Cosmos Cloud vs Dockge: Which Docker Manager?

Quick Verdict

These tools solve fundamentally different problems. Cosmos Cloud is an all-in-one self-hosting platform that bundles container management, a reverse proxy, automatic HTTPS, SSO authentication, a VPN, and DDoS protection into a single deployment. Dockge is a lightweight Docker Compose file editor with a deploy button. Choose Cosmos Cloud if you want one tool to manage everything on your server. Choose Dockge if you already have a reverse proxy and auth system and just want a clean way to manage your Compose stacks.

Overview

Cosmos Cloud (v0.20.2) is an all-in-one self-hosting platform built in Go. It combines a reverse proxy with automatic Let’s Encrypt HTTPS, container management, an app marketplace with one-click installs, multi-user authentication with SSO, a Nebula-based VPN (Constellation), SmartShield DDoS protection, and per-container firewall rules. Cosmos takes over ports 80 and 443 and becomes the gateway to everything on your server. It uses an embedded MongoDB instance for configuration storage.

Dockge (v1.5.0) is a Docker Compose stack manager created by Louis Lam, the developer behind Uptime Kuma. It is a Node.js application that does exactly one thing: manage compose.yaml files through a web UI. You create, edit, start, stop, and update stacks. The files live on disk as plain YAML. Dockge runs on port 5001, touches nothing else on your system, and uses around 30 MB of RAM.

The scope difference is enormous. Cosmos replaces your reverse proxy, auth provider, VPN server, and Docker management tool. Dockge replaces a text editor and a terminal window for running docker compose up -d.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Cosmos Cloud (v0.20.2)	Dockge (v1.5.0)
Scope	All-in-one platform	Compose stack manager
Built-in reverse proxy	Yes, with automatic HTTPS via Let’s Encrypt	No
App marketplace	Yes, one-click install with auto-configured proxy routes	No
Docker Compose editing	Yes, via UI or marketplace	Yes, interactive YAML editor (primary focus)
SSL/HTTPS	Automatic via Let’s Encrypt, wildcard support	Optional, manual cert configuration
Authentication / SSO	Built-in identity provider with 2FA, per-app permissions	Single admin account
VPN	Built-in (Constellation, Nebula-based mesh VPN)	No
Container monitoring	CPU, memory, network, disk per container	Basic status (running/stopped)
DDoS protection	SmartShield rate limiting and anti-bot	No
Multi-user	Yes, with per-app access control	No (single admin only)
Real-time terminal	Container logs and console	Yes, live docker compose up output
Compose files on disk	No, managed in internal database	Yes, standard compose.yaml in /opt/stacks/
Docker run-to-Compose converter	No	Yes

Installation Complexity

Cosmos Cloud installs as a single container but takes over ports 80 and 443:

services:
  cosmos:
    image: azukaar/cosmos-server:v0.20.2
    container_name: cosmos-server
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "80:80"
      - "443:443"
    volumes:
      - cosmos-config:/config
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
    environment:
      TZ: "America/New_York"

volumes:
  cosmos-config:

After starting, a setup wizard walks you through domain configuration, Let’s Encrypt provisioning, admin account creation, and MongoDB initialization. The setup takes a few minutes but configures everything: proxy, SSL, auth, and security in one pass.

The catch: Cosmos needs exclusive access to ports 80 and 443. If you already run Nginx Proxy Manager, Traefik, or Caddy on those ports, you must remove it first. Cosmos replaces your reverse proxy entirely.

Dockge installs on port 5001 and stays out of the way:

services:
  dockge:
    image: louislam/dockge:1.5.0
    container_name: dockge
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "5001:5001"
    volumes:
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
      - ./data:/app/data
      - /opt/stacks:/opt/stacks
    environment:
      DOCKGE_STACKS_DIR: "/opt/stacks"

Open port 5001, create an admin account, start managing stacks. The one gotcha: the stacks directory path must be identical on both sides of the volume mount (/opt/stacks:/opt/stacks), and DOCKGE_STACKS_DIR must match. Get this wrong and Dockge will not detect your stacks.

Winner: Dockge for simplicity. It installs in under two minutes and conflicts with nothing. Cosmos installs quickly too, but it demands ports 80/443 and replaces your existing reverse proxy. If you factor in the total stack (Docker management + reverse proxy + SSL + auth), Cosmos is faster because it is one tool instead of four.

Performance and Resource Usage

Metric	Cosmos Cloud	Dockge
Idle RAM	~200-300 MB	~30-50 MB
Under load RAM	~400-500 MB	~50-80 MB
Docker image size	~200 MB	<50 MB
CPU at idle	Low-moderate	Minimal
Runtime	Go + embedded MongoDB	Node.js

Cosmos uses 4-6x more memory than Dockge. That is expected — it runs a reverse proxy, auth system, VPN module, DDoS protection, and database internally. Compare Cosmos to the full equivalent stack: Dockge (~30 MB) + Nginx Proxy Manager (~150 MB) + Authelia (~50 MB) = ~230 MB. At that level, Cosmos’s ~250 MB idle usage is comparable.

On a Raspberry Pi 4 with 2 GB RAM or a small VPS, the difference matters. Dockge leaves 1.95 GB for your actual services. Cosmos leaves 1.7 GB. If you are running many containers on limited hardware, Dockge’s light footprint is a real advantage.

Winner: Dockge. Drastically lighter. But the comparison is only fair if you account for what Cosmos replaces.

Community and Support

Metric	Cosmos Cloud	Dockge
GitHub stars	~5,000	~14,000
First release	2023	October 2023
Latest release	v0.20.2 (active development)	v1.5.0 (March 2025)
Development pace	Active, frequent commits	Slowing — last release 11 months ago
License	Apache 2.0	MIT
Documentation	Good, growing	GitHub README + community wiki
Creator/team	Azukaar (solo developer + contributors)	Louis Lam (Uptime Kuma developer)

Both projects launched around the same time and are primarily solo-developer projects. Dockge has more GitHub stars, partly because of Louis Lam’s reputation from Uptime Kuma. Cosmos has a smaller but engaged community.

The development pace difference is notable. Cosmos is under active development with frequent releases through 2025 and into 2026. Dockge’s last release was v1.5.0 in March 2025 — over 11 months ago as of this writing. The project is not abandoned (Louis Lam is active on other projects), but development has clearly slowed. For a tool you depend on for daily Docker management, this is worth considering.

Winner: Split. Dockge has the larger community. Cosmos has more active development. Neither has a decisive advantage.

Use Cases

Choose Cosmos Cloud If…

• You are setting up a new server from scratch and want everything in one tool
• You want a reverse proxy, HTTPS, auth, and Docker management without configuring four separate services
• You are newer to self-hosting and want a guided setup experience
• You want an app marketplace where installing an app also configures its proxy route and SSL
• Security hardening (DDoS protection, geo-blocking, brute-force prevention) is a priority
• You need multi-user access with per-app permissions
• You want a built-in VPN for remote access to your services

Choose Dockge If…

• You already have a reverse proxy (NPM, Traefik, Caddy) and do not want to replace it
• You want a focused Compose file editor, not a platform
• You prefer your compose files stored as plain YAML on disk, not in a database
• You value minimal resource usage (30 MB vs 250 MB)
• You are a single user managing stacks on a single server
• You want to edit compose files outside the UI with any text editor
• You are running on limited hardware (Raspberry Pi, 1-2 GB RAM VPS)
• You want the docker run-to-Compose converter

Final Verdict

Cosmos Cloud and Dockge are not really competitors — they solve different problems at different scales.

If you are starting from zero and want one tool that handles container management, reverse proxying, HTTPS, authentication, and security, Cosmos Cloud is the more efficient path. You skip the work of configuring NPM + Authelia + a Docker UI separately. The app marketplace with auto-configured proxy routes is genuinely excellent for getting services online fast. The trade-off is that you are locked into Cosmos’s way of doing things, and at v0.20.2 it is still a young project.

If you already have a working stack — a reverse proxy you like, auth that works, services running — Dockge is the better Docker management tool. It does not try to replace anything. It gives you a clean YAML editor, a deploy button, and real-time terminal output. Your compose files stay on disk as portable YAML. You can stop using Dockge tomorrow and nothing changes.

For experienced self-hosters, Dockge is the pragmatic choice. For newcomers who want a single-tool solution, Cosmos Cloud eliminates a lot of setup complexity. Pick based on whether you want a platform or a tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run Cosmos Cloud and Dockge on the same server?

Technically yes, but there is no good reason to. Cosmos includes its own container management and Docker Compose support. Running Dockge alongside it would be redundant. Stacks created in Dockge would not automatically get Cosmos proxy routes, and containers managed by Cosmos would not appear as Dockge stacks. Pick one approach and commit to it.

Can Cosmos Cloud replace Dockge + Nginx Proxy Manager + Authelia?

For a single-server homelab, yes. Cosmos bundles equivalent functionality for all three tools. You lose Dockge’s on-disk compose file storage and NPM’s custom Nginx directive support, but for most self-hosters the bundled features are sufficient.

Is Dockge still actively maintained?

Dockge is functional and stable at v1.5.0, but the last release was March 2025. Louis Lam (also the creator of Uptime Kuma) has not indicated the project is abandoned, but development has slowed significantly. The tool works well for what it does — there may simply not be much to add.

Which is better for a Raspberry Pi?

Dockge, without question. At ~30 MB idle versus Cosmos’s ~250 MB, Dockge leaves far more headroom for your actual services. Cosmos’s embedded MongoDB alone can consume 100+ MB, which is significant on a 2 GB Pi. Pair Dockge with Nginx Proxy Manager or Caddy for a lighter overall stack.

Does Cosmos Cloud work without a domain name?

Cosmos can run with just an IP address during initial setup, but many features (Let’s Encrypt HTTPS, SSO, the full proxy setup) require a domain name. Without one, you are limited to self-signed certificates and local access. Dockge has no domain requirement at all.

Related

• How to Self-Host Cosmos Cloud
• How to Self-Host Dockge
• Portainer vs Dockge
• Portainer vs Cosmos Cloud
• Best Docker Management Tools
• Docker Compose Basics
• Reverse Proxy Explained