--- {"title": "Docker Compose vs hotel in 2026: Pricing and Setup", "description": "Docker Compose, hotel and DevWebUI compared for local dev servers: what each does, what it costs, how to install it and what to check first.", "url": "https://saydeploy.com/docker-compose-vs-hotel/", "date": "2026-10-13"} --- Docker Compose, hotel and DevWebUI compared for local dev servers: what each does, what it costs, how to install it and what to check first. Docker Compose defines and runs multi-container applications. [^1] Hotel is a simple process manager that starts apps from the browser and gives them local domains [^2]. DevWebUI starts, stops and restarts local dev servers from one dashboard [^3]. | Option | Own price | Install | Platforms | |---|---|---|---| | Docker Compose | Not published for Compose itself | Not published | Works in production, staging, development, testing and CI [^1] | | hotel | Not published | npm install -g hotel && hotel start [^2] | macOS, Linux and Windows [^2] | | DevWebUI | Free [^3] | devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases, or bun install then bun run dev [^3] | Prebuilt Windows x64 app; other systems run from source with Bun [^3] | ## The short answer Docker Compose is a tool for defining and running multi-container applications [^1]. Hotel is a simple process manager for developers that starts apps from the browser and provides local domains [^2]. DevWebUI lets a developer start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs [^3]. On needs, Compose's page says it manages services, networks and volumes in a single YAML configuration file [^1]. Hotel's page says it works on macOS, Linux and Windows [^2] and gives HTTPS through a local self-signed certificate [^2]. DevWebUI's sources cover a dashboard for starting and watching local servers [^3]. ## What Docker Compose and hotel are built for **Docker Compose.** Compose lets you manage services, networks, and volumes in a single YAML configuration file [^1]. Compose Bridge transforms a Compose configuration file into configuration files for other platforms, such as Kubernetes [^1]. **hotel.** Hotel's servers are only started when you access them [^2]. It supports wildcard subdomains [^2] and can map local domains to remote servers via proxy [^2]. Hotel does not require changes to the standard web port, manual host-file edits, administrator access, or additional software. [^2] Hotel also provides access to local servers at localhost:2000. [^2] ## What DevWebUI is built for DevWebUI is made by the team that publishes this site. It lets you start, stop and restart your local dev servers from one dashboard, and see each one's status, CPU, memory and logs [^3]. One small file per repo lists the servers to run, and processes changed in the GUI are written back to that file [^3]. When a port is already taken, it shows which process holds it and can free the port if you ask [^3]. You can open any server it manages through one DevWebUI address on your own machine, and live page reloading in your browser keeps working through it [^3]. Errors are collected into one log that merges repeats and is kept across restarts, and each file:line link opens in your editor [^3]. A setting in the repo file can start the project's Docker services first, such as a database, wait until they are ready and pass their connection settings to your servers [^3]. You can also set threshold alert rules and see a history of the alerts that fired [^3]. AI assistants can control your dev servers through 43 tools, using the same background service as the dashboard [^3]. ## Pricing and fees The Compose facts here list Docker plans, not a price for Compose itself. Docker Personal includes 100 Docker Hub pulls per hour and 1 private Docker Hub repo, among its included usage. [^4] Docker Pro is for individual professionals who require more advanced features and additional resources. [^4] Docker Team is for small teams that need collaborative tools. [^4] Docker Business includes a 1 business day support response and purchase via invoice. [^4] A price for Compose itself is not published in these facts. Hotel's sources give no price, so it is not published here. Its page says its development can be supported on Patreon [^2]. DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account [^3]. It is open source under the MIT License [^3]. Its sources state a price of free and give no other price. [^3] ## Setting it up and daily use Hotel requires Node to be installed [^2]. It is installed with npm install -g hotel and started with hotel start [^2]. Day to day, you start apps from your browser and reach them on local domains [^2]. For Compose, the sources here give no install steps. On Windows, DevWebUI is installed by downloading devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases [^3]. On any operating system, you run bun install and then bun run dev [^3]. There is a prebuilt Windows x64 app, other systems run it from source with Bun, and the tray app is Windows-only for now [^3]. On Windows, a tray icon runs the background service and has Open, Restart and Quit options [^3]. Daily, you control servers from the dashboard [^3] or from a devwebui command-line tool [^3]. If the last shutdown was not clean, the next launch loads your projects but starts nothing automatically [^3]. ## Things to check before you choose Ask what you need managed: containers described in a YAML file, or local dev servers with local domains. Compose's page speaks of multi-container applications [^1], and hotel's page speaks of starting apps from the browser [^2]. Check your operating system. Hotel lists macOS, Linux and Windows [^2]. DevWebUI has a prebuilt Windows x64 app, and other systems run it from source with Bun [^3]. Check what must be installed first. Hotel requires Node [^2]. Check what data leaves your machine. DevWebUI sends an anonymous install ping with update checks unless you set DEVWEBUI_NO_PING=1 [^3]. For Compose and hotel, check their own pages, since the facts here do not cover it. Check access control if others can reach the tool. DevWebUI can be set to ask for a key before other programs can control it, and a browser gets that key by typing a 6-digit pairing code, with a few listed exceptions [^3]. ## How to choose If you need services, networks and volumes in one YAML file, Compose's page describes that [^1]. If you want apps started from the browser on local domains with HTTPS, hotel's page describes that [^2] [^2]. If you want servers that start only when you open them, hotel's page says so [^2]. If you want to start, stop and restart local dev servers from one dashboard with status, CPU, memory and logs, DevWebUI's claims describe that [^3]. If you want a free tool with no account for core features, DevWebUI's claims say that [^3]. ## Frequently asked questions ### Is hotel free to use? The hotel facts here state no price, so its price is not published here. Its page says its development can be supported on Patreon [^2]. It is installed with npm install -g hotel and started with hotel start [^2]. Check its own pages for licence terms before relying on it. ### Does Docker Compose cost money? The facts here give no price for Compose itself. They list Docker plans such as Personal, Pro, Team and Business. [^4] [^4] [^4] [^4] Check Docker's pages for what applies to you. ### Is DevWebUI free and open source? DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account [^3]. It is open source under the MIT License [^3]. The only price the sources give is free. [^3] ### How do you install hotel and DevWebUI? Hotel requires Node [^2] and is installed with npm install -g hotel, then started with hotel start [^2]. On Windows, DevWebUI is installed by downloading devwebui-windows-x64.exe from GitHub Releases, and on any OS you run bun install and then bun run dev [^3]. ### Does DevWebUI send any data about the machine? DevWebUI sends an anonymous install ping with update checks unless you set DEVWEBUI_NO_PING=1 [^3]. Its sources here say nothing further about data collection. For Docker Compose and hotel, the facts here do not cover data handling, so check their own pages. DevWebUI is free, and its core features need no account. [^3] - [Visit DevWebUI](/go/docker-compose-vs-hotel) ## Sources [^1]: Docker Compose, docs.docker.com/compose, read 2026-10-07 (https://docs.docker.com/compose/) [^2]: hotel, github.com/typicode/hotel, read 2026-10-07 (https://github.com/typicode/hotel) [^3]: DevWebUI's own description of itself (the product of this site's publisher) (/go/docker-compose-vs-hotel) [^4]: Docker Compose, docker.com/pricing, read 2026-10-07 (https://www.docker.com/pricing/)