head to head · open source
Docker vs homelab
Docker has 72,238 GitHub stars, 19,309 forks, 3,902 open issues and last shipped 2 days ago. homelab has 9,711 stars, 890 forks, 14 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Docker leads on adoption by 644% (72,238 vs 9,711 stars). Docker is written in Go under Apache-2.0; homelab is written in Python under GPL-3.0. Docker has attracted 27% as many forks as stars, homelab 9%. homelab was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 1 topic tag (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 | homelab | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 72K | ★ 9.7K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Written in | Go | Python |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-11-04 |
| Forks | ⑂ 19K | ⑂ 890 |
| 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 homelab if
- You want the homelab feature set and don't need the biggest community
- You prefer the GPL-3.0 license terms
- Your stack matches Python
- You evaluated both and homelab 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 homelab
Khue's Homelab Features • Get Started • Documentation This project utilizes Infrastructure as Code and GitOps to automate provisioning, operating, and updating self hosted services in my homelab. It can be used as a highly customizable framework to build your own homelab. What is a homelab? Homelab is a laboratory at home where you can self host, experiment with new technologies, practice for certifications, and so on. For more information, please see the r/homelab introduction and the Home Operations Discord community (formerly known as k8s at home). If you encounter an issue, please create a bug report (avoid…
read the full homelab overview →
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Frequently asked questions
Is Docker or homelab more popular?
Docker has 72,238 GitHub stars and homelab has 9,711. Docker has the larger community by that measure.
Are Docker and homelab free?
Both are open source. Docker is licensed under Apache-2.0 and homelab under GPL-3.0. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between Docker and homelab?
Docker is written in Go and homelab in Python. 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 homelab?
Choose Docker if you want the larger community (72,238 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose homelab if its feature set, stack or GPL-3.0 licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.