Best 125+ Docker Containers for Home Server in 2026

Docker packs an app with its runtime so it runs the same on a mini PC, VPS, or rack. This page is a catalog of 125+ home-server containers for 2026, not a “install everything” checklist.

How to use this page

1. Pick a goal in the table below (media, files, lab control plane, …).
2. Install the short starter stack if you are new.
3. Open one category you care about. Each section starts with a quick-pick table, then short notes on the important tools.
4. Skip the rest until you need it.

Pick a goal

What changed in 2026 (short)

• Plex remote streaming needs a paid pass (local still free). Lifetime Pass for new buyers is $749.99 since July 1, 2026. Many people switched to Jellyfin.
• Filebrowser Quantum is the active file-manager fork (original is maintenance-only).
• Coolify / Dokploy, Gluetun, Dozzle, and Pocket ID are common defaults now.

More detail is in What’s changed in 2026 at the end.

Starter stack (do this first)

If you are starting from zero, this set covers streaming, downloads, files, dashboard, DNS, management, and basic monitoring.

Order that works: Dockge → DNS → dashboard → files → media → downloads → CrowdSec → monitoring.

Minimal compose example

Three services to get Docker muscle memory. Add the rest as separate stacks in Dockge.

services:
  adguardhome:
    image: adguard/adguardhome
    container_name: adguardhome
    ports:
      - "53:53/tcp"
      - "53:53/udp"
      - "3000:3000/tcp"
    volumes:
      - ./adguard/work:/opt/adguardhome/work
      - ./adguard/conf:/opt/adguardhome/conf
    restart: unless-stopped

  homepage:
    image: ghcr.io/gethomepage/homepage:latest
    container_name: homepage
    environment:
      - TZ=America/New_York
    volumes:
      - ./homepage-config:/app/config
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro
    ports:
      - "3001:3000"
    restart: unless-stopped

  dockge:
    image: louislam/dockge:1
    container_name: dockge
    volumes:
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock
      - ./dockge-data:/app/data
      - ./dockge-stacks:/opt/stacks
    ports:
      - "5001:5001"
    restart: unless-stopped

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
# log out/in, then:
docker run hello-world

Full catalog

Use the jump table, then skim each section’s quick picks before the writeups.

Media management containers

Stream your own library. Most people start here.

How the stack fits together

Prowlarr → Sonarr / Radarr → qBittorrent (+ Gluetun) or SABnzbd
                ↓
         Jellyfin / Plex
                ↑
     Bazarr (subs) · Overseerr (requests) · Audiobookshelf (audio)

Quick picks

Media servers

Jellyfin ⭐ - jellyfin.org
Free, open source, no account. After the Plex paywall this is the usual recommendation for remote streaming. Image: jellyfin/jellyfin.

Plex ⭐ - plex.tv
Still the smoothest clients. Remote streaming is paid since April 2025 (Plex Pass or Remote Watch Pass). Local on LAN stays free. New Lifetime Pass is $749.99 (July 1, 2026); existing lifetime holders keep theirs. Image: linuxserver/plex.

Emby image: emby/embyserver.

*arr automation and downloads

Prowlarr ⭐ - Configure indexers once; syncs to Sonarr/Radarr. Prefer this over Jackett for new installs. linuxserver/prowlarr

Sonarr ⭐ / Radarr ⭐ - TV and movies. linuxserver/sonarr, linuxserver/radarr

qBittorrent ⭐ - Default torrent client for *arr. Route it through Gluetun. linuxserver/qbittorrent

Gluetun ⭐ - VPN client container (40+ providers). Use network_mode: "service:gluetun" so only downloads leave via VPN. qmcgaw/gluetun

Bazarr ⭐ - Subtitles for Sonarr/Radarr. linuxserver/bazarr

Overseerr ⭐ / Jellyseerr - Request UI for family (Plex vs Jellyfin). linuxserver/overseerr or fallenbagel/jellyseerr

Audiobookshelf ⭐ - Audiobooks + podcasts with apps and progress sync. advplyr/audiobookshelf

Also useful (media)

File sharing and sync containers

Replace Dropbox/Google Drive, or just get a web UI on your disks.

Quick picks

Nextcloud ⭐ - Kitchen-sink cloud: files, calendar, contacts, office. Huge app ecosystem; can feel heavy on big libraries. nextcloud

Seafile ⭐ - Usually much faster than Nextcloud. Tradeoff: proprietary block storage on disk. seafileltd/seafile-mc

Syncthing ⭐ - Peer-to-peer encrypted sync, no central account. syncthing/syncthing

Filebrowser Quantum ⭐ - Active fork of classic Filebrowser (original is maintenance-only). Multi-source, OIDC/2FA. New installs: use Quantum. Image: gtsteffaniak/filebrowser. Older notes: Deploy Filebrowser.

RustFS ⭐ - S3-compatible object storage (MinIO-style). Guide: Self-host RustFS. rustfs/rustfs

AI applications containers

Local models need RAM (16 GB+ is realistic; a GPU helps a lot).

Quick picks

Ollama + OpenWebUI ⭐ - Default local AI stack. Guide: Ollama with Docker.

Flowise ⭐ - Drag-and-drop LLM apps. Install Flowise.
Langflow - Multi-agent / RAG builder. Install Langflow.
LiteLLM - OpenAI-compatible proxy over 100+ providers. Install LiteLLM.
Langfuse - Observability for LLM apps. Install Langfuse.

Home automation containers

n8n ⭐ - Visual automation, 400+ integrations, owns your data. Guide: Self-host n8n.
Home Assistant ⭐ - Device hub + automations, local-first.
Node-RED ⭐ - Flow programming for sensors and APIs.

Use HA for devices, n8n for web-service glue. They work fine side by side.

Network management containers

DNS, remote access, reverse proxy, Docker UI.

Quick picks

DNS: AdGuard is often easier for new installs; Pi-hole has more guides.
Remote: Tailscale for most people; Headscale if you want the control plane self-hosted (guide). NetBird when you want OSS end-to-end.
Proxy: Caddy for simple Caddyfiles; NPM for click-ops; Traefik if you like Docker labels.
Docker UI: Dockge for Compose (install); Portainer is fine but compare Portainer alternatives (Komodo multi-host, etc.).

Unbound (mvance/unbound) pairs with Pi-hole as a recursive resolver if you want that.

Monitoring and analytics containers

If you only install one: Uptime Kuma. Add Dozzle when debugging. Guide: Beszel & Uptime Kuma.

Notification containers

Point Uptime Kuma / *arr / scripts at ntfy and stop configuring Discord webhooks in twelve places.

Security and privacy containers

Passwords, IPS, SSO, private search.

Quick picks

Vaultwarden ⭐ - Bitwarden-compatible, much lighter than official server.
CrowdSec ⭐ - Prefer over Fail2Ban for new installs (shared threat intel). Fail2Ban still works: crazymax/fail2ban.
SSO ladder: Pocket ID (passkeys only) → Authelia (YAML) → Authentik (heavy).
SearXNG ⭐ - Metasearch without tracking. Guide: Self-host SearXNG.

WireGuard image linuxserver/wireguard if you want raw peers; prefer WireGuard Easy for a UI. OpenVPN: kylemanna/openvpn (legacy setups).

Productivity containers

Stirling PDF ⭐ - Merge, OCR, compress, etc. Self-host Stirling PDF.
Mealie ⭐ - Import recipes from URLs, meal plans, shopping lists. Tandoor is the nutrition-focused alternative (vabene1111/recipes).
Karakeep ⭐ (ex-Hoarder) - Bookmark + full-page archive + AI tags.
Docmost - Collaborative knowledge base. Install Docmost.

Development containers

Git, browser IDE, PaaS panels, auto-updates.

Coolify ⭐ - Full panel, many one-click apps. Install · v5 review · vs Dokploy.
Dokploy ⭐ - Compose-friendly PaaS. Install Dokploy.
Watchtower - Auto-updates; exclude databases and pin critical tags.

Database containers

Backup and recovery containers

Back up volumes and compose files. Test a restore once.

Personal finance containers

GnuCash / HomeBank exist as desktop-oriented options if you prefer that style.

Photography and image management containers

Immich ⭐ is the usual choice now: mobile backup, faces, map, active releases. Follow upstream compose carefully when upgrading.

E-book management containers

Self-hosted database solutions (Airtable alternatives)

More: Self-hosted Airtable alternatives.

Personal dashboard containers

Specialty tools

Less common but useful niches. Skim the tables; expand only what you need.

Remote desktop, location, analytics

RustDesk is interactive desktop control. Tailscale only gets you on the network.

Documents, web hosting, RSS, games, chat

Time, weather, VoIP, passwords (extra)

Vaultwarden (above) is still the default personal password pick.

Conclusions

Cheat sheet

What’s changed in 2026

• Plex remote streaming is paywalled (since April 2025). New Lifetime Pass is $749.99 (July 1, 2026). Local free; many moved to Jellyfin.
• Coolify and Dokploy are the main self-hosted PaaS options.
• Filebrowser Quantum replaced the maintenance-only original.
• Pocket ID, Gluetun, Dozzle, Karakeep, Dawarich, Actual Budget are common new defaults.
• Immich for photos, Valkey instead of Redis, Tailscale for family access still hold.

Getting started

1. Starter stack above (Dockge → DNS → dashboard → files → media)
2. Uptime Kuma + Dozzle
3. Vaultwarden + Tailscale
4. Backups before the data matters

Don’t install 125 containers on day one. Pick one goal from the table at the top, finish that stack, then expand. More apps: toolhunt.net self-hosted. For AI-specific GitHub projects (Ollama, OpenClaw, n8n, Langfuse, and friends), see top AI GitHub repos.