Portainer
Container management UI for Docker and Kubernetes
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Portainer provides a centralized UI to deploy, run, secure and govern Docker, Swarm, Podman and Kubernetes clusters across multiple nodes.
- for
- Ops and development teams that need unified multi-cluster container management.
- pricing
- paid · free trial
- license
- Zlib
- 2.45.3Release 2.45.3 LTS19 days ago
- 2.45.2Release 2.45.2 LTSa month ago
- 2.45.1Release 2.45.1 LTS2 months ago
Key features
- Multi-cluster fleet management — Govern any Kubernetes distribution (EKS, AKS, GKE, bare-metal, on-prem) from a single console.
- Docker, Swarm & Podman support — Manage Docker, Docker Swarm and Podman workloads alongside Kubernetes in the same UI.
- GitOps deployment workflows — Centralized GitOps engine with promotion, rollback and no per-cluster controllers.
- Self-service with guardrails — Templates, resource quotas and RBAC let developers deploy safely without bottlenecks.
- Enterprise identity & access — SSO, LDAP, OIDC, role-based access, audit logging and SIEM export.
- Node-based licensing — Pricing is based on node count, covering all orchestrators with a single license.
Use cases
- Standardize container management across dozens of Kubernetes clusters.
- Enable developers to self-service deployments while enforcing quotas and RBAC.
- Migrate existing Docker Swarm or Podman workloads into a unified platform.
- Implement GitOps pipelines without installing separate controllers.
Portainer pricing
- Starter$1,045/yr/year5-15 nodes · Community support · Up to 16 vCPUs per node · One license per company
- Scale$2,095/yr/year5-25 nodes · 9x5 next business day support · Up to 24 vCPUs per node · Vendor onboarding
Portainer vs alternatives
 Portainer |  Terraform |  Pulumi |  Vercel |  Podman | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Unified multi-cluster container management | Infrastructure as code | Code-first IaC | Frontend hosting | Daemonless container engine |
| Pricing | Paid | Free | Free | Subscription | Free |
| DevHunt upvotes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Launched | — | — | — | — | — |
- Portainer vs Terraform: Terraform is an IaC tool for provisioning infrastructure, not a unified container management UI.
- Portainer vs Pulumi: Pulumi provides code-based IaC across clouds, lacking Portainer's multi-cluster runtime governance.
- Portainer vs Vercel: Vercel focuses on frontend deployment, whereas Portainer manages full container runtimes and clusters.
- Portainer vs Podman: Podman is a daemonless container engine, not a platform for multi-cluster orchestration and governance.
Portainer FAQ
What counts as a node?+
Any server, VM, Raspberry Pi, desktop, laptop, industrial computer or embedded device that runs containers and is managed by Portainer.
Can I add more nodes to my subscription?+
Starter and Scale plans allow node count changes at renewal; Enterprise plans support mid-term additions via sales.
Do Docker, Swarm and Kubernetes need separate licenses?+
No. A single Portainer license covers all orchestrators on your licensed nodes.
Is there a free trial for Enterprise?+
Yes, an extended free-trial key for 15 nodes is available for 45 days.
Do you offer professional services?+
Enterprise customers can access consulting, implementation, configuration, Engineer-as-a-Service and Managed Platform Services.
Can I run Portainer for personal or learning use?+
Portainer offers a Home & Student option for non-commercial use, separate from the commercial plans.
Summarized by DevHunt from portainer.io · Nov 7, 2026. Details may change; check the official site.
About this listing
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