Portainer: Docker, Swarm and Kubernetes in your browser
See and manage containers, Compose stacks, images, volumes and networks from a web interface instead of the command line, on one server or across Swarm and Kubernetes clusters with agents. Run Portainer Community Edition on a HyperDC server, preinstalled as an app option or with our guide.
- Containers, stacks, images and volumes in one view
- Docker, Swarm, Kubernetes and Podman
- Agents for more servers and Edge agents
- HTTPS on port 9443 from the first start
- Stack
- Go, Portainer CE 2.45 LTS
- Default portsPort 9000 serves plain HTTP for legacy setups and is optional; agents talk on 9001 inside a Swarm.
- 9443 (HTTPS), 8000 (Edge, optional)
- Minimum
- Light; no official figures
- Your data
- portainer_data volume (/data)
- Official docs
- docs.portainer.io
Manages
- Docker
- Docker Swarm
- Kubernetes
- Podman
- Stacks
- Registries
- Edge agents
Facts from the project’s official website, documentation and repository, checked in October 2026.
Plans are being prepared
We are preparing ready-to-use plans for Portainer. Tell us how you will use it and how many users you expect, and we will reply with a server that fits. You can also start today on a Linux VPS and install it with our guide.
Which server size fits?
Starting points for vCPU, memory and disk. Grow the server when your data and users grow.
| Feature |
Single host
Portainer next to your containers
|
Recommended Several hosts
Agents on other servers
|
Clusters
Swarm or Kubernetes environments
|
|---|---|---|---|
| vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server. | 1–2 | 2 | 2–4 |
| MemoryFor Portainer and the containers on the same server. | 2 GB | 4 GB | 4–8 GB |
| DiskFast SSD or NVMe storage suits Portainer’s database. | 20 GB | 40 GB | 80 GB |
| Managed environments | 1 | A few | Several clusters |
| Server type | Linux VPS | Linux VPS | VPS or VDS |
-
Single host
Portainer next to your containers
- vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server.
- 1–2
- MemoryFor Portainer and the containers on the same server.
- 2 GB
- DiskFast SSD or NVMe storage suits Portainer’s database.
- 20 GB
- Managed environments
- 1
- Server type
- Linux VPS
-
Recommended
Several hosts
Agents on other servers
- vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server.
- 2
- MemoryFor Portainer and the containers on the same server.
- 4 GB
- DiskFast SSD or NVMe storage suits Portainer’s database.
- 40 GB
- Managed environments
- A few
- Server type
- Linux VPS
-
Clusters
Swarm or Kubernetes environments
- vCPUVirtual processor cores of the server.
- 2–4
- MemoryFor Portainer and the containers on the same server.
- 4–8 GB
- DiskFast SSD or NVMe storage suits Portainer’s database.
- 80 GB
- Managed environments
- Several clusters
- Server type
- VPS or VDS
Portainer publishes no CPU or memory figures; it recommends SSD-class storage for its database. Most of the server goes to the containers you manage, so size it for them.
Containers without the command line
A clear view of what runs where, for you and for the people you work with.
Stacks and containers
Deploy Compose stacks from the editor or a Git repository, then start, stop, update and inspect containers with their logs and console.
Agents and Edge
Add other servers with the Portainer agent, or remote devices with the Edge agent over an outbound tunnel.
Kubernetes too
Manage applications, namespaces and storage of Kubernetes clusters such as k3s from the same interface.
Full root access
Install what the app needs, change any setting and run more services next to it. Nothing is locked behind a panel.
App option or step-by-step guide
Order the server with the app installed as an option, or set it up yourself on a clean Linux server with our guide.
Near your users
Choose a data center in the United States, Europe or Asia. The order form estimates the latency from where you are to each location.
Backups on VPS and VDS
Free weekly and monthly backups come with VPS and VDS plans. Keep your own copies of databases and app data as well.
From order to first login
Order the app preinstalled on your server, or install it yourself with our guide.
-
Pick the server
Choose a size from the table above and the data center closest to the people who will use the app.
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Add Portainer
Select Portainer as an app option when you order, or install it on a clean Ubuntu or Debian server with our guide.
-
Finish setup within five minutes
Open https://your-server:9443, enter the setup token from the container log and set an admin password of at least 12 characters.
-
Point a domain and enable HTTPS
Create a DNS record such as app.example.com for the server and put a reverse proxy with a free Let’s Encrypt certificate in front of the app.
Step-by-step setup guides
Install, secure and update the app with our guides, written for current Ubuntu and Debian releases.
-
How to install Portainer CE on Docker and keep it private
Run Portainer Community Edition with the official lts image, bind its ports to localhost, reach it through an SSH tunnel or Caddy with HTTPS, and keep it backed up and updated.
20 min Beginner
Related solutions
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Portainer CE and Business Edition?
Community Edition is the open-source edition for managing your own environments. Business Edition adds features such as role-based access control, registry management and activity logs. Most single-team setups start with CE.
Why did my Portainer stop after installing?
For security, Portainer stops its service if the initial setup is not completed within five minutes. Restart the container and finish the setup right away; newer versions also ask for the setup token printed in the container log.
Which ports do I need?
Port 9443 for the HTTPS interface. Port 8000 is only needed for Edge agents, and port 9000 for legacy plain-HTTP access, so leave both closed unless you use them.
Is mounting the Docker socket safe?
Portainer needs the Docker socket to manage containers, which gives it full control of Docker on the host. Protect it like root access: a strong admin password, HTTPS, and access limited to your own addresses or a VPN.
Can Portainer manage Kubernetes?
Yes. Portainer connects to Kubernetes clusters, for example a k3s cluster on HyperDC servers, and lets you manage applications, namespaces, configuration and storage from the browser.
How do I update Portainer?
Back up the portainer_data volume, pull the new image, remove the old container and start it again with the same volume. Portainer’s data stays in the volume.
Portainer or CasaOS: which one do I need?
Portainer is a management interface for the containers and stacks you deploy yourself, on one server or a cluster. CasaOS is the simpler choice for a personal home server: a dashboard with an app store that installs common apps for you. Both run on Docker, and you can use them side by side.
Manage your containers from the browser
Tell us the app, how many people will use it and where they are, and we will suggest a server for it.