Docker EnginevsPaperless-ngx
Two self-hosted projects, compared on the numbers selfhost.directory tracks live: score, popularity, release cadence and setup effort.
| Docker Engine | Paperless-ngx | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 80/100 | 86/100 |
| Rank in category | #1 of 11 in Container Orchestration | #3 of 46 in Document Management |
| GitHub stars | 72 220 | 47 203 |
| Stars, last 30 days | +88 | +1 247 |
| Stable releases, 12 months | 17 | 26 |
| Latest release | docker-v29.9.2 · 20 Oct 2026 | v3.3.4 · 22 Oct 2026 |
| Setup | Advanced | Moderate |
| Official Docker image | No | Yes |
| License | Apache-2.0 | GPL-3.0 |
| Main language | Go | Python |
Which one should you pick?
Paperless-ngx scores 86/100 against 80/100 for Docker Engine, so it is the safer default.
Paperless-ngx ships more often: 26 stable releases in the past year, against 17 for Docker Engine.
If you want the quickest setup, Paperless-ngx is easier to run; Docker Engine needs more configuration.
Paperless-ngx is growing faster right now (+1 247 stars in 30 days).
Docker Engine details →Paperless-ngx details →
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