# Portainer vs Dockge

> 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.

## 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 Portainer: Teams managing many hosts, Swarm or Kubernetes clusters
- Best for Dockge: Homelabs that run everything as docker-compose stacks

## Key differences

| 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 numbers

| Metric | Portainer | Dockge |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 38,621 | 24,552 |
| Forks | 2,915 | 838 |
| Commits, last 12 months | 789 | 18 |
| Last commit | Oct 5, 2026 | Apr 25, 2026 |
| Latest release | 2.45.1 | 1.5.0 |
| License | Zlib | MIT |
| License type | Open source | Open source |
| Language | TypeScript | TypeScript |
| Docker image | Yes | Yes |
| Repository | https://github.com/portainer/portainer | https://github.com/louislam/dockge |

App pages: [Portainer](https://appsgit.com/apps/portainer), [Dockge](https://appsgit.com/apps/dockge)

## FAQ

### 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.

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Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/compare/portainer-vs-dockge
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