Ruby, Go, Java apps
- Automatic builds via Heroku Buildpacks
- Custom Dockerfiles for full control
- One-click templates for popular apps
Technical Specifications
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Supported Languages | Node.js, PHP, Python, Ruby, Go, Java |
| Build System | Cloud Native Buildpacks (Heroku-style) + Custom Dockerfile support |
| Container Runtime | Docker (Docker Engine & Compose) |
| Orchestration | Single server & multi-server (Docker Swarm-based) |
| Databases | MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis |
| Backup Storage | Local or S3-compatible object storage |
| SSL | Let’s Encrypt (Auto-provision & auto-renew) |
| App Templates | WordPress, Metabase, Nextcloud, Strapi, Appsmith, Directus, Ghost, Plausible Analytics, Meilisearch, and more |
| Version Control | GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket integration (push-to-deploy) |
| OS Requirements | Ubuntu (20.04+ recommended), Debian (other distros possible with Docker installed) |
| Ports Used | 80 (HTTP), 443 (HTTPS), plus app-defined ports |
| Access Methods | Web UI, Browser Terminal, REST API (experimental) |
| Authentication | Email/password login (OIDC/SAML possible via reverse proxy) |
Supported Application Types & Frameworks
JavaScript/Node.js
- Express.js
- NestJS
- Next.js (SSR)
- Nuxt.js
- SvelteKit
- Remix
PHP
- Laravel
- Symfony
- WordPress
- Drupal
- CodeIgniter
Python
- Django
- Flask
- FastAPI
- Pyramid
Ruby
- Ruby on Rails
- Sinatra
- Hanami
Go
- Go HTTP apps
- Fiber
- Echo
- Gin
Java
- Spring Boot
- Micronaut
- Quarkus
Deployment Workflow
- Create Project
- Choose Buildpack or Custom Dockerfile.
- Select app language (auto-detected in Buildpack mode).
- Link Source
- Connect GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, or upload source.
- Build Process
- Buildpack: Detects runtime → installs dependencies → creates Docker image.
- Dockerfile: Executes your Docker build instructions.
- Deployment
- Container is started with defined env vars, persistent volumes, and port mapping.
- Domain & SSL
- Map a custom domain → Let’s Encrypt issues TLS cert automatically.
- Scaling
- (In multi-server setups) containers can be placed on different nodes.
- Monitoring & Logs
- View real-time logs in the browser terminal.
Database & Backup Features
- Provision MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, or Redis in seconds.
- Manage DBs via built-in phpMyAdmin or Adminer-like web consoles.
- Schedule backups to local storage or remote S3 buckets.
- Restore backups with one click.
Built-in One-Click App Templates
Some notable templates include:
- WordPress (PHP + MySQL)
- Ghost CMS (Node.js + SQLite/MySQL)
- Nextcloud (PHP + MariaDB)
- Metabase (Java)
- Plausible Analytics (Elixir backend, PostgreSQL)
- Strapi (Node.js + Mongo/PostgreSQL)
- Appsmith (Java + Node.js)
- Directus (Node.js + PostgreSQL)
- Meilisearch (Rust)
Templates save time by preconfiguring environment variables, storage, and networking.
Why Developers Choose EasyPanel
1. Multi-Language, Single Panel
No need for separate servers or panels for each tech stack — run Node, Python, PHP, Java apps on the same host.
2. Heroku-Like Buildpacks
No manual Docker knowledge required — EasyPanel automates the process, installing dependencies and setting up runtimes.
3. Bring Your Own Dockerfile
For advanced users, you can define everything — base image, dependencies, runtime, startup commands.
4. Managed Databases
Built-in provisioning, backups, and restores remove the need for a separate DB server.
5. Auto SSL
All apps can run over HTTPS without manual cert configuration.
6. Push-to-Deploy CI/CD
Push to your Git repo → EasyPanel builds and redeploys automatically.
Limitations to Consider
- No built-in mail server (can integrate with Postfix or external SMTP).
- Multi-server HA requires Docker Swarm and extra configuration.
- Some enterprise features (multi-node, monitoring) are in paid tier.
Example Use Cases
- SaaS MVP Hosting — Run backend (Node.js API) + frontend (Next.js) + DB on one VPS.
- Internal Tools — Deploy Metabase, Appsmith, or Directus for analytics and dashboards.
- Multi-App Environments — Host multiple projects with different runtimes without conflicts.
- Educational Sandboxes — Great for coding bootcamps needing quick app deployments.
Getting Started (Quick Install)
- Provision an Ubuntu 22.04 VPS (2GB RAM+ recommended).
- Install Docker:bashCopyEditcurl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
- Install EasyPanel:bashCopyEditcurl -sSL https://get.easypanel.io | sh
- Access the web UI:
https://<your-server-ip> - Create your first project and deploy.
Tip: Ensure ports 80/443 are free before install.
Final Verdict
EasyPanel is perfect for developers, startups, and agencies who want:
- Heroku-like deployment without Heroku pricing.
- The ability to run any modern app, not just PHP.
- Built-in database, backups, SSL, and templates.
- A clean, no-nonsense interface.
It’s not meant to replace cPanel for shared hosting — but for Dockerized apps, it’s one of the most user-friendly solutions available.
Have you used EasyPanel? Share your experience in the comments.
For official features, visit EasyPanel.io.
