Top 5 Portainer Alternatives for Docker Management (2025 Comparison)

Portainer has been the default answer to "how do I manage Docker with a UI" for years. And for good reason: it works, it has a large community, and the free Community Edition covers basic use cases. But Portainer isn't the only game in town, and depending on your requirements, it might not be the best fit.

Maybe you've hit the limits of the free tier. Maybe the UI feels bloated for your use case. Maybe you need features like built-in security scanning or better RBAC without paying for Business Edition. Whatever your reason for looking, this comparison will help you find the right tool.

We'll compare five Docker management platforms across the features that actually matter: ease of setup, container management capabilities, security features, multi-host support, resource usage, and cost.

Quick Comparison Table

1. Portainer Community Edition

Best for: Teams already using it, Kubernetes users who also need Docker management

Portainer is the most widely deployed Docker management UI. The Community Edition is free and covers the fundamentals: container and image management, Docker Compose stack deployment, network and volume management, and basic user authentication.

Pros

• Largest community and most documentation available
• Supports Docker, Docker Swarm, and Kubernetes
• Mature and battle-tested in production
• App templates for quick deployment of popular applications
• Multi-environment management

Cons

• RBAC is locked behind the Business Edition ($)
• Security scanning requires Business Edition
• UI can feel heavy and complex for simple Docker setups
• The free tier limits you to 5 environments
• Business Edition pricing can escalate quickly ($150/year per node)
• Some features feel designed to push you toward the paid tier

Setup

docker run -d \
  -p 9443:9443 \
  --name portainer \
  --restart=always \
  -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
  -v portainer_data:/data \
  portainer/portainer-ce:latest

Portainer is a solid choice if you need Kubernetes support alongside Docker management, or if your team is already familiar with it. But for pure Docker management, especially if you need RBAC or security scanning without paying for Business Edition, there are better options.

2. usulnet

Best for: Teams who want Portainer Business-level features without the price tag

usulnet is a modern Docker management platform built from the ground up as an alternative to Portainer. It focuses on providing production-grade features, including RBAC and security scanning, in the free tier rather than gating them behind a paywall.

Pros

• Built-in RBAC with granular role definitions (no paid tier required)
• Integrated container security scanning
• Clean, modern UI that's fast and intuitive
• Multi-host management from a single dashboard
• Lightweight: runs comfortably in under 256 MB of RAM
• Full Docker Compose support with visual editor
• Real-time container metrics and resource monitoring
• Web-based terminal for container exec
• Audit logging for compliance requirements

Cons

• Newer project with a smaller community than Portainer
• No Kubernetes support (Docker-focused by design)
• Fewer app templates compared to Portainer's library

Setup

docker run -d \
  -p 8080:8080 \
  --name usulnet \
  --restart=unless-stopped \
  -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
  -v usulnet_data:/data \
  usulnet/usulnet:latest

usulnet is the strongest choice if you need features that Portainer gates behind its Business Edition, particularly RBAC, security scanning, and audit logging. If you don't need Kubernetes support and want a modern, lightweight tool, usulnet should be at the top of your list.

3. Yacht

Best for: Homelab users and beginners who want simplicity

Yacht takes the opposite approach from Portainer's kitchen-sink philosophy. It's a simple, clean Docker management UI focused on making container deployment easy. Think of it as a web-based Docker GUI for people who find Portainer overwhelming.

Pros

• Extremely simple and clean interface
• Low resource usage (~50-100 MB RAM)
• Template-based deployment system
• Good documentation for beginners
• MIT licensed, fully open source

Cons

• No multi-host support
• No RBAC or team features
• Limited Docker Compose support
• No security scanning
• No web terminal
• Development has slowed considerably
• Not suitable for production or team environments

Setup

docker run -d \
  -p 8000:8000 \
  --name yacht \
  --restart=unless-stopped \
  -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
  -v yacht:/config \
  selfhostedpro/yacht

Yacht is great for a homelab where you're the only user and want a simple point-and-click way to manage containers. It's not suitable for production workloads or team environments due to the lack of RBAC and multi-host support.

4. Dockge

Best for: Developers who work primarily with Docker Compose

Dockge, created by the developer behind Uptime Kuma, takes a unique approach: instead of trying to be a full Docker management platform, it focuses specifically on Docker Compose stack management. It provides a web UI for creating, editing, and managing docker-compose.yml files.

Pros

• Excellent Docker Compose editing experience with a visual YAML editor
• Interactive terminal for docker compose commands
• Clean, modern UI (similar to Uptime Kuma's aesthetic)
• Stores compose files as standard files on disk (not in a database)
• Real-time log viewing for stacks
• Lightweight and fast
• Active development with a responsive maintainer

Cons

• Only manages Docker Compose stacks (not individual containers)
• No multi-host support
• No RBAC (single-user only)
• No security scanning
• No image management
• No network or volume management UI
• No resource monitoring or metrics

Setup

docker run -d \
  -p 5001:5001 \
  --name dockge \
  --restart=unless-stopped \
  -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
  -v ./data:/app/data \
  -v /opt/stacks:/opt/stacks \
  louislam/dockge:1

Dockge excels at one thing: making Docker Compose management pleasant. If your workflow is primarily compose-based and you don't need the broader management features, Dockge is a fantastic focused tool. It pairs well with a more comprehensive platform for full container management.

5. Lazydocker

Best for: CLI power users who want a faster way to interact with Docker

Lazydocker isn't really in the same category as the other tools here. It's a terminal UI (TUI) for Docker rather than a web-based management platform. But it comes up in every Portainer alternatives discussion, so it's worth covering.

Pros

• Zero setup: single binary, no containers needed
• Extremely lightweight (~20-50 MB RAM)
• Fast navigation with keyboard shortcuts
• Real-time logs, stats, and container inspection
• Supports bulk operations
• Works over SSH (no web server needed)
• Great for quick debugging sessions

Cons

• Terminal-only; no web UI
• Single-host only
• No RBAC, authentication, or multi-user support
• No Docker Compose editing
• Requires direct server access
• Not a replacement for a web-based management platform

Setup

# Install via Go
go install github.com/jesseduffield/lazydocker@latest

# Or via Homebrew
brew install lazydocker

# Or run it as a Docker container
docker run --rm -it \
  -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
  lazyteam/lazydocker

Lazydocker is an excellent complementary tool. Use it for quick, local debugging and management. But it doesn't replace a web-based platform for team collaboration, remote management, or production operations.

Feature Deep Dive: What Actually Matters

RBAC and Team Management

If you have more than one person managing Docker containers, RBAC isn't optional. Without it, every user has full admin access, which means an intern can accidentally delete a production database container.

Of the tools compared here, only Portainer Business Edition and usulnet offer RBAC. The critical difference: usulnet includes it for free, while Portainer charges per node. For a 10-node production environment, that's $1,500/year just for access control.

Security Scanning

Container security scanning identifies known vulnerabilities (CVEs) in your Docker images. It's become a standard part of production Docker workflows. Portainer offers this in Business Edition. usulnet includes it as a core feature. The other tools don't offer it at all, meaning you'd need to set up a separate scanning pipeline with tools like Trivy or Grype.

Multi-Host Management

Managing Docker across multiple servers from a single UI is a key requirement for any production setup beyond a single server. Only Portainer and usulnet support this among the tools compared. Yacht, Dockge, and Lazydocker are all single-host tools.

Resource Usage

Your management tool shouldn't be a resource hog. Here's what we observed in testing:

Recommendation Matrix

Here's which tool to pick based on your situation:

Migration Considerations

If you're currently using Portainer and considering a switch, here's what to know:

1. Container data is safe. Management platforms don't store your container data; they just connect to the Docker socket. Switching tools doesn't affect your running containers.
2. Compose files are portable. Your docker-compose.yml files work with any tool. No vendor lock-in.
3. User accounts need recreation. You'll need to set up users and roles again in the new platform.
4. Run both simultaneously. Deploy the new tool alongside Portainer to test it before committing. They can both connect to the same Docker socket.

# Run usulnet alongside Portainer for testing
docker run -d \
  -p 8080:8080 \
  --name usulnet \
  -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
  -v usulnet_data:/data \
  usulnet/usulnet:latest

# Portainer stays on port 9443, usulnet on 8080
# Test both, then decommission the one you don't want

Conclusion

Portainer earned its position as the default Docker management UI, but the landscape has matured. In 2025, you have real alternatives that may fit your needs better:

• If you need production-grade features for free, use usulnet.
• If you need Kubernetes support, stick with Portainer.
• If you want simplicity for a homelab, try Yacht or Dockge.
• If you live in the terminal, add Lazydocker to your toolkit.

The best Docker management tool is the one that fits your actual workflow. Don't pay for features you need when free alternatives exist, and don't use a complex platform when a simple one will do.

docker run -d -p 8080:8080 -v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock usulnet/usulnet