Web UI for managing Docker, Swarm and Kubernetes environments.
- Zlib
- TypeScript
- Docker
- Actively maintained
Self-hosting Platforms comparison
Portainer vs Dockge: which should you self-host in 2026?
Pick Portainer for full management of Docker, Swarm and Kubernetes with users and access control; pick Dockge for a focused, fast UI that edits and runs docker-compose stacks.
Both are open source and run on your own server. Below: a side-by-side of license, stack and features, live GitHub activity, and our verdict on who should pick which.
Fancy, easy-to-use manager for Docker compose stacks from the creator of Uptime Kuma.
- MIT
- TypeScript
- Docker
- Maintained
Head-to-head
Portainer vs Dockge, side by side
Hand-checked differences first, then live numbers from GitHub, refreshed with every catalog update.
| Aspect |  Portainer |  Dockge |
|---|---|---|
| License | Zlib for Community Edition; Business Edition is a separate commercial product | MIT |
| Language/stack | Go backend, TypeScript frontend | TypeScript on Node.js, Vue frontend |
| Scope | Docker, Swarm, Kubernetes and Podman environments, images, volumes and networks | Docker Compose stacks only |
| Standout features | Multi-environment management via agents, app templates, registries | Interactive compose.yaml editor, live terminal output, converts docker run commands to compose |
| Learning curve | Moderate, many menus and concepts | Low, a single screen per stack |
| GitHub stars | 38,621 | 24,552 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 789 | 18 |
| Last commit | Oct 5, 2026 | Apr 25, 2026 |
| Latest release | 2.45.1Sep 17, 2026 | 1.5.0Mar 30, 2025 |
| Main language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Official Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| Repository | portainer/portainer | louislam/dockge |
Swipe the table sideways to see both apps. GitHub figures come from the public API. Highlighted values are the higher of the two.
Verdict
Portainer is a complete container management platform: containers, images, volumes, networks, Swarm and Kubernetes, plus role-based access in its Business Edition. Dockge does one thing well: managing compose.yaml stacks that stay as plain files on disk, which makes it ideal for homelabs that live in Docker Compose.
Best for
Choose Portainer for
Teams managing many hosts, Swarm or Kubernetes clusters.
Best for
Choose Dockge for
Homelabs that run everything as docker-compose stacks.
Deploy either in minutes
Not sure yet? Spin up a small VPS or a managed instance, try both for a week, and keep the one that fits.
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Sponsored links: we may earn a commission if you sign up, at no extra cost to you. It never affects rankings.
Does Dockge lock my compose files into a database?
No. Dockge keeps stacks as normal compose.yaml files in a folder on disk, so you can still manage them with the docker compose CLI.
Can Portainer manage Kubernetes?
Yes, Portainer manages Kubernetes clusters as well as Docker standalone and Swarm environments.
Who makes Dockge?
Dockge is built by Louis Lam, the author of Uptime Kuma.
Which is more popular on GitHub, Portainer or Dockge?
Portainer has 38,621 GitHub stars against 24,552 for Dockge. Over the last twelve months Portainer received 789 commits and Dockge received 18, so Portainer is the more actively developed of the two right now. Stars measure interest, not fit, so weigh them against the differences above.
