Laravel Cloud alternative for PHP hosting
🧺
fortrabbit vs Laravel Cloud.
fortrabbit is a Laravel Cloud alternative — independent, bootstrapped, EU-based, and framework-agnostic for any PHP project.
Laravel Cloud alternative at a glance
fortrabbit is the independent Laravel Cloud alternative. Laravel Cloud is the official PaaS made by Laravel Holdings — slick, well-integrated, but framework-locked to Laravel and built for teams happy to be in the Laravel ecosystem stack end-to-end. It's also venture-backed and US-based, with pricing that targets well-funded projects.
If you're looking at Laravel Cloud but want fewer dependencies on a single vendor for both framework and infrastructure, fortrabbit gives you the same git-push deployment workflow, comprehensive Laravel install guides, EU data residency, and predictable pricing — and you can take any PHP project with you, not just Laravel. We've been running Laravel apps in production since the framework's early days. Plans start at €2.50 per month; the trial doesn't require a credit card.
Laravel Cloud vs fortrabbit — feature comparison
| Feature | Laravel Cloud | fortrabbit |
|---|---|---|
| Framework support | Laravel only | Any PHP |
| Deployment | git push | git push, atomic |
| Managed MySQL | Integrated | Native |
| SSH / SFTP | Limited | Full SFTP + SSH |
| Region | US default | EU (Germany) |
| Pricing model | Usage-based | Per-app, monthly |
| Free tier | Yes, limited | 30-day trial, no card |
| Support | Tiered | Human chat, all plans |
| Company | Laravel Holdings, VC | Independent, bootstrapped |
| Lock-in | Framework + platform | Standard PHP, portable |
Pricing comparison
| Use case | Laravel Cloud | fortrabbit |
|---|---|---|
| Small site / dev | Free tier, limited | €5 / mo |
| Production app | $20–$80 / mo est. | €30 / mo |
| Scaled app | $100–$500+ / mo est. | €60–€120 / mo depending on tier |
Numbers are illustrative — Laravel Cloud's usage-based model varies by traffic, compute time, and hibernation. See fortrabbit pricing for the current matrix.
Migrating from Laravel Cloud to fortrabbit
- Provision the app on fortrabbit. Pick a region (EU) and a plan. The trial is enough to validate the move.
- Add the MySQL component. Export from Laravel Cloud's managed database, import via fortrabbit's SSH tunnel — see MySQL import guide.
- Connect your git provider. Install the fortrabbit GitHub App (or connect GitLab / Bitbucket) and link your existing repo to the new fortrabbit app — see deployment intro. Pushes to your branch trigger an automatic deploy; Composer install runs as part of it.
- Move environment variables. Laravel Cloud env vars map 1:1 to fortrabbit env vars — set in the dashboard or via the CLI.
- Configure queues and scheduled tasks. Use fortrabbit's Laravel guides for queue workers and cron.
- Move file storage. rsync uploads and assets into your fortrabbit app's persistent storage via SFTP / SSH.
- Cut over DNS. Add the domain in the fortrabbit dashboard, update the CNAME, and watch the certificate issue automatically via Let's Encrypt.
Why teams switch
- No vendor stack lock-in. Framework and platform are decoupled — you can take your code anywhere.
- Predictable bills. Per-app monthly pricing, no usage-meter surprises.
- Owner-run support. You talk to the engineers who run the platform.
- Independence. Bootstrapped since 2012, no shareholder pressure to upsell.
For background on Laravel Cloud itself, see our hosting guide entry.
Start a free trial — no credit card