Dockge vs Uptime Kuma
Which should you use? A side-by-side look at what each one does, who it suits, what it costs, how hard it is to set up, and where each falls short.
Open source · MIT
A web UI for managing Docker Compose stacks on your own server.
Open source · MIT
Self-hosted uptime monitor that checks your sites and services and alerts you when they go down.
The short answer
Choose Dockge if you need…
- People who run Docker Compose stacks on a home server or small Linux machine
- Anyone who wants a browser interface for compose files instead of only the command line
- Users who want compose files kept as plain files on disk
- People who manage several Docker hosts and want one interface (multiple agents support, added in 1.4.0)
Choose Uptime Kuma if you need…
- People who want to monitor their own websites or services without paying a hosted monitoring service
- Home lab and self-hosting users who already run Docker
- Small teams that want a status page for their users
- Developers who want simple uptime checks for their apps
Side-by-side
| Dockge | Uptime Kuma | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | App | App |
| Price | Free and open source | Free and open source |
| Licence | MIT | MIT |
| GitHub stars | 24.7k | 93.2k |
| Setup difficulty | Beginner | Beginner |
| How you get it | Run with Docker | Run with Docker |
| Main language | TypeScript | JavaScript |
| Last code update | 15 days ago | 5 days ago |
What each one is
Dockge
Dockge is a self-hosted web app that lets you create, edit, start, stop, and update Docker Compose stacks through a browser. Your compose.yaml files stay on your drive as normal files, so you can still use regular docker compose commands alongside it. It shows progress and terminal output in real time.
Uptime Kuma
Uptime Kuma is a monitoring tool you run on your own server or computer. It regularly checks websites, servers, and services (over HTTP, TCP, ping, DNS, and other methods) and shows their status in a web dashboard. When something fails, it can send notifications through services such as Telegram, Discord, Slack, or email.
Best for
Dockge
- People who run Docker Compose stacks on a home server or small Linux machine
- Anyone who wants a browser interface for compose files instead of only the command line
- Users who want compose files kept as plain files on disk
- People who manage several Docker hosts and want one interface (multiple agents support, added in 1.4.0)
Uptime Kuma
- People who want to monitor their own websites or services without paying a hosted monitoring service
- Home lab and self-hosting users who already run Docker
- Small teams that want a status page for their users
- Developers who want simple uptime checks for their apps
Strengths
Dockge
- Compose files remain normal files on your drive, so you are not locked in
- Real-time progress and terminal output for pull, up, and down actions
- Can manage stacks across multiple Docker hosts from one interface
Uptime Kuma
- The README describes a clean, responsive web interface with many monitor types in one tool
- Installation with Docker is a single command, and the README covers both Docker and non-Docker setups
- Open-source under the MIT license with a large, active community on GitHub
Not ideal for
Dockge
- People who mainly manage single containers or networks, since the README says Dockge focuses on compose only and suggests Portainer or the Docker CLI for that
- Windows users, because the README says Windows support will come later
- Users on Debian Buster or older, which the README says are not supported
Uptime Kuma
- People who do not want to run and maintain their own server, since the README is built around self-hosting
- Users on FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Replit, or Heroku, which the README lists as unsupported
- Anyone needing enterprise-scale monitoring, since the README does not describe that scale
Trade-offs
Dockge
- Limited to Docker Compose; the README says it does not replace Portainer for networks or single containers
- Windows is not supported yet according to the README
- Exposes Docker socket access through a web UI, so it should be protected on your network (the README mounts /var/run/docker.sock; security guidance is not detailed in the excerpt)
Uptime Kuma
- The README warns that NFS file systems are not supported for data storage, so you must use a local volume
- Non-Docker installs need Node.js 20.4 or newer, Git, and optionally pm2, which takes some setup
- Advanced setup such as reverse proxies and updates is delegated to the project wiki, so some details live outside the README
Getting started
Dockge
Create directories for stacks and Dockge data
mkdir -p /opt/stacks /opt/dockgeChange into the Dockge directory
cd /opt/dockgeUptime Kuma
Docker Compose setup
mkdir uptime-kumaEnter the folder
cd uptime-kumaFrequently asked questions
What is the difference between Dockge and Uptime Kuma?
Dockge: A web UI for managing Docker Compose stacks on your own server. Uptime Kuma: Self-hosted uptime monitor that checks your sites and services and alerts you when they go down. Dockge suits people who run docker compose stacks on a home server or small linux machine, while Uptime Kuma suits people who want to monitor their own websites or services without paying a hosted monitoring service.
Are Dockge and Uptime Kuma free?
Dockge: Free and open source. Uptime Kuma: Free and open source.
Is Dockge or Uptime Kuma more popular?
Uptime Kuma has more GitHub stars (93.2k) than Dockge (24.7k). Popularity isn't the same as fit — check which one matches your use case above.
What are other alternatives to Dockge and Uptime Kuma?
Other options people compare them with include Upptime.
Keep comparing
Built from our catalogue entries for both products: open-source details come from each project's README (AI-assisted, refreshed weekly) and GitHub data; AI-tool details are editorial. Spotted something wrong? Let us know from either product's page.