# Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) vs Portainer Comparison
---
## AI Generated Summary
- **G2 reviewers report** that Portainer excels in user experience, with many praising its **intuitive web-based dashboard** that simplifies container management. Users appreciate how it provides instant visibility and makes it easy to access logs and containers from anywhere, making it a favorite for those who prioritize ease of use.
- **According to verified reviews** , Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) has a solid reputation among enterprise users, particularly for its **robust MKE UI** that simplifies Kubernetes workload management. Users have noted that it is particularly beneficial for those who may not be comfortable with command-line interfaces.
- **Users say** that Portainer's setup process is remarkably straightforward, with many highlighting how quickly they can get started without extensive configuration. This ease of setup is a significant advantage for small businesses looking to implement container management without a steep learning curve.
- **Reviewers mention** that while Mirantis Kubernetes Engine is well-suited for larger organizations with complex needs, it may not be as accessible for smaller teams or those new to containerization. Some users have expressed that the initial setup can be more involved compared to Portainer's streamlined approach.
- **G2 reviewers highlight** the quality of support for both products, but Portainer tends to receive higher marks for its responsiveness and helpfulness. Users have noted that the support team is readily available and effective, which is crucial for teams that may need assistance during their container management journey.
- **According to recent feedback** , while Mirantis Kubernetes Engine has a strong feature set for enterprise environments, it faces challenges in attracting recent users, as evidenced by the lack of recent reviews. In contrast, Portainer has garnered consistent positive feedback, indicating a growing user base and ongoing satisfaction.



| | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Star Rating** | 4.4 out of 5 | 4.8 out of 5 | 
| **Total Reviews** | 281 | 296 | 
| **Largest Market Segment** | Enterprise (34.6% of reviews) | Small-Business (82.0% of reviews) | 
| **Entry Level Price** | Contact Vendor | $0.00 3 Nodes Per Month | 

---
## Top Pros & Cons

### Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)

Pros:
- Kubernetes Management (3 reviews)
- Ease of Use (2 reviews)

Cons:
- Complex Learning (1 reviews)
- Complex Setup (1 reviews)

### Portainer

Pros:
- Ease of Use (33 reviews)
- Docker Management (30 reviews)

Cons:
- Usability Issues (12 reviews)
- Technical Issues (11 reviews)

---
## Ratings Comparison
| Rating | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
  | **Meets Requirements** | 8.9 (242 reviews) | 9.3 (246 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Use** | 7.8 (243 reviews) | 9.4 (249 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Setup** | 8.3 (89 reviews) | 9.4 (200 reviews) | 
  | **Ease of Admin** | 8.1 (88 reviews) | 9.6 (178 reviews) | 
  | **Quality of Support** | 8.1 (194 reviews) | 9.0 (155 reviews) | 
  | **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?** | 8.7 (71 reviews) | 9.5 (136 reviews) | 
  | **Product Direction (% positive)** | 8.6 (237 reviews) | 9.8 (237 reviews) | 

---
## Pricing

### Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: LabCare

Price: Contact Vendor

Description: Business day support for non-production

Key Features:
- Hardened software packages with regular maintenance updates and critical fixes
- Remote incident resolution
- Product & security bulletins

[Browse all 3 editions](https://www.g2.com/products/mirantis-kubernetes-engine-formerly-docker-enterprise/pricing)

#### Free Trial

Yes

### Portainer

#### Entry-Level Pricing

Plan: Portainer Business - 3 Nodes Free

Price: $0.00 3 Nodes Per Month

Description: Portainer Business is our fully featured, fully supported business product. It is used by some of the largest organizations in the world to deliver a powerful Kubernetes and Docker container management experience for DevOps and IT teams. With more than 650,000 active users, Portainer is proven to be the simplest and most effective way of adopting and managing Kubernetes, and Docker/Swarm environments.

Key Features:
- https://www.portainer.io/take-3

[Learn more about Portainer](https://www.g2.com/products/portainer/reviews)

#### Free Trial

Yes

---
## Features Comparison By Category

### Industrial IoT

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Portainer** | 9.2/10 | 6 |

#### Systems Management

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Device Discovery** | Not enough data | 9.2 (6 reviews) | 
| **System Integration** | Not enough data | 10.0 (6 reviews) | 
| **Remote Access** | Not enough data | 9.7 (5 reviews) | 
| **Workflows** | Not enough data | 9.4 (6 reviews) | 
| **Hardware** | Not enough data | 9.3 (5 reviews) | 
| **Dashboard** | Not enough data | 9.4 (6 reviews) | 

#### IoT Capabilities

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Process Automation** | Not enough data | 8.6 (6 reviews) | 
| **Security** | Not enough data | 8.9 (6 reviews) | 
| **Safety** | Not enough data | 9.4 (6 reviews) | 
| **Environmental Conditions** | Not enough data | 9.3 (5 reviews) | 
| **Resource Optimization** | Not enough data | 9.4 (6 reviews) | 
| **Product Quality** | Not enough data | 9.4 (6 reviews) | 
| **Predictive Maintenance** | Not enough data | 8.6 (6 reviews) | 
| **Analytics** | Not enough data | 8.6 (6 reviews) | 

#### Agentic AI -  Industrial IoT

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Proactive Assistance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### IoT Edge Platforms

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Portainer** | N/A | N/A |

#### Edge

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Local processing** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Edge Analytics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Edge Data Storage** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Edge Application Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Operations

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Process Control** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Interoperability** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Interface** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Access Controls** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Performance

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Containerization** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Performance and Stability** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Device Performance** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Scalability** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Internal Developer Platforms

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Portainer** | 8.8/10 | 20 |

#### Simplification - Internal Developer Platform

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Self-Service** | Not enough data | 8.6 (20 reviews) | 
| **Utilization** | Not enough data | 9.3 (20 reviews) | 
| **Streamlining** | Not enough data | 8.8 (20 reviews) | 

#### Automation - Internal Developer Platform

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Integration** | Not enough data | 8.5 (20 reviews) | 
| **Infrastructure** | Not enough data | 9.0 (20 reviews) | 

### Enterprise Kubernetes Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)** | N/A | N/A |
| **Portainer** | N/A | N/A |

#### Fleet & Lifecycle Management - Enterprise Kubernetes Management

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Automated Cluster Provisioning & Onboarding** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Cluster Fleet Management** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Cluster Templates & Blueprints** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Day-2 Operations & Reliability - Enterprise Kubernetes Management

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Auto-Remediation for Nodes & Clusters** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Resource & Cost Visibility** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Backup & Restore for Cluster Resources** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Identity & Access Management - Enterprise Kubernetes Management

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Policy-Based Access Controls** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Enterprise SSO Integration** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Multi-Tenancy & Team Isolation** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Centralized RBAC Across Clusters** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### Governance, Policy & Compliance - Enterprise Kubernetes Management

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Compliance Reporting & History** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Standards Guardrails for Cluster Config** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **Audit Logging & Forensics** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

#### App Delivery & Platform Integrations - Enterprise Kubernetes Management

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **CI/CD Toolchain Integrations** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 
| **GitOps-Based Config & Deployment** | Not enough data | Not enough data | 

### Container Management

| Product | Score | Reviews |
|---|---|---|
| **Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)** | 8.8/10 | 147 |
| **Portainer** | 9.0/10 | 217 |

#### Management

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Access Control** | Feature Not Available | 9.3 (186 reviews) | 
| **Network Isolation** | 9.0 (35 reviews) | 9.2 (176 reviews) | 

#### Organization

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Packaging ** | 8.8 (126 reviews) | 9.0 (176 reviews) | 
| **Container Networking** | 8.6 (127 reviews) | 9.2 (198 reviews) | 
| **Orchestration** | 8.7 (119 reviews) | 9.1 (178 reviews) | 

#### Development

| Feature | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Developer Toolkit** | 8.7 (117 reviews) | 8.7 (143 reviews) | 
| **Architecture** | 8.8 (122 reviews) | 9.1 (170 reviews) | 
| **Datacenter** | 8.5 (103 reviews) | 8.8 (140 reviews) | 
| **Virtualization** | 9.0 (120 reviews) | Feature Not Available | 

---
## Categories
**Shared Categories (2):** [Container Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/container-management), [ Enterprise Kubernetes Management Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/enterprise-kubernetes-management)

**Unique to Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) (1):** [Container Orchestration Tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/container-orchestration)

**Unique to Portainer (3):** [Internal Developer Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/internal-developer-platforms), [IoT Edge Platforms](https://www.g2.com/categories/iot-edge-platforms), [Industrial IoT Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/industrial-iot)


---
## Reviewer Demographics

### By Company Size

| Segment | Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) | Portainer | 
|---|---|---|
| **Small-Business** | 33.1% | 82.0% | 
| **Mid-Market** | 32.4% | 10.7% | 
| **Enterprise** | 34.6% | 7.3% | 

### By Industry

#### Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)

- **Computer Software:** 26.8%
- **Information Technology and Services:** 20.6%
- **Internet:** 7.0%
- **Financial Services:** 4.4%
- **Telecommunications:** 3.7%
- **Hospital & Health Care:** 2.6%
- **Accounting:** 1.8%
- **Information Services:** 1.8%
- **Higher Education:** 1.5%
- **Consumer Services:** 1.5%
- **Other:** 28.3%

#### Portainer

- **Information Technology and Services:** 21.0%
- **Computer Software:** 19.2%
- **Computer & Network Security:** 7.7%
- **Computer Networking:** 3.1%
- **Program Development:** 3.1%
- **Consulting:** 2.4%
- **Telecommunications:** 2.4%
- **Education Management:** 1.7%
- **Retail:** 1.7%
- **Higher Education:** 1.7%
- **Other:** 35.7%

---
## Alternatives

### Alternatives to Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)

- [Red Hat OpenShift](https://www.g2.com/products/red-hat-red-hat-openshift/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (304 reviews)
- [Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-elastic-container-service-amazon-ecs/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (283 reviews)
- [Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)](https://www.g2.com/products/google-kubernetes-engine-gke/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (260 reviews)
- [Kubernetes](https://www.g2.com/products/kubernetes/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (158 reviews)
- [SUSE Rancher](https://www.g2.com/products/suse-rancher/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (122 reviews)
- [Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)](https://www.g2.com/products/azure-kubernetes-service-aks/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (116 reviews)
- [DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/products/digitalocean/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (749 reviews)
- [VMware vSphere](https://www.g2.com/products/vmware-vsphere/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (761 reviews)
- [Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/products/akamai-cloud-computing/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (406 reviews)
- [Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (Amazon EKS)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-elastic-kubernetes-service-amazon-eks/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (109 reviews)

### Alternatives to Portainer

- [SUSE Rancher](https://www.g2.com/products/suse-rancher/reviews) — 4.4/5 stars (122 reviews)
- [Red Hat OpenShift](https://www.g2.com/products/red-hat-red-hat-openshift/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (304 reviews)
- [Kubernetes](https://www.g2.com/products/kubernetes/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (158 reviews)
- [Amazon Elastic Container Service (Amazon ECS)](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-elastic-container-service-amazon-ecs/reviews) — 4.3/5 stars (283 reviews)
- [DigitalOcean](https://www.g2.com/products/digitalocean/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (749 reviews)
- [Akamai Cloud Computing](https://www.g2.com/products/akamai-cloud-computing/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (406 reviews)
- [Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE)](https://www.g2.com/products/google-kubernetes-engine-gke/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (260 reviews)
- [Harness Platform](https://www.g2.com/products/harness-platform/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (281 reviews)
- [Google Cloud Run](https://www.g2.com/products/google-cloud-run/reviews) — 4.6/5 stars (241 reviews)
- [AWS Fargate](https://www.g2.com/products/aws-fargate/reviews) — 4.5/5 stars (96 reviews)

---
## Top Discussions

### Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise)

- Title: [How do I run Docker without sudo access?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-i-run-docker-without-sudo-access) — 2 comments, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Docker has its own group "docker" (in Ubuntu usually the groupId is 999). So if you add any user to the docker group this user will be able to execute any..."
- Title: [What is Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (formerly Docker Enterprise) used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-mirantis-kubernetes-engine-formerly-docker-enterprise-used-for) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "Mirantis Kubernetes Engine(MKE) is a container orchestration and management tool. It can be used to host containers on-prem as well as with the cloud..."
- Title: [What is Docker engine enterprise?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-docker-engine-enterprise) — 1 comment *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Mirantis Container Runtime (formerly Docker Engine - Enterprise or Docker EE) is a secure, industry-standard container runtime that includes the Docker..."
- Title: [What is the best way to use docker enterprise  ?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/32240-what-is-the-best-way-to-use-docker-enterprise) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "Docker Enterprise (now known as Mirantis Kubernetes Engine (aka UCP), Mirantis Secure Registry (aka. DTR), and Mirantis Container Runtime (aka Docker Engine..."
- Title: [What are there vision for Docker Enterprise in ext 5 years?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/31747-what-are-there-vision-for-docker-enterprise-in-ext-5-years) — 1 comment, 1 upvote
  > **Top comment:** "If you reach out to Mirantis, we can certainly provide you and your organisation with a feature length roadmap of Docker Enterprise under an NDA.

Note..."

### Portainer

- Title: [Can Portainer manage Swarm?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/can-portainer-manage-swarm) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "Yes, Portainer has built-in management capabilities for both Swarm and Kubernetes."
- Title: [What is the difference between Portainer and Portainer CE?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-the-difference-between-portainer-and-portainer-ce) — 3 comments *(includes official response)*
  > **Top comment:** "Portainer Community Edition (CE) is open source software, designed for individuals (home labs). Portainer Business Edition is a commercially supported..."
- Title: [What is Portainer used for?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-portainer-used-for) — 3 comments
  > **Top comment:** "It provides a web-based GUI for managing Docker installations. (It also work for Kubernetes, but I only use it with Docker)"
- Title: [Is Portainer an orchestrator?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-portainer-an-orchestrator) — 1 comment
  > **Top comment:** "No, Portainer is not an orchestrator. Portainer is a universal container management platform that helps organizations adopt and get up to speed with..."

---
**Source:** [G2.com](https://www.g2.com) | [Comparison Page](https://www.g2.com/compare/mirantis-kubernetes-engine-formerly-docker-enterprise-vs-portainer)