Ploi
🪄
Slick automation, but ops still yours.
Consider fortrabbit an alternative to Ploi for hosting PHP based websites and web applications.
About Ploi
Ploi is a server management software, originally built with Laravel. It's from the Netherlands and was self-funded around 2018. One-click installs for WordPress, October CMS and others are offered. Ploi now also offers Ploi Cloud.
Like other tools in this category, Ploi is a control panel, not a host. You bring your own VPS — DigitalOcean, Hetzner, Vultr, AWS and the like — and Ploi provisions and configures it for you. That distinction is the whole story when you compare it to a managed platform.
The responsibility gap
Ploi sets the box up, but you still own it. Once the server is provisioned, the kernel and OS updates, security patches, backups, monitoring, log rotation, failed disks and the 3am incident are all yours. Ploi automates the setup and hands you the keys — what happens to the box after that is your operations work, not theirs.
At fortrabbit the line sits in a different place. We abstract the AWS infrastructure underneath and take responsibility for keeping it patched, monitored and running. You ship code; we keep the platform healthy. There is no box for you to babysit and one direct contact for both billing and technical questions. See our legal section for what that covers in writing.
You pay more than one bill
With Ploi you pay at least twice: the Ploi subscription for the panel, plus the VPS provider for the actual compute — and often a third bill for off-server backups, object storage or a managed database once the project grows. Each lives in a separate account with separate support and separate invoices.
With fortrabbit you pay for the app. One plan, one invoice, one place to ask for help. Entry components fit small sites, and scaling up stays predictable instead of fanning out across vendors.
Why fortrabbit
App hosting: Our platform is service-oriented. You launch and scale apps, not servers. Read about our app hosting architecture.
Composer-first deploys: fortrabbit deploys real PHP code via Composer — no proprietary auto-installers, so your code stays your code with no drift between a wrapper and your actual repository.
Human support: Talk to us directly in the support chat, not a bot. See our support features.
Good Laravel support: fortrabbit has been hosting Laravel apps for years, with comprehensive docs — see our Laravel guides.
The workflows at fortrabbit are aimed more at web developers than web designers. fortrabbit is also more affordable in most scenarios. Give it a spin and see if it works for you.
# Frequently asked
Is fortrabbit a control panel like Ploi?No
No - Ploi is software that configures a server you rent elsewhere — you still bring and own the VPS. fortrabbit is a managed hosting platform: there is no separate server to provision, patch, or pay for. You deploy code and we run the infrastructure underneath.
#Who handles server updates and security on fortrabbit?We do
We do - OS and security patches, monitoring, and the underlying AWS infrastructure are our responsibility. With Ploi that work stays with you after the server is provisioned — Ploi automates the initial setup, but the running box, its patches, backups, and incidents are yours.
#Will I save money switching from Ploi to fortrabbit?Usually
Usually - In most small-to-medium scenarios, yes. With Ploi you pay at least twice — the Ploi subscription plus the VPS provider, often a third bill for backups or storage. With fortrabbit you pay a single predictable component plan, with no separate VPS bill to model.
#Does fortrabbit offer one-click installs like Ploi?No
No - And that is deliberate. fortrabbit is Composer-first: you deploy real PHP code via git push, so there is no version drift between an installer template and your actual codebase. Your code stays your code.
#Can I migrate an app from a Ploi-managed server?Yes
Yes - Most PHP apps move over by pushing the codebase via git and importing the database from a dump through the SSH tunnel. Files map to fortrabbit's persistent storage. Tell us about your setup and we will help you map it out.
#