Dokku vs Portainer: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of Dokku and Portainer. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Both Dokku and Portainer offer free plans. Dokku has 1 pricing tiers while Portainer has 4.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
Dokku vs Portainer: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | Dokku | Portainer |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | Custom pricing | $10/mo |
| Number of Plans | 1 | 4 |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | open-source | freemium |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Dokku and Portainer are both priced at Custom pricing, making them equally accessible Hosting & Infra tools. Together they offer 5 pricing plans with 15 features compared, so the best choice comes down to which features match your needs.
Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget. Dokku 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 |  Dokku Try it free |  Portainer Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | ||
| Tier 2 | — | ProPopular $10/monthCheapest $8 / year Includes
|
| Tier 3 | — | Business $25/monthCheapest $21 / year Includes
|
| Tier 4 | — | Enterprise Custom pricing Includes
|
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Portainer
Portainer offers a free plan, offers 4 tiers vs 1.
Based on pricing data only. Review the full comparison below for your specific needs.
Best value: Portainer
Try Portainer freeWhich Should You Choose?
Choose Dokku if:
- •You prefer Dokku's free tier features—Open-source PaaS, Docker-based
- •You prioritize Dokku's user experience and interface over price (both tools are similarly priced)
- •Dokku's single-tier open-source structure gives clearer cost visibility for budget planning
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
- •You want more features built-in—Portainer offers 7 additional features across its plans
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—Portainer offers negotiated terms for large deployments
Both Dokku 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: Dokku includes 4 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.
Frequently Asked Questions: Dokku vs Portainer
How many pricing plans does Dokku have vs Portainer?
Does Dokku or Portainer offer a free plan?
Can I save money by paying annually for Dokku or Portainer?
What is the most popular Portainer plan?
Does Dokku or Portainer offer custom enterprise pricing?
What pricing models do Dokku and Portainer use?
How do Dokku and Portainer compare for Hosting & Infra?
Sources
- Dokku Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Portainer Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
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