Why I Left My Dedicated Server + Docker for Deplo.io (And You Should Too)

Oktober 12, 2025

The Docker Reality Check

Let me be honest: Docker is amazing technology. And thanks to Cursor (the AI-first code editor), setting it up wasn't even that hard. Cursor helped me configure docker-compose.yml, Caddy, and the whole stack pretty quickly.

The real problem? I didn't really understand what was going on. It felt like over-complication - layers upon layers of abstraction just to run two simple web apps.

What I Was Managing

  • docker-compose.yml - Container orchestration (not actually 140 lines, more like 80-100, but still...)
  • Caddy reverse proxy - Handles SSL automatically (this part actually worked great!)
  • PostgreSQL container - Manual backup scripts, volume management
  • Network configuration - Bridge networks, port mappings
  • Two apps, two domains - Routing configuration in Caddy

Every deployment meant SSH into the server, rebuild containers, restart services. Not because it was hard - but because I was playing sysadmin when I just wanted to code.

Why Not Vercel?

Before choosing Deplo.io, I considered Vercel + Neon:

Vercel Pros:

  • ✅ Incredibly easy deployments
  • ✅ Great developer experience
  • ✅ Edge network performance
  • ✅ Neon PostgreSQL - Well integrated, cost-effective, generous free tier
  • ✅ Perfect for Next.js - They built it, so integration is unbeatable

The Python/Django Problem:

Here's the dealbreaker: My apps are built with Python (Flask and Django). These aren't trivial projects - they're production applications with WebSockets, background tasks, user authentication, and database operations. Vercel's Python support is limited to serverless functions - great for simple APIs, but not for full-stack Python applications.

Vercel excels at Next.js and serverless, but it's not designed for traditional Python web frameworks. You can't run a proper Django app with all its features on Vercel's serverless functions.

Why I Chose Deplo.io Instead:

  • 🇨🇭 Swiss Sovereignty - Data never leaves Switzerland. GDPR-friendly, Swiss data protection laws apply
  • Always-On Instances - Real servers, not serverless cold starts. Consistent performance.
  • Swiss Made - Built and operated by nine.ch in Zürich. Support in Swiss time zones.
  • Database Control - nine-db-xl gives me 8 CPU, 24GB RAM. Real PostgreSQL, not scaled-down serverless.
  • No Cold Starts - Vercel has serverless functions that "wake up". Deplo.io is always ready.

Vercel is fantastic, especially for Next.js apps. But for Swiss-hosted, privacy-focused, always-on applications - Deplo.io just makes more sense for my use case.

The Migration Day

I decided to try Deplo.io - a Swiss Platform-as-a-Service from nine.ch in Zürich.

Database Migration: 15 Minutes

Moved my PostgreSQL databases to nine.ch's managed nine-db-xl instance (8 CPU, 24GB RAM). All users and data preserved. One database instance now hosts both apps with proper user isolation.

App Deployment: 2 Minutes Each

Created a Procfile:

web: gunicorn app:app

Then literally just:

git push origin main

That's it. No Docker rebuilds, no Caddy configs, no SSH debugging. Just code, commit, push, live.

Custom Domains: 10 Minutes

Added DNS records, ran one nctl command. SSL certificates auto-issued via Let's Encrypt. Both domains live with HTTPS in under 10 minutes.

The Real Cost Comparison

Cloud Server (Previous Setup)

  • Server: 16 CPU, 32GB RAM - ~CHF 200/month
  • My Time: ~5 hours/month managing, debugging, updating
  • Stress Level: High (responsible for everything)

Deplo.io (Current Setup)

  • Apps: 2 × CHF 58 = CHF 116/month (0.75 vCPU, 2GB RAM each)
  • Database: nine-db-xl = CHF 201/month (8 vCPU, 24GB RAM - hosts multiple apps)
  • Total: CHF 317/month
  • My Time: ~0 hours/month (git push and done)
  • Stress Level: Zero (nine.ch handles everything)

Yes, I'm paying CHF 117 more for less hardware. But the CHF 317 includes professional management, automatic backups, monitoring, and Swiss data sovereignty.

Vercel + Neon Alternative

  • Vercel: ~$20/month for Pro features
  • Neon: ~$20-50/month depending on usage
  • Total: ~$40-70/month (~CHF 35-60)
  • Trade-off: Serverless (cold starts), US-hosted, less data sovereignty

Deplo.io costs more, but you get: Swiss hosting, always-on instances, real PostgreSQL, and complete data sovereignty. For privacy-conscious or Swiss-based projects, that's worth the premium.

Database Tiers (Maybe You Don't Need What I Have)

I use nine-db-xl because it hosts multiple apps. You can start way smaller:

  • CHF 5/month - Single-DB-S (1GB) - Perfect for starting!
  • CHF 9/month - Single-DB-M (5GB)
  • CHF 20/month - Single-DB-L (10GB)
  • CHF 97+/month - Dedicated instances with more vCPU/RAM

Minimum viable setup: CHF 21/month (Mini app + small database). My CHF 317 is for scaling headroom.

What You Actually Get with Deplo.io

Automatic Everything

  • ✅ SSL Certificates - Let's Encrypt, auto-renewed, zero config
  • ✅ Database Backups - Daily, monitored, tested
  • ✅ Security Patches - Applied automatically
  • ✅ Monitoring - 24/7 by nine.ch team
  • ✅ Scaling - Horizontal (replicas) and vertical (CPU/RAM)
  • ✅ Static Files - Whitenoise integration, compressed, served efficiently

Swiss Infrastructure, Swiss Values

Everything hosted in Zürich. Your data never leaves Swiss borders. GDPR-friendly, low latency for European users, and the peace of mind that comes with Swiss data protection laws.

This isn't just marketing - it's a real consideration if you're building for Swiss or European users who care about data privacy.

Developer Experience

This is the real win. Instead of being a sysadmin, I'm back to being a developer:

git add .
git commit -m "Add new feature"
git push
# ✨ Feature is live in 2 minutes ✨

No Docker rebuilds. No SSH. No Caddy configs. Just code.

When Docker (or Vercel) Still Makes Sense

Choose Docker If You:

  • Run complex microservices - 10+ interconnected services
  • Need maximum control - Custom system configurations
  • Want to learn DevOps - Understanding infrastructure is valuable
  • Have massive scale - Kubernetes-level orchestration

Choose Vercel + Neon If You:

  • Build Next.js apps - Vercel integration is unbeatable
  • Want lowest cost - ~CHF 35-60/month vs CHF 317
  • Don't need Swiss hosting - US infrastructure is fine for your use case
  • Like serverless - Edge functions, pay-per-use model

Choose Deplo.io If You:

  • Need Swiss hosting - Data sovereignty matters
  • Want always-on - No cold starts, consistent performance
  • Value simplicity - PaaS without vendor lock-in
  • Run Django/Flask - Not just Next.js
  • Need real PostgreSQL - Full-featured database, not serverless subset

What I'd Tell My Past Self

The Math is Simple

If you value your time at CHF 100/hour (conservative for a developer):

  • Docker: Even 2-3 hours/month managing = CHF 200-300/month in your time
  • Deplo.io: 0 hours/month × CHF 100 = CHF 0/month in your time

Deplo.io costs more than Vercel, sure. But the Swiss hosting, data sovereignty, and always-on instances are worth it if that matters to you or your users.

The Bottom Line

After one day on Deplo.io, I shut down my VPS. Both apps running smoothly, databases backed up, SSL automatic, scaling ready if needed. No 3am emergencies. No config hell. Just clean, simple, reliable infrastructure.

Docker (with Cursor's help) taught me a lot. Vercel would have been cheaper. But Deplo.io lets me build Swiss-hosted applications without managing infrastructure.

And honestly? That's exactly what I needed.

This site is running on Deplo.io. My AI chat platform is also on Deplo.io - both apps, one nine-db-xl database, zero server management headaches. 🇨🇭

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