Docker and Portainer on a Hostinger VPS: a beginner's guide
By Leonardo Araújo, CEO of Leaven Marketing · Code verified at checkout on
The code JX9LEOSPEPWF takes 20% off Hostinger VPS plans, and Docker is the base of almost everything people install on a VPS today: n8n, Chatwoot, databases, AI agents and game servers run in containers. Portainer is a panel that shows and controls those containers from the browser.
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Docker in plain words
Docker packages an app with everything it needs to run, and that package runs in an isolated container. You get predictable installs, isolation between apps, simple updates (swap the image and restart) and official images for most popular tools. Docker Compose describes several containers together, such as an app and its database.
What Portainer is
Portainer is a container management platform. From the browser, you see what’s running, restart containers, read logs, check resource use and deploy apps from Compose files.
How to start both on Hostinger
According to Hostinger, the VPS offers a Docker and Traefik template, a Docker manager with an app catalog in the panel, and an OS template with Portainer preinstalled on Ubuntu 24.04. Pick the Portainer template when you order (or later), open the address shown in the panel and create the Portainer admin account.
Commands worth knowing
| Command | What it does |
|---|---|
docker ps | lists running containers |
docker compose up -d | starts the apps in the Compose file |
docker compose down | stops them |
docker compose pull | downloads new image versions |
docker logs container-name | shows a container’s logs |
Docker, Portainer or Coolify?
Docker is the engine underneath all of them. Portainer gives visibility; Coolify automates deploys, domains and HTTPS. See Coolify on a Hostinger VPS.
Which plan to pick
KVM 1 is enough to learn Docker and run one or two light apps. For several apps, a database and a panel, get KVM 2 with the code. See the best Hostinger VPS plan.
Good practices
- Use official images whenever they exist.
- Keep data in volumes, so recreating a container doesn’t erase it.
- Pin image versions in production.
- Open only the ports you need in Hostinger’s firewall.
Get your VPS with code JX9LEOSPEPWF
Open a plan link, choose the term and the Portainer or Docker template, and check the referral discount with JX9LEOSPEPWF in the cart before paying. Code rules are in the Hostinger VPS coupon guide.
Sources
- Hostinger: VPS operating systems and templates (October 21, 2026)
- Hostinger: Docker catalog applications (October 21, 2026)
Read next
FAQ
Does Hostinger VPS support Docker?
Yes. According to Hostinger, there are Docker templates and a Docker manager in the panel, plus root access.
Is Portainer free?
The Community Edition is free. Hostinger offers a template with Portainer preinstalled.
Portainer or Coolify?
Portainer shows and controls containers; Coolify deploys apps with domains and HTTPS more automatically.
Opens Hostinger with the code applied. Check for REFERRALDISCOUNT -20% in the order summary.