Deployer vs Laravel Forge: What are the differences?

Key Differences between Deployer and Laravel Forge

Deployer and Laravel Forge are both popular tools used for the deployment and management of Laravel applications, but they have some key differences that make them unique in their own ways.

1. Deployment Process: Deployer focuses on providing a flexible and customizable deployment process, allowing developers to define their own deployment recipes using PHP code. On the other hand, Laravel Forge simplifies the deployment process by providing a user-friendly interface and predefined deployment scripts, ideal for those who prefer a more automated approach.

2. Server Management: Laravel Forge includes server management features where you can easily provision and manage servers through its intuitive control panel. It takes care of server configuration, scaling, and monitoring, making it an all-in-one solution for server management. Deployer, on the other hand, focuses solely on the deployment process and does not provide server management functionalities.

3. Compatibility: Deployer can be used with any server or hosting provider as long as the server has SSH access. It does not have any specific system requirements and can work with different PHP versions and operating systems. In contrast, Laravel Forge is designed specifically for Laravel applications and is optimized for use with cloud providers like AWS, DigitalOcean, and Linode. It is also closely integrated with Laravel framework, providing additional features specific to Laravel applications.

4. Cost: Deployer is an open-source tool and does not have any associated costs. It is available for free and allows developers to customize and extend its functionality as per their requirements. Laravel Forge, on the other hand, is a paid service with monthly subscription plans. The cost varies depending on the number of servers and additional features required.

5. Workflow Customization: Deployer offers a high level of customization with its PHP deployment recipes. Developers can define their own deployment tasks and workflows, allowing them to tailor the deployment process to their specific needs. Laravel Forge, on the other hand, provides predefined scripts and workflows that can be customized to some extent, but it may have limitations compared to the flexibility offered by Deployer.

6. Integration with Other Tools: Deployer can easily integrate with other tools and services through custom scripts and plugins. It has a wide range of community-contributed plugins available for different use cases. Laravel Forge, on the other hand, has native integrations with Laravel-specific tools like Envoyer and Envoy, making it easier to incorporate them into the deployment workflow.

In summary, Deployer provides a flexible and customizable deployment process with no associated costs, while Laravel Forge offers a user-friendly interface, server management features, and seamless integration with Laravel-specific tools at a cost. The choice between the two depends on the specific needs and preferences of the development team.