Diun vs Portainer: Docker Update Notifications
Quick Verdict
These aren’t direct competitors. Diun monitors Docker image registries and sends notifications when new versions are available. Portainer is a full Docker management platform with a web UI. They complement each other: Diun tells you when updates exist, Portainer lets you apply them through a GUI. Most self-hosters who want controlled updates run both.
Overview
Diun (Docker Image Update Notifier) watches your running containers and checks registries for new image versions on a schedule. When a new version is found, it sends a notification via your preferred channel (Discord, Slack, email, Gotify, etc.). It never auto-updates — notification only.
Portainer CE is a web-based Docker management platform. It manages containers, images, volumes, networks, and stacks. It can pull new images and recreate containers, but doesn’t monitor registries for updates or send notifications.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Diun | Portainer CE |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Update notifications | Docker management |
| Registry monitoring | Yes (scheduled) | No |
| Notification channels | 20+ (Discord, Slack, email, etc.) | None |
| Container management | No | Full (create, start, stop, remove) |
| Image management | Monitor only | Pull, build, remove |
| Auto-update | No (notify only) | No (manual only) |
| Web UI | No | Full management panel |
| Stack/Compose management | No | Yes |
| Docker image | crazymax/diun:4.31.0 | portainer/portainer-ce:2.33.7 |
| RAM usage | ~20-30 MB | ~80-120 MB |
When to Use Each
Run Diun if you want to know when container images have updates available. It’s the “inbox notification” for Docker — you decide when and how to update.
Run Portainer if you want a web UI to manage your Docker environment. When you decide to update (perhaps after receiving a Diun notification), Portainer lets you do it through the browser.
Run both for the best workflow: Diun notifies you of available updates → you review changelogs → you update through Portainer’s UI.
The Update Workflow
- Diun checks Docker Hub/GHCR on schedule (e.g., every 6 hours)
- New image version detected → Diun sends Discord/email notification
- You review the changelog and decide whether to update
- Open Portainer → navigate to the container → pull new image → recreate
- Verify the service works with the new version
This is safer than Watchtower’s auto-update approach because you maintain control over when updates happen.
Final Verdict
Run both. Diun handles the monitoring and notification that Portainer lacks. Portainer handles the management and update execution that Diun doesn’t do. Together, they form a controlled update pipeline that balances awareness with safety.
If you can only pick one: Portainer is more broadly useful since Docker management is a daily need. Add Diun when you’re tired of manually checking for updates.
FAQ
Why not just use Watchtower instead of Diun?
Watchtower auto-updates containers, which can break things without warning. Diun only notifies — you decide when to update. For critical self-hosted services (password managers, file sync), notification-only is safer. See our Watchtower vs Diun comparison.
Can Portainer check for available updates?
No. Portainer shows what’s currently running but doesn’t compare against registries for newer versions. It can pull a specific tag, but it doesn’t proactively tell you when a new version exists.
Does Diun work with private registries?
Yes. Diun supports Docker Hub, GitHub Container Registry, GitLab Registry, and any OCI-compatible private registry with authentication.
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