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Hosting & Infra

Coolify vs Portainer: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of Coolify and Portainer. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: Coolify starts at $5/mo, making it $5/mo cheaper than Portainer ($10/mo). Coolify offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

Coolify vs Portainer: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureCoolifyPortainer
Starting Price$5/mo$10/mo
Number of Plans24
Free TierYesYes
Pricing Modelopen-sourcefreemium
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

Coolify is the more affordable option, starting at $5/mo compared to Portainer's $10/mo. Both are Hosting & Infra tools with 6 combined pricing plans and 22 features compared.

Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget. Coolify uses open-source pricing while Portainer uses freemium pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Hosting & Infra needs.

Pricing Plans
Portainer
Portainer
Try it free
Tier 1
Self-hosted
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Full access to all features
  • Need your own infrastructure for Coolify
  • No limitation or restrictions
  • Community support ((20k+) members)
  • Automated or Self-managed updates
  • Includes all upcoming features
Start with Self-hosted
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Basic features
  • Community support
Start with Free
Tier 2
Cloud
$5/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Connect unlimited servers
  • Unlimited deployments per server
  • Free email alerts for Coolify events
  • Community + limited email support
  • Founder-tested updates
Start with Cloud
ProPopular
$10/month
$8 / year
Includes
  • Advanced features
  • Priority support
  • Team collaboration
Start with Pro
Tier 3
Business
$25/monthCheapest
$21 / year
Includes
  • All Pro features
  • Custom integrations
  • Enhanced security
Start with Business
Tier 4
Enterprise
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Custom solutions
  • Dedicated support
  • Scalability options
Start with Enterprise

Swipe to compare plans →

Coolify

Self-hostable open-source PaaS alternative to Heroku and Vercel

View all Coolify plans

Portainer

Container management platform with GUI for Docker and K8s

View all Portainer plans

Which Should You Choose?

Choose Coolify if:

  • You want lower per-user costs—Coolify starts at $5/mo, saving $5/mo compared to Portainer at $10/mo
  • You prefer Coolify's free tier features—Full access to all features, Need your own infrastructure for Coolify
  • You prioritize Coolify's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)

Choose Portainer if:

  • You prefer Portainer's free tier features—Basic features, Community support
  • You need 4 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
  • Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Portainer offers negotiated terms for large deployments

Both Coolify and Portainer offer free plans [1], eliminating cost barriers for evaluation. This means you can test both tools thoroughly with your actual workflows before any financial commitment. The free tiers differ in scope: Coolify includes 6 features, while Portainer includes 2 features. Evaluate which free tier matches your evaluation needs before deciding to upgrade. Your best approach is to activate both free trials and evaluate which tool's workflow, integrations, and user experience align better with your team's needs before committing to paid plans.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Coolify vs Portainer

Which is cheaper, Coolify or Portainer?
As of March 2026, Coolify starts at a lower price point. Coolify starts at $5/mo while Portainer starts at $10/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does Coolify have vs Portainer?
Coolify offers 2 pricing plans, while Portainer offers 4 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does Coolify or Portainer offer a free plan?
Yes, both Coolify and Portainer offer free plans. Compare the feature limits of each free tier to see which better fits your use case before upgrading.
Can I save money by paying annually for Coolify or Portainer?
Both Coolify and Portainer offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
What is the most popular Portainer plan?
The Pro plan is Portainer's most popular tier, priced at $10/mo. Key features include Advanced features, Priority support, Team collaboration.
Does Coolify or Portainer offer custom enterprise pricing?
Portainer offers a custom-priced enterprise tier for larger teams. Coolify lists all its pricing publicly.
What pricing models do Coolify and Portainer use?
Coolify uses a open-source pricing model, while Portainer uses freemium pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.

Sources

  1. Coolify Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Portainer Official PricingVendor pricing page

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