Portainer vs Yacht: Docker Management UIs
Quick Verdict
Portainer is the better choice for most self-hosters. It covers the full Docker surface — containers, images, volumes, networks, stacks, and multi-host management — with active development and a large community. Yacht is simpler and its app template system is nice for beginners, but development has slowed significantly and it lacks too many features that you will eventually need.
Overview
Portainer CE (v2.33.7) is the most widely deployed Docker management UI. It has been actively developed since 2016 and covers the full Docker API: containers, images, volumes, networks, Compose stacks, Swarm services, and Kubernetes workloads. It includes user management, app templates, webhook redeployment, and multi-host management via agents.
Yacht (v0.0.8) is a lightweight Docker management UI designed to be a simpler alternative to Portainer. It focuses on container deployment using templates, basic container lifecycle management, and a clean interface. Yacht launched as a spiritual successor to the abandoned DockSTARTer project’s UI ambitions.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Portainer CE (v2.33.7) | Yacht (v0.0.8) |
|---|---|---|
| Container management (start/stop/restart/logs) | Yes, full lifecycle | Yes, basic lifecycle |
| Docker Compose stacks | Yes — editor, upload, Git deploy | No native Compose support |
| Image management | Yes — pull, remove, prune | Limited — pull only |
| Volume management | Yes — create, browse, remove | No |
| Network management | Yes — create, remove, inspect | No |
| App templates | Yes — built-in and custom | Yes — built-in template system (core feature) |
| Template sources | Portainer templates, custom URLs | Self-hosted template repos, community templates |
| Container resource limits | Yes — CPU, memory limits via UI | Yes — basic resource settings |
| Container environment editor | Yes | Yes |
| User management / RBAC | Yes — admins, users, teams | No — single user only |
| Multi-host management | Yes — Agent and Edge Agent | No |
| Docker Swarm support | Yes | No |
| Kubernetes support | Yes | No |
| Webhook redeployment | Yes | No |
| REST API | Yes, comprehensive | Limited |
| Container console (exec) | Yes | Yes |
| Container stats/monitoring | Yes — real-time graphs | Basic — CPU/memory readout |
Installation Complexity
Both are single-container deployments that mount the Docker socket. Setup difficulty is comparable.
Portainer deploys with a straightforward Compose file. First-time setup creates an admin account through the web UI. One gotcha: Portainer’s HTTPS runs on port 9443 by default, and the HTTP port (9000) is deprecated.
Yacht also uses a single container with a Docker socket mount. It uses port 8000 by default and has a simpler initial setup. One gotcha: Yacht uses a SQLite database inside the container, so the /config volume is critical for persistence.
Both take under 2 minutes to deploy.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Metric | Portainer CE | Yacht |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM | ~50-80 MB | ~80-120 MB |
| Docker image size | ~90 MB | ~200 MB |
| Startup time | 2-3 seconds | 3-5 seconds |
| Language | Go | Python (Vue.js frontend) |
Portainer is actually lighter than Yacht despite having far more features. Portainer is written in Go (compiled, efficient), while Yacht uses Python with a Vue.js frontend. This is counterintuitive but consistently measured.
Community and Support
| Metric | Portainer | Yacht |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 32K+ | 3.5K+ |
| Last release | February 2026 (active) | 2023 (stale) |
| Contributors | 100+ | ~15 |
| Documentation | Comprehensive docs site | Basic README and wiki |
| Commercial support | Portainer Business Edition (paid) | None |
This is the deciding factor. Yacht’s development has stalled. The last release was in 2023, and GitHub issues are piling up without responses. Portainer ships monthly updates with security patches, new features, and bug fixes. For a tool that has root-level access to your Docker socket, active maintenance is not optional.
Use Cases
Choose Portainer If…
- You want a full-featured Docker management platform
- You need multi-host management (manage Docker on multiple servers)
- You need user management with role-based access
- You run Docker Swarm or Kubernetes
- You want active development and security updates
- You need Compose stack management alongside container management
Choose Yacht If…
- You want a template-driven deployment experience (Yacht’s template system is its best feature)
- You are a complete beginner who wants to deploy apps from a catalog
- You do not need Compose support, volume management, or network management
- You accept the risk of using a stale project with no recent updates
FAQ
Is Yacht still being maintained?
Barely. The last release was in 2023, and development activity is minimal. For a tool with Docker socket access, this is a security concern. Consider Dockge as an alternative lightweight option that is actively maintained.
Can Portainer’s free tier do everything Yacht does?
Yes. Portainer CE (free) covers everything Yacht offers and significantly more. The paid Business Edition adds RBAC granularity, registry management, and enterprise support, but CE is sufficient for self-hosting.
What about Dockge as an alternative to both?
Dockge is a strong third option. It focuses exclusively on Docker Compose stacks with a clean UI, stores files on disk as standard YAML, and is actively maintained. See Portainer vs Dockge and Dockge vs Yacht.
Final Verdict
Portainer is the clear winner. It does everything Yacht does and far more, uses fewer resources, and is actively maintained with monthly releases. Yacht’s template system is nice, but it does not compensate for stale development, missing features, and higher resource usage.
If Portainer feels too complex, look at Dockge rather than Yacht. Dockge is lighter, focused, and actively maintained. Yacht is hard to recommend in 2026.
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