Docker Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
Docker pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $0 per user/month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
Docker offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Docker Desktop for Mac, Windows & Linux
- Docker Engine & CLI
- Docker Compose
- Docker Hub with unlimited public repos
- Docker Scout (3 repos)
- Docker Build Cloud (50 min/month)
- 200 Docker Hub image pulls per 6 hours
- Community support
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- Everything in Personal
- Unlimited private repositories
- 25,000 Docker Hub pulls per month
- 5,000 image pulls per day
- 5 concurrent builds
- Docker Scout unlimited local analysis
- 100 Testcontainers Cloud runtime minutes
- Docker Build Cloud (200 min/month)
- Email support
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Hub pulls | 200 per 6 hours (40/hour for personal accounts) | Unlimited/Higher |
| Scout repos | 3 | Unlimited/Higher |
| Build Cloud | 50 min/month | Unlimited/Higher |
| Private repos | 1 | Unlimited/Higher |
| Commercial use | Only for companies <250 employees AND <$10M revenue | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like Everything in Personal or Unlimited private repositories
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- Docker branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Docker Pro Plan Comparison
| Docker Personal $0 | Docker Pro $11/user/month | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 8 included | 9+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | Docker branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Individual developers, students, and small companies under 250 employees and $10M revenue | Professional developers who need unlimited private repos and higher pull limits |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is Docker free?
Yes, Docker offers a freemium plan with 8 core features included. However, there are limits on docker hub pulls, scout repos that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in Docker's free plan?
Docker's free plan includes: Docker Desktop for Mac, Windows & Linux, Docker Engine & CLI, Docker Compose, Docker Hub with unlimited public repos, Docker Scout (3 repos), and 3 more features. Key limits include Docker Hub pulls: 200 per 6 hours (40/hour for personal accounts), Scout repos: 3, Build Cloud: 50 min/month.
03 What's NOT included in Docker's free plan?
The free plan excludes: Everything in Personal, Unlimited private repositories, 25,000 Docker Hub pulls per month, 5,000 image pulls per day, 5 concurrent builds. You'll also have Docker branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from Docker's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like Everything in Personal or Unlimited private repositories, require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $11/user/month.
05 Is Docker's free plan really free forever?
Yes, Docker's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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