Laravel Cloud vs. Self-Hosting on VPS
Cloud removes the work of provisioning, securing, and scaling your own server. Self-hosting gives you total control — and the operational overhead that comes with it.
Start in Cloud with $5 in free usage credit.
Laravel Cloud
Laravel Cloud is the fully managed deployment platform built specifically for Laravel. Push from Git and Cloud handles compute, databases, queues, scheduling, scaling, and security — without you provisioning or maintaining a server.
- Deploy in under 60 seconds from Git to live with minimal setup.
- Automatic scaling and zero-downtime deployments — peace of mind during traffic peaks.
- Cost-efficient pay-as-you-go with auto-hibernation, so you stop paying when your app is idle.
Self-Hosting (VPS / Dedicated)
Self-hosting on a VPS gives you a Linux box and root access. You install the runtime, configure the web server, manage TLS, set up queues, handle backups, monitor uptime, and patch the OS — all on your own time.
- You're responsible for provisioning, securing, scaling, patching, and monitoring the server.
- Monthly cost is fixed even when the application is idle; you absorb DevOps overhead too.
- Highly customizable: you can run multiple stacks, install anything, and SSH in for full control.
Over 20K teams deploy faster with Laravel Cloud
Why Laravel Cloud is better than
self-hosting
Deploy in under 60 seconds
moving from Git to live with minimal setup.
Automatic scaling and zero downtime
for peace of mind, especially during traffic peaks.
Cost-efficient pay-as-you-go model
avoiding the monthly fees of continuously running a server.
Start building
with $5 of usage credit.
“I love the dashboard. I can control everything and see it in real time. I can't imagine my platform without Cloud. Everything I do just works.”
Alexander Michailidis
CEO at Gnarlux
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Who should choose Laravel Cloud vs. Self-Hosting?
Cloud removes the server. Self-hosting keeps it in your hands.
Laravel Cloud
Choose Laravel Cloud if you want a fully managed, Laravel-native platform that removes server management entirely. It is ideal for teams that want to focus on development without DevOps overhead.
Self-Hosting (VPS / Dedicated)
Choose self-hosting if you require maximum control over your infrastructure. For example, if you need specific server configurations, want to run multiple kinds of applications on the same servers, or have strong DevOps expertise. It gives you full flexibility, but you must handle scaling, security, and maintenance yourself.
Frequently asked questions: Laravel Cloud vs. VPS
With a VPS you provision a Linux server, install and configure your stack (web server, PHP, queues, database, cache), set up TLS, manage updates and security, and handle scaling and backups yourself. Laravel Cloud is a fully managed platform that does all of that for you, purpose-built for Laravel applications.
A VPS has predictable monthly costs but you pay for the server 24/7 whether or not it's serving traffic, and you absorb the operational cost of managing it. Laravel Cloud uses pay-as-you-go pricing with auto-hibernation so idle apps cost nothing in compute time, and you avoid the recurring DevOps overhead.
Not without significant work. Most VPS providers require you to manually resize the server or build your own autoscaling pipeline. Laravel Cloud autoscales your application based on real demand, with no additional setup.
Choose Laravel Cloud if you want a fully managed, Laravel-native platform with autoscaling and zero server maintenance. Choose self-hosting if you require deep customization, plan to run multiple kinds of applications on the same server, or have strong DevOps expertise on your team.
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