Quick Verdict
Dockge is the clear winner. It is actively maintained, stores Compose files as standard YAML on disk, has a cleaner UI, and does its core job — managing Docker Compose stacks — extremely well. Yacht's development has stalled since 2023, it lacks Compose support, and its higher resource usage is hard to justify given its smaller feature set.
Overview
Dockge (v1.5.0) is a Docker Compose stack manager created by Louis Lam, the developer behind Uptime Kuma. It focuses on one thing: managing compose.yaml files through a clean web UI. You create, edit, start, stop, and update stacks. The files live on disk as plain YAML you can use with the Docker CLI directly. Dockge is a Node.js application that launched in late 2023.
Yacht (v0.0.8) is a Docker container management UI focused on app templates. It provides a web interface for deploying containers from templates, managing running containers, and basic monitoring. Yacht was designed as a simpler alternative to Portainer, with its template system as the primary differentiator.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Dockge (v1.5.0) | Yacht (v0.0.8) |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Compose support | Yes — primary feature | No |
| Compose files on disk | Yes — standard YAML in directories | N/A |
| App templates | No | Yes — built-in template system |
| Container management | Through Compose stacks only | Yes — individual containers |
| Interactive YAML editor | Yes — syntax-highlighted, validated | No |
| Docker run → Compose converter | Yes — built-in | No |
| Live terminal output | Yes — during deploy, update, restart | No |
| Image pull/remove | Through Compose operations | Basic pull only |
| Volume management | Through Compose only | No |
| Network management | Through Compose only | No |
| Container console (exec) | Yes (enable via env var) | Yes |
| Container logs | Yes | Yes |
| Container stats | Basic | Basic |
| Multi-host support | Yes — via Dockge Agent | No |
| User management | Single admin | Single user |
| REST API | No public API | Limited |
Installation Complexity
Both are single-container deployments.
Dockge has one critical requirement: the stacks directory mount must be identical on both host and container sides (/opt/stacks:/opt/stacks), and the DOCKGE_STACKS_DIR environment variable must match. Get this wrong and stacks show as inactive. Otherwise, setup is simple.
Yacht mounts the Docker socket and a config volume. Straightforward setup with no gotchas beyond securing the default admin credentials.
Performance and Resource Usage
| Metric | Dockge | Yacht |
|---|---|---|
| Idle RAM | ~30-50 MB | ~80-120 MB |
| Docker image size | ~90 MB | ~200 MB |
| Startup time | 2-3 seconds | 3-5 seconds |
| Language | Node.js | Python + Vue.js |
Dockge is lighter despite offering more functionality for Compose-based workflows. Yacht's Python backend and larger image are notable given its more limited feature set.
Community and Support
| Metric | Dockge | Yacht |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub stars | 14K+ | 3.5K+ |
| Last release | March 2025 | 2023 |
| Developer | Louis Lam (Uptime Kuma creator) | SelfhostedPro |
| Development status | Active (slower cadence) | Stalled |
| Documentation | README + GitHub wiki | Basic README + wiki |
Dockge benefits from Louis Lam's reputation and the Uptime Kuma community. While Dockge's release cadence has slowed (monitor for abandonment), it is in far better shape than Yacht, which has had no releases in years.
Use Cases
Choose Dockge If...
- You manage services with Docker Compose (most self-hosters do)
- You want your compose files stored as standard YAML on disk
- You want a clean, focused UI without feature bloat
- You want to convert
docker runcommands to Compose files - You want live terminal output during stack operations
Choose Yacht If...
- You want template-driven deployment and are not ready to write Compose files
- You prefer deploying apps from a catalog rather than writing YAML
- You manage individual containers rather than Compose stacks
- You accept using a project with stalled development
FAQ
Is Yacht still being developed?
Development has effectively stalled. The last release was in 2023, and there is no clear roadmap or active maintenance. For a tool with Docker socket access, this creates security concerns.
Can Dockge handle templates like Yacht?
No, Dockge does not have a template system. You write Compose files or paste them from external sources. If you want templates, Portainer offers them alongside full Compose support.
What about Portainer as an alternative?
Portainer is the full-featured option that covers what both Dockge and Yacht do, plus much more. It is heavier but more capable. See Portainer vs Dockge and Portainer vs Yacht.
Final Verdict
Dockge wins decisively. It is lighter, more capable for Compose workflows, actively maintained, and stores your configs as standard YAML you can use independently. Yacht's template system is its one advantage, but templates are also available in Portainer, which is a better tool in every other dimension.
If you want a lightweight Docker Compose manager, use Dockge. If you want templates plus full Docker management, use Portainer. There is no compelling reason to choose Yacht in 2026.
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