head to head · open source
Docker vs Dokku
Docker has 72,238 GitHub stars, 19,309 forks, 3,902 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Dokku has 32,220 stars, 2,098 forks, 36 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Docker leads on adoption by 124% (72,238 vs 32,220 stars). Docker is written in Go under Apache-2.0; Dokku is written in Shell under MIT. Docker has attracted 27% as many forks as stars, Dokku 7%. Docker was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (containers, docker), so they are genuine substitutes rather than adjacent tools.
Two open source projects, one decision. Both are free and self-hostable — the differences are community size, license terms, language stack and release pace.
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Side by side
| Docker | Dokku | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 72K | ★ 32K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Go | Shell |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 19K | ⑂ 2.1K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick Docker if
- You weight community size — 72K stars and counting
- You want the Apache-2.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Go
- You value the larger contributor base for long-term maintenance
pick Dokku if
- You want the Dokku feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the MIT license terms
- Your stack matches Shell
- You evaluated both and Dokku fits your workflow better
About Docker
The Moby Project ================ Moby is an open source project created by Docker to enable and accelerate software containerization. It provides a "Lego set" of toolkit components, the framework for assembling them into custom container based systems, and a place for all container enthusiasts and professionals to experiment and exchange ideas. Components include container build tools, a container registry, orchestration tools, a runtime and more, and these can be used as building blocks in conjunction with other tools and projects. Principles Moby is an open project guided by strong principles, aiming to be…
read the full Docker overview →
About Dokku
Dokku Docker powered mini Heroku. The smallest PaaS implementation you've ever seen. Sponsors Become a sponsor and get your logo on our README on GitHub with a link to your site. [Become a sponsor] Backers Support us with a monthly donation and help us continue our activities. [Become a backer] [ ](
read the full Dokku overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Docker or Dokku more popular?
Docker has 72,238 GitHub stars and Dokku has 32,220. Docker has the larger community by that measure.
Are Docker and Dokku free?
Both are open source. Docker is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Dokku under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Docker and Dokku?
Docker is written in Go and Dokku in Shell. The practical differences are community size, licence terms, language stack and release cadence — all compared in the table above.
Which should I choose, Docker or Dokku?
Choose Docker if you want the larger community (72,238 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Dokku if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.