Laravel Forge alternative for PHP hosting
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fortrabbit vs Laravel Forge.
fortrabbit is a Laravel Forge alternative — one integrated managed platform, not a server-management tool layered on top of a VPS.
Why pick fortrabbit over Laravel Forge + VPS for Laravel?
fortrabbit is a managed PaaS built exclusively for PHP. Laravel Forge is a server-management tool — software you pay for that provisions and configures servers on a VPS provider (DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, AWS) that you also pay for. You end up with two bills, a VPS you're ultimately responsible for, and the operational weight of an OS you maintain.
If you want one integrated managed platform instead of "VPS + management software," fortrabbit gives you a tuned PHP environment with git push deploys, integrated MySQL, atomic releases, persistent storage, SSL by default, and human support — all in a single subscription. We've been hosting Laravel apps since before Forge existed. Plans start at €2.50 per month; the trial doesn't require a credit card.
Start a free trial — no credit cardHow does fortrabbit compare to Laravel Forge?
| Feature | Forge + VPS | fortrabbit |
|---|---|---|
| What you pay for | Forge and VPS | One subscription |
| Abstraction | Forge UI on a VPS you own | Managed PaaS |
| Underlying server | Yours | Managed |
| PHP runtime | Forge provisions, you tune | Pre-tuned, version-pinned |
| Managed MySQL | On the VPS, you maintain | Native, isolated |
| Deployment | git via Forge UI | git push |
| SSL certificates | Forge: Let's Encrypt | Automatic Let's Encrypt |
| Patching | Your VPS, your responsibility | Managed |
| Region | Depends on VPS provider | EU (Ireland) |
| Support | Forge: email; VPS: separate | Human chat, one contact |
| Pricing model | $12 Forge + $5–$100+ VPS | Per-app, monthly |
| Ownership | You own the server | Platform owns runtime |
Pricing comparison
| Use case | Forge + VPS | fortrabbit |
|---|---|---|
| Small site / dev | Forge $12 + DO $6 ≈ $18 / mo + your time | €5 / mo |
| Production app | Forge $12 + DO $24 + backups ≈ $40+ / mo | €30 / mo |
| Scaled app | Forge Pro + bigger VPS + add-ons ≈ $100+ / mo | €60–€120 / mo depending on tier |
Plus your engineering hours managing the underlying VPS. See fortrabbit pricing for the current matrix.
Migrating from Laravel Forge to fortrabbit
- Provision the app on fortrabbit. Pick a region (EU) and a plan. The free trial is enough to validate the move.
- Add the MySQL component. From your Forge-managed VPS,
mysqldumpand 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 and secrets. Read
.envfrom Forge, set the same values in the fortrabbit dashboard. - Configure queue workers and scheduled tasks. See fortrabbit's Laravel guides for queues and cron on the new platform.
- Move uploads and assets. rsync from the Forge-managed VPS into your fortrabbit app's persistent storage via SFTP / SSH.
- Cut over DNS. Add the domain in the fortrabbit dashboard, update the DNS record, and watch the certificate issue automatically via Let's Encrypt.
- Cancel Forge and the VPS. Once cutover is verified, retire both.
Why teams switch
- One bill, one contact. No "is it Forge or the VPS?" diagnosis loop.
- No server to maintain. The OS isn't your problem anymore.
- PHP-first ergonomics. Composer, OPcache, PHP version pinning, integrated MySQL.
- Human support. You talk to the engineers who run the platform.
For background on Laravel Forge itself, see our hosting guide entry.
# Frequently asked
What is the difference between fortrabbit and Laravel Forge?One platform vs two bills
One platform vs two bills - Laravel Forge is a server-management tool: software you pay for that provisions a VPS at DigitalOcean, Linode, Vultr, or AWS and configures it for Laravel. You end up with two invoices and one server you ultimately own. fortrabbit is one integrated managed platform — the PHP runtime, MySQL, deploys, SSL, and persistent storage all come from us, on one bill. No VPS underneath.
#Is fortrabbit cheaper than Laravel Forge plus a VPS?Usually
Usually - For small to mid-sized Laravel apps it usually is. Forge has a monthly subscription and the VPS has its own monthly cost; together they typically land around $20-25 a month before you have done any actual work. fortrabbit's per-app plan with a MySQL component starts at €5 a month, and the price covers the managed stack rather than the right to configure your own.
#How do I move my Laravel app from Forge to fortrabbit?Self-service
Self-service - The codebase moves with no rewrites — push your repo to the new fortrabbit app and Composer install runs as part of the deploy. Migrate environment variables out of Forge into the fortrabbit dashboard, dump and import your MySQL database via the SSH tunnel, and rsync uploads from the VPS into the app's persistent storage. Cron jobs configured in Forge map to fortrabbit's cron jobs feature.
#Does fortrabbit handle Laravel queue workers and the scheduler?Yes
Yes - Long-running PHP workers, Horizon, and the Laravel scheduler all run on fortrabbit as separate processes alongside the web app, configured via the dashboard. The dashboard handles process supervision and restarts; you do not maintain a Supervisor config or a systemd unit the way you would on a Forge-provisioned VPS.
#Can spending be capped on fortrabbit?Yes
Yes - Disable autoscaling and pick a specific plan to cap the monthly spend on an app. Billing is in arrears with a one-day minimum and pro-rated, so there are no upfront charges and no setup fees. Cancel any time from the dashboard, with immediate effect and no lock-in.
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