Docker EnginevsKestra
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Docker Engine | Kestra | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 80/100 | 82/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 11 in Container Orchestration | #3 of 32 in Workflow Automation |
| GitHub stars | 72 222 | 30 053 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +90 | +1 737 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 17 | 59 |
| Latest release | docker-v29.9.2 · 20 Oct 2026 | v1.3.45 · 27 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Main language | Go | Java |
Which one should you pick?
Kestra scores 82/100 against 80/100 for Docker Engine, so it is the safer default.
Kestra ships more often: 59 stable releases in the past year, against 17 for Docker Engine.
If you want the quickest setup, Kestra is easier to run; Docker Engine needs more configuration.
Kestra is growing faster right now (+1 737 stars in 30 days).
Docker Engine details →Kestra details →
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