Lazydocker vs Portainer: Which Docker Tool?
Quick Verdict
Portainer is the better Docker management tool for most self-hosters. It provides a full web UI with container lifecycle management, Docker Compose deployment, user management, and multi-host support. Lazydocker is a terminal-based monitoring tool — excellent for quick status checks and log tailing, but not a management platform.
Overview
Portainer is a web-based Docker management platform with a GUI for managing containers, images, volumes, networks, and stacks. It supports Docker standalone, Swarm, and Kubernetes. The Community Edition is free. Current version: 2.33.7.
Lazydocker is a terminal UI (TUI) for Docker that provides a real-time dashboard of containers, images, volumes, and logs. It’s a single binary with zero dependencies — no server, no database, no Docker socket binding. Current version: v0.24.4.
Portainer is a management platform. Lazydocker is a monitoring dashboard. They complement each other more than they compete.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Portainer 2.33 | Lazydocker v0.24 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | Web UI (browser) | Terminal UI (SSH) |
| Container management | Full CRUD | Start/stop/restart/remove |
| Docker Compose deployment | Yes (stacks) | No |
| Image management | Pull, build, delete | View, delete |
| Volume management | Create, browse, delete | View, delete |
| Network management | Create, configure, delete | View only |
| Real-time logs | Yes | Yes (with color) |
| Resource monitoring | Yes (CPU, RAM, network) | Yes (CPU, RAM) |
| Shell access to containers | Yes (web terminal) | Yes (via exec) |
| Multi-host management | Yes (agents) | No (local only) |
| User management | Yes (RBAC, LDAP) | No (single user) |
| Templates/App store | Yes | No |
| API | Yes (REST) | No |
| Runs as a service | Yes (Docker container) | No (on-demand binary) |
| Resource usage | ~100-200 MB RAM | ~10 MB RAM |
Installation Complexity
Portainer
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
volumes:
portainer-data:Access via browser at port 9443. Create admin account on first visit.
Lazydocker
# One-liner install
curl https://raw.githubusercontent.com/jesseduffield/lazydocker/master/scripts/install_update_linux.sh | bash
# Or via Docker (one-shot)
docker run --rm -it \
-v /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock \
lazyteam/lazydocker:v0.24.4Run lazydocker in your terminal. No setup, no accounts, no persistence needed.
Winner: Lazydocker for installation simplicity. Portainer for ongoing management.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Metric | Portainer | Lazydocker |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM | ~100-200 MB | ~10 MB (while running) |
| Disk usage | ~200 MB | ~15 MB (binary) |
| CPU (idle) | Low | Near zero |
| Always running | Yes (background service) | No (on-demand) |
| Network footprint | Web server on port 9443 | None |
Lazydocker uses almost no resources because it’s an on-demand terminal tool. Portainer runs as a persistent service consuming RAM for its web server, database, and polling engine.
Community and Support
Both have strong communities. Portainer has commercial backing (Portainer.io), enterprise features, and professional documentation. Lazydocker is a popular open-source project (35K+ GitHub stars) maintained by Jesse Duffield (also the creator of lazygit). Both are actively maintained.
Use Cases
Choose Portainer If…
- You want a web-based management interface accessible from any browser
- You need to manage multiple Docker hosts from one dashboard
- You need user accounts with role-based access control
- You want to deploy Docker Compose stacks through a GUI
- You need an app template marketplace
- You manage Docker for a team or household (multiple users)
- You want API access for automation
Choose Lazydocker If…
- You prefer terminal-based tools and work primarily via SSH
- You want a quick status overview of all containers
- You need to tail logs across multiple containers simultaneously
- You want zero persistent resource overhead
- You’re debugging a Docker issue on a remote server
- You want a tool that works without binding the Docker socket to a web server
Use Both If…
- You run Portainer as your primary management tool but use Lazydocker for quick SSH debugging sessions. They don’t conflict.
Final Verdict
Portainer for management, Lazydocker for monitoring. If you can only choose one, Portainer is the more complete tool — it handles everything from deployment to monitoring to multi-user access. But Lazydocker is so lightweight and useful that there’s no reason not to install both.
The best setup for most self-hosters: Portainer running as a service for day-to-day management through the browser, plus Lazydocker installed on the server for quick SSH-based troubleshooting sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Lazydocker replace Portainer?
For basic operations (start/stop/remove/logs), yes. For deploying new stacks, managing users, multi-host management, or browsing the app template library, no. Lazydocker is a monitoring and quick-action tool, not a full management platform.
Does Lazydocker need the Docker socket?
Yes, but only while it’s running. Unlike Portainer, which binds the socket permanently as a running service, Lazydocker accesses it on-demand when you launch the TUI and releases it when you exit.
Can I use Lazydocker inside Portainer’s web terminal?
Not directly. Lazydocker is a TUI application that needs a proper terminal emulator. Portainer’s web console doesn’t support full TUI rendering. Use SSH for Lazydocker.
Which is more secure?
Lazydocker, because it doesn’t expose a web interface. Portainer’s web UI on port 9443 is an attack surface that needs to be firewalled or placed behind a VPN. Lazydocker only runs when you explicitly launch it via SSH.
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