DeployHQ vs Deployer
Stop maintaining deploy.php scripts and recipe overrides. DeployHQ ships with a visual interface, automatic deployments on push, audit logs, and one-click rollbacks — without the PHP CLI dependency.
Last updated on 6th May 2026
Feature Comparison
A side-by-side look at what each platform offers.
| Feature | DeployHQ | Deployer |
|---|---|---|
| Visual interface (GUI) | ✓ | CLI only |
| Managed service | ✓ | Self-managed |
| Zero scripting required | ✓ | deploy.php required |
| Automatic deployments on push | ✓ | Manual or CI trigger |
| One-click rollback | ✓ | CLI command |
| FTP/SFTP deployment | ✓ | SSH only |
| Amazon S3 deployment | ✓ | ✗ |
| Zero-downtime deployments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Build pipelines | ✓ | Recipe tasks |
| Deploy behind firewalls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Audit log & team controls | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free/open source | ✗ | ✓ |
Where DeployHQ Wins
Key advantages that set DeployHQ apart.
Visual Interface
Configure deployments through a web dashboard instead of writing and maintaining PHP deploy scripts. Anyone on your team can deploy — no PHP CLI or recipe knowledge required.
Automatic Deployments
Deploy automatically on every push to your repository. Deployer requires you to run dep deploy manually or wire it into a CI job yourself.
Broader Protocol Support
Deploy via FTP, SFTP, SSH, Amazon S3, Google Cloud Storage, and more. Deployer only deploys over SSH.
Team Collaboration
Built-in deployment logs, audit trails, and permission controls. Everyone can see who deployed what and when — without sharing SSH keys or local CLI access.
Detailed Comparison
Scripts vs GUI
Deployer is a PHP-based command-line tool that uses recipes (Laravel, Symfony, WordPress, and others) to define deployment tasks in a deploy.php file. You commit that file, install Deployer locally or in CI, and run dep deploy. DeployHQ takes the same atomic-release model and exposes it through a web dashboard — no deploy.php, no PHP CLI dependency, and no per-developer setup.
Deployment Triggers
Deployer deployments are triggered manually from the command line or wired into a CI workflow that you maintain. DeployHQ supports automatic deployments on push via webhooks, scheduled deployments, and one-click manual triggers — out of the box, without writing a pipeline.
When Deployer Makes Sense
Deployer is a strong choice for solo developers and small teams that want a free, open-source PHP-native tool, are comfortable maintaining a deploy.php file, and don't need a hosted UI, audit log, or team permissions. It's especially popular in the Laravel and Symfony communities.
Who Should Use What?
Best for teams that want managed deployments
- You want a web interface, not a CLI tool
- You prefer automatic deployments on push
- You need FTP/SFTP or S3 in addition to SSH
- You want audit logs and team permissions built in
Best for PHP devs who want full scripting control
- You want a free, open-source CLI tool
- You're comfortable maintaining deploy.php
- You deploy PHP/Laravel/Symfony projects exclusively
- You don't need a hosted dashboard or audit log
Ready to Stop Maintaining deploy.php?
Deploy through a visual interface with audit logs and one-click rollbacks. No PHP CLI, no recipes to override.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between DeployHQ and Deployer?
DeployHQ is a managed deployment service with a visual web interface that deploys code via FTP, SFTP, SSH, S3, and more. Deployer is a free, open-source PHP CLI tool that runs from your machine or CI server using recipes defined in a deploy.php file.
Can DeployHQ deploy Laravel or Symfony applications?
Yes. DeployHQ deploys any PHP application — including Laravel and Symfony — to any server. You can run build commands like composer install and npm run build, configure environment variables, and deploy via SSH or SFTP without writing a recipe file.
Does DeployHQ require PHP installed locally like Deployer?
No. DeployHQ runs entirely as a hosted service, so you don't need PHP, Composer, or any CLI tooling on your machine. Deployer requires PHP and Composer either locally or in your CI environment.
Get started today for just $9/month
That's unlimited deployments and 3 projects.