head to head · open source
kubernetes vs Dokku
kubernetes has 128,645 GitHub stars, 45,747 forks, 3,072 open issues and last shipped yesterday. Dokku has 32,220 stars, 2,098 forks, 36 open issues and last shipped yesterday. kubernetes leads on adoption by 299% (128,645 vs 32,220 stars). kubernetes is written in Go under Apache-2.0; Dokku is written in Shell under MIT. kubernetes has attracted 36% as many forks as stars, Dokku 7%. kubernetes was the more recently maintained of the two, and both are self-hostable with no licence fee. The two share 2 topic tags (containers, kubernetes), 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
| kubernetes | Dokku | |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | ★ 129K | ★ 32K |
| License | Apache-2.0 | MIT |
| Written in | Go | Shell |
| Last push | 2026-11-03 | 2026-11-03 |
| Forks | ⑂ 46K | ⑂ 2.1K |
| Self-hosting | Yes | Yes |
| Data ownership | Your server | Your server |
pick kubernetes if
- You weight community size — 129K 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 kubernetes
Kubernetes (K8s) Kubernetes, also known as K8s, is an open source system for managing [containerized applications] across multiple hosts. It provides basic mechanisms for the deployment, maintenance, and scaling of applications. Kubernetes builds upon a decade and a half of experience at Google running production workloads at scale using a system called [Borg], combined with best of breed ideas and practices from the community. Kubernetes is hosted by the Cloud Native Computing Foundation ([CNCF]). If your company wants to help shape the evolution of technologies that are container packaged, dynamically…
read the full kubernetes 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 kubernetes or Dokku more popular?
kubernetes has 128,645 GitHub stars and Dokku has 32,220. kubernetes has the larger community by that measure.
Are kubernetes and Dokku free?
Both are open source. kubernetes is licensed under Apache-2.0 and Dokku under MIT. Neither carries a licence fee.
What is the difference between kubernetes and Dokku?
kubernetes 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, kubernetes or Dokku?
Choose kubernetes if you want the larger community (128,645 stars) or its Apache-2.0 licence terms. Choose Dokku if its feature set, stack or MIT licence fits better. Both are self-hostable.