Docker vs Portainer
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, and integrations.
Quick Verdict
Docker offers more features (55 vs 48) and fewer integrations (7 vs 34). Starting price: Docker at $11/mo vs Portainer at $495/mo. Docker has 51 unique features while Portainer has 44 unique features, with 4 features in common.
| Docker | Portainer | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | DevOps | DevOps |
| Total Features | 55 | 48 |
| AI-Powered Features | 2 | 2 |
| Starting Price | $11/mo | $495/mo |
| Pricing Tiers | 6 | 3 |
| Integrations | 7 | 34 |
| Shared Features | 4 | |
| Shared Integrations | 2 | |
| Data Quality | 90% | 74% |
Feature Comparison by Category
AI (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Docker MCP Integration | ||
| MCP Server Library |
Admin (8 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Account Hierarchy | ||
| Bulk User Management | ||
| Docker Hub Organizations | ||
| Organization Access Tokens | ||
| Role-Based Access Control | ||
| SCIM User Provisioning | ||
| Settings Management | ||
| Single Sign-On (SSO) |
Administration (0 vs 5)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Backup & Restore | ||
| Custom Environments | ||
| Disaster Recovery | ||
| Multi-Tenancy | ||
| User Management |
Build Tools (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Build | ||
| Docker Build Cloud |
CI/CD (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| GitOps Integration |
Compliance (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| FIPS/STIG Variants | ||
| Policy Library and Evaluation |
Configuration (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| ConfigMap Management |
Container Images (3 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Distroless Images | ||
| Docker Hardened Images (DHI) | ||
| Image Mirroring and Customization |
Core (0 vs 3)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Container Management | ||
| Image Management | ||
| Multi-Environment Support |
Debugging (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Container Console |
Deployment (0 vs 4)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| App Templates | ||
| Edge Computing | ||
| High Availability | ||
| Stack Management |
Development Tools (7 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Containerd Support | ||
| Docker CLI | ||
| Docker Debug | ||
| Docker Desktop | ||
| Docker Engine | ||
| Synchronized File Shares | ||
| Volume Exports |
Enterprise (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| MSI Installer | ||
| VDI Support |
Extensibility (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Desktop Extensions | ||
| Private Extensions Marketplace |
Integration (0 vs 4)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| API Access | ||
| Docker Desktop Integration | ||
| Registry Management | ||
| Webhook Support |
Integrations (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| SDLC Integrations | ||
| Webhook Support |
Monitoring (0 vs 5)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Container Logs | ||
| Container Statistics | ||
| Cost Analysis | ||
| Performance Insights | ||
| Swarm Visualizer |
Networking (0 vs 5)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Ingress Management | ||
| Load Balancing | ||
| Network Management | ||
| Network Policies | ||
| Service Discovery |
Orchestration (3 vs 7)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| CronJob Support | ||
| DaemonSet Management | ||
| Docker Compose | ||
| Docker Swarm Support | ||
| Helm Chart Support | ||
| Kubernetes Management | ||
| Kubernetes Support | ||
| Namespace Management | ||
| StatefulSet Management |
Registry (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Hub | ||
| Trusted Content Catalog |
Reporting (3 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Audit | ||
| Usage Insight Dashboard | ||
| Vulnerability Reporting |
Resource Management (0 vs 1)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Resource Quotas |
Security (14 vs 9)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Audit Logs | ||
| CVE Remediation SLA | ||
| CVE Suppression and Exception | ||
| Container Registry Scanning | ||
| Docker Scout | ||
| Enhanced Container Isolation | ||
| Hardened Docker Desktop | ||
| Image Access Management | ||
| Image Remediation | ||
| LDAP Authentication | ||
| Local Vulnerability Analysis | ||
| OAuth2 Support | ||
| Pod Security Policies | ||
| Policy Engine | ||
| Registry Access Management |
Storage (0 vs 2)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| PersistentVolume Management | ||
| Volume Management |
Support (2 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Extended Lifecycle Support (ELS) | ||
| Premium Support and TAM |
Testing (1 vs 0)
| Feature | Docker | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Testcontainers Cloud |
Unique Features
Only in Docker (51)
Account Hierarchy
Bulk User Management
Docker Hub Organizations
Organization Access Tokens
SCIM User Provisioning
Settings Management
Single Sign-On (SSO)
Docker MCP Integration
MCP Server Library
Docker Build
Docker Build Cloud
FIPS/STIG Variants
Policy Library and Evaluation
Distroless Images
Docker Hardened Images (DHI)
Image Mirroring and Customization
Containerd Support
Docker CLI
Docker Debug
Docker Desktop
+ 31 more unique features
Only in Portainer (44)
Backup & Restore
Custom Environments
Disaster Recovery
Multi-Tenancy
User Management
GitOps Integration
ConfigMap Management
Container Management
Image Management
Multi-Environment Support
Container Console
App Templates
Edge Computing
High Availability
Stack Management
API Access
Docker Desktop Integration
Registry Management
Container Logs
Container Statistics
+ 24 more unique features
Want to build your own alternative to Docker or Portainer?
Analyze it with Reap