Self-host Portainer CE
updated Sep 2026prices checked · Jul 2026
We earn commissions when you shop through the links below. Full disclosure →
A web UI for managing Docker, Swarm, Podman and Kubernetes environments: containers, images, volumes, networks and Compose stacks. The Community Edition is zlib-licensed and, per its README, intended for homelabs and other non-production use; the paid Business Edition adds RBAC, SSO and support.
Key facts
CategoryContainer management
LicenseZlib
StackGo, TypeScript
Min RAM256 MB
Official imageyes
Difficulty
What you need
- Any VPS with at least 256 MB of RAM
- A domain you control — most self-hosted setups need HTTPS in front of them
- Under an hour if you've used Docker before
Where to host itaffiliate disclosure
Hetzner Cloudrun it on
From $23.59/mo · 2 vCPU / 4 GB / 80 GB · EU + USKamaterafree trial
From $4/mo · 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 20 GB · US + EU + AsiaDigitalOceanalso works on
From $6/mo · 1 vCPU / 1 GB / 25 GB · US + EU + AsiaPaid link — we earn a commission if you shop through it.
Install
Run these commands on your server:
# Portainer CE — create the data volume, then start the server
docker volume create portainer_data
docker run -d -p 8000:8000 -p 9443:9443 --name portainer --restart=always \
-v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock -v portainer_data:/data \
portainer/portainer-ce:lts
# → https://SERVER_IP:9443 (self-signed cert). First-time setup asks for the
# setup token: docker logs portainer | grep setup_token — create the admin within 5 minutes
# port 8000 is only for Edge agents; drop it if you don't use themHead-to-head
More self-hosted tools
Container management
Dozzle
GoVue
easyRead guide →
Container management
Komodo
RustTypeScript
easyRead guide →
Pastebin
Opengist
GoGit
easyRead guide →
PDF tools
Stirling-PDF
JavaSpring BootTypeScript
easyRead guide →