The Ultimate Simplified Guide to Installing Coolify on Ubuntu

In Linux Basics
January 12, 2026
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Introduction

If you’re looking for the easiest way to set up Coolify on Ubuntu, you’re in the right place. This guide provides the most streamlined installation process possible, perfect for beginners and anyone who wants to save time.

The Simplest Installation Method

One-Command Installation

Run this single command in your terminal:

bash <(curl -s https://raw.githubusercontent.com/coollabsio/coolify/main/install.sh)

Alternative Easy Methods

Official installer:

curl -fsSL https://get.coollabs.io/install.sh | sudo bash

Web-based installer:

curl -sSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | sudo bash

Complete Beginner’s Guide

Step 1: Get a Server

If you need a server, consider these options:

DigitalOcean ($5/month)
Linode ($5/month)
Vultr ($6/month)
AWS/Azure/Google Cloud

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

Open your terminal and connect:

ssh root@your-server-ip

Step 3: Automatic Installation

Option A: Simple Installation

wget -q https://raw.githubusercontent.com/coollabsio/coolify/main/install.sh
chmod +x install.sh
sudo ./install.sh

Option B: Installation with Email Configuration

curl -fsSL https://get.coollabs.io/install.sh | sudo bash -s -- \
  --email "[email protected]" \
  --domain "coolify.yourdomain.com"

What Happens During Installation

The installer automatically:

Updates your system
Installs Docker and Docker Compose
Sets up Coolify with optimal configuration
Configures automatic SSL certificates
Sets up firewall rules
Creates admin user
Configures email notifications

Post-Installation Setup

After installation (5-10 minutes), you’ll see:

==============================================
Coolify Installation Complete!
==============================================
Access your dashboard at:
https://coolify.your-domain.com

Admin Email: [email protected]
Default Password: [Check your email or terminal output]

Important: Change your password immediately!
==============================================

Step 4: Access Your Dashboard

Open your browser to the URL shown above
Login with provided credentials
Change your password immediately

Step 5: Quick Configuration

Click “Skip Tour”
Add your Git Provider (Settings -> Source Control)
Check Infrastructure -> Servers to see your configured server

Deploy Your First Application

Using Templates (Easiest Method)

Click “Add New Resource” -> “Application”
Choose “From Template”
Select a template:

Static Site (HTML/CSS/JS)
Node.js Starter
React/Vue.js App
WordPress (with database)

Name your app -> Click “Save”
Wait 2-3 minutes for deployment
Access your app at the provided URL

Deploying from GitHub

Push your code to GitHub
In Coolify: Add New -> Application
Select your repository
Coolify auto-detects settings -> Click “Save”
Your app is live

Common Use Cases Made Simple

1. Deploy a WordPress Site

In Coolify dashboard:
1. Add New -> One-Click Service
2. Select WordPress
3. Choose database (MySQL included)
4. Click "Save" -> Wait 2 minutes
5. Your WordPress is ready!

2. Deploy a React App

In Coolify dashboard:
1. Add New -> Application
2. Connect GitHub -> Select your React app
3. Build settings: Auto-detected (Nixpacks)
4. Click "Save" -> Done!

3. Add a Database

In Coolify dashboard:
1. Add New -> One-Click Service
2. Choose: PostgreSQL, MySQL, or MongoDB
3. Set password -> Save
4. Connect to your app via "Environment Variables"

Troubleshooting

If the installer fails:

curl -fsSL https://cdn.coollabs.io/coolify/install.sh | sudo bash

If you can’t access the dashboard:

# Check if Coolify is running:
sudo docker ps

# Restart Coolify:
cd /opt/coolify
sudo docker compose restart

# Check logs:
sudo docker compose logs -f coolify

Reset Everything (Start Fresh):

# Warning: This removes all data!
cd /opt/coolify
sudo docker compose down -v
sudo rm -rf /opt/coolify
# Then run the installer again

Maintenance Commands

Update Coolify:

cd /opt/coolify && sudo docker compose pull && sudo docker compose up -d

Check Status:

sudo docker ps

View Logs:

sudo docker compose logs -f

Backup Everything:

Coolify handles automatic backups!
Check: Dashboard -> Settings -> Backups

Quick Reference Cheat Sheet

# INSTALLATION
curl -fsSL https://get.coollabs.io/install.sh | sudo bash

# ACCESS DASHBOARD
https://your-server-ip:9000
OR
https://coolify.your-domain.com

# UPDATE COOLIFY
cd /opt/coolify && sudo docker compose up -d --force-recreate

# CHECK STATUS
sudo docker ps | grep coolify

# VIEW LOGS
sudo docker compose logs -f coolify

# RESTART
cd /opt/coolify && sudo docker compose restart

Pro Tips for Easy Management

1. Set Up Domain (Free Options)

DuckDNS (free dynamic DNS): https://www.duckdns.org/
Cloudflare (free DNS management)
Your domain registrar’s DNS

2. Enable Automatic Updates

# Add to crontab (runs weekly)
(crontab -l 2>/dev/null; echo "0 3 * * 0 cd /opt/coolify && docker compose pull && docker compose up -d") | crontab -

3. Monitor Your Server (Free)

# Install monitoring tool
docker run -d --name=uptime-kuma \
  -p 3001:3001 \
  -v uptime-kuma:/app/data \
  --restart=always \
  louislam/uptime-kuma:latest

4. Get Notifications

In Coolify: Settings -> Notifications
Set up Email, Discord, or Telegram alerts

What to Do After Installation

Change your admin password
Set up Git integration (GitHub/GitLab)
Configure backups (Settings -> Backups)
Set up notifications for deployments
Explore templates for quick projects
Join the Coolify Discord for help: https://discord.gg/coolify

Need Help?

Quick Solutions:

Official docs: https://coolify.io/docs
Forum: https://community.coolify.io
GitHub issues: https://github.com/coollabsio/coolify/issues

Common Issues:

Port 9000 not accessible? Check firewall: sudo ufw allow 9000
No email received? Check spam folder
Build failing? Check logs in Coolify dashboard

Conclusion

With this automated installation method, you can have Coolify running in under 10 minutes. The complex setup procedures are history. Coolify now offers enterprise-grade application hosting that anyone can use with just one command.

Remember the key command:

curl -fsSL https://get.coollabs.io/install.sh | sudo bash

You’re now ready to deploy applications, databases, and services with Heroku-like simplicity on your own server.

Ready to deploy? Try these beginner-friendly projects:

A personal portfolio website (HTML template)
A blog with WordPress
A React TODO app
A Node.js API

Share your success story! What was the first app you deployed with Coolify?

Automate. Deploy. Scale — The Linux Way