Cosmos Cloud vs Portainer: Which Platform?

Quick Verdict

Cosmos Cloud is an all-in-one self-hosting platform — reverse proxy, Docker management, VPN, authentication, and app marketplace in one tool. Portainer is a focused Docker management platform with more granular container control. Choose Cosmos Cloud if you want a single tool to manage everything. Choose Portainer if you already have a reverse proxy and want the most powerful Docker management UI.

Overview

Cosmos Cloud is a self-hosting operating system that bundles reverse proxying (with automatic HTTPS), Docker container management, an app marketplace, VPN connectivity, SSO authentication, and DDoS protection (SmartShield) into one platform. It aims to be the single entry point for your entire self-hosted infrastructure.

Portainer CE is a dedicated Docker management platform. It provides a comprehensive web UI for managing containers, images, volumes, networks, stacks, and registries. It focuses on doing one thing well — Docker management — and integrates with your choice of reverse proxy and other tools.

Feature Comparison

Feature	Cosmos Cloud	Portainer CE
Docker management	Yes	Yes (deeper)
Container creation/editing	Yes	Yes
Stack/Compose management	Yes	Yes
App marketplace	Yes (built-in)	Yes (templates)
Built-in reverse proxy	Yes (automatic HTTPS)	No
Built-in VPN	Yes (Constellation)	No
SSO/Authentication	Yes (OpenID, built-in)	Yes (basic auth, LDAP)
DDoS protection	SmartShield	No
Multi-host management	Limited	Yes (agents, edge agents)
Kubernetes support	No	Yes
RBAC (role-based access)	Basic	Yes (teams, roles)
Container stats/monitoring	Basic	Detailed
Image management	Basic	Full (pull, build, registries)
Network management	Basic	Full
Volume management	Basic	Full
Docker image	azukaar/cosmos-server:v0.20.2	portainer/portainer-ce:2.33.7
RAM usage	~200-300 MB	~80-120 MB

Installation Complexity

Cosmos Cloud takes over ports 80 and 443 (it is the reverse proxy):

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

Setup is wizard-driven — it configures your domain, SSL, and initial authentication through a web UI. Because it includes a reverse proxy, it replaces tools like NPM, Traefik, or Caddy.

Portainer runs alongside your existing stack:

services:
  portainer:
    image: portainer/portainer-ce:2.33.7
    ports:
      - "9443:9443"
    volumes:
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
      - portainer-data:/data
    restart: unless-stopped

Portainer doesn’t conflict with your existing reverse proxy or other infrastructure. It’s purely a management UI.

Performance and Resource Usage

Cosmos Cloud uses more resources because it runs multiple services internally (proxy, auth, VPN, marketplace):

Metric	Cosmos Cloud	Portainer CE
Idle RAM	~200-300 MB	~80-120 MB
Ports required	80, 443	9443 (or custom)
Services replaced	Reverse proxy + auth + VPN	None (additive)

Community and Support

Portainer has a larger community (20K+ GitHub stars), commercial backing (Portainer.io), and years of maturity. Documentation is comprehensive. Enterprise support is available.

Cosmos Cloud is newer with ~5K GitHub stars and a smaller community. Development is active (v0.20.2, January 2026), and the project is growing. Documentation covers the basics but has gaps for advanced use cases.

Use Cases

Choose Cosmos Cloud If…

• You want one tool to replace multiple services (proxy, auth, VPN, Docker UI)
• You’re starting from scratch with no existing infrastructure
• You want the simplest possible self-hosting setup for beginners
• You want built-in DDoS protection and security features
• You don’t need multi-host Docker management

Choose Portainer If…

• You already have a reverse proxy (NPM, Traefik, Caddy)
• You need deep Docker management (registry management, image building, network config)
• You manage multiple Docker hosts or Kubernetes clusters
• You need team management with role-based access control
• You want the most mature and well-documented Docker UI

Final Verdict

These tools target different philosophies. Cosmos Cloud is the “one platform to rule them all” approach — great for beginners or anyone who wants simplicity over flexibility. Portainer is the “best-in-class Docker management” approach — pair it with your preferred reverse proxy and other tools.

For new self-hosters who don’t have existing infrastructure: Cosmos Cloud gets you running faster. For experienced self-hosters who already have a stack: Portainer fits into your existing setup without replacing anything.

FAQ

Can I run both Cosmos Cloud and Portainer?

Technically yes, but there’s significant overlap. If you use Cosmos Cloud for everything, Portainer is redundant. If you want Portainer’s deeper Docker management alongside Cosmos’s reverse proxy, you can run Portainer behind Cosmos — but at that point, you might be better off with Portainer + a dedicated reverse proxy.

Does Cosmos Cloud replace Nginx Proxy Manager?

Yes. Cosmos Cloud includes a full reverse proxy with automatic HTTPS. You don’t need NPM, Traefik, or Caddy alongside it. This is one of its main value propositions.

Can Portainer manage Docker on remote servers?

Yes. Portainer supports agent-based remote management. Install the Portainer Agent on remote Docker hosts and manage them all from a single Portainer instance. This is a significant advantage over Cosmos Cloud for multi-server setups.

Which is more secure?

Cosmos Cloud has more built-in security features (SmartShield DDoS protection, integrated auth, VPN). Portainer’s security depends on your surrounding infrastructure (reverse proxy with auth, firewall rules). Both require the Docker socket, which grants root-equivalent access.

Related

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