Swiss managed Kubernetes with full data residency and open standards
Replaces Portainer for Swiss managed Kubernetes; no container management outside Kubernetes.
Kubernetes management
Swiss hostedGDPRISO 27001
The best alternatives to Portainer
6 European alternatives · updated 12 October 2026 · How we select
Portainer’s Business Edition locks key features behind a paywall, and its interface slows down at scale. EU-based teams often switch for better Kubernetes depth or to keep container management data under GDPR-compliant hosting, avoiding US jurisdiction risks.
In short
Portainer covers container management, kubernetes management, access control, app deployment and backup and recovery. European alternatives: Nine Managed Kubernetes, gridscale, Cloudfleet, Kubermatic and SUSE Rancher and 1 more. By area: gridscale for container management; Nine Managed Kubernetes, gridscale and Cloudfleet for kubernetes management; gridscale for access control; gridscale for app deployment; gridscale for backup and recovery.
European alternatives to Portainer
gridscale🇩🇪 DE
German container and Kubernetes management with EU-only hosting
Full substitute for Portainer with managed Kubernetes, databases, and VMs; covers all core jobs.
Covers all of PortainerFrom €99.00/mo★ 4.5 (15 reviews)
EU hostingGDPRISAE 3402 SOC 1 Type 2
gridscale vs Portainer →
What users praise and criticise
- intuitive and user-friendly interface for managing servers, storage and networking
- automated provisioning and monitoring for efficient resource use
- rapid onboarding with minimal technical expertise required
- no API access limiting integration possibilities
- support availability restricted to official business hours
- fewer advanced features compared to larger cloud providers
Cloudfleet🇩🇪 DE
Managed multi-cloud Kubernetes with EU hosting and automated upgrades
Replaces Portainer for managed multi-cloud Kubernetes; no container management outside Kubernetes.
Kubernetes management
EU hostingGDPR
Kubermatic🇩🇪 DE
German Kubernetes management platform for hybrid, multi-cloud and edge environments
Replaces Portainer for Kubernetes-only environments; no container management outside Kubernetes.
Kubernetes management★ 4.6 (51 reviews)
EU hostingGDPROpen SourceISO 27001
SUSE Rancher🇩🇪 DE
Open-source Kubernetes management platform for multi-cluster environments
Replaces Portainer for multi-cluster Kubernetes management; no Docker or Swarm support.
Kubernetes management★ 4.5 (475 reviews)
EU hostingGDPROpen SourceISO 27001
Managed Kubernetes with free control plane and EU-only hosting
Replaces Portainer for managed Kubernetes with a free control plane; no Docker or Swarm support.
Kubernetes management★ 1.5 (352 reviews)
EU hostingGDPROpen SourceISO 27001:2022
All Portainer alternatives at a glance
Which part of Portainer each alternative covers.
| Provider | Container management | Kubernetes management | Access control | App deployment | Backup and recovery | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Portainer 🇳🇿 (the tool you are replacing) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | – | ★ 4.8 |
| Nine Managed Kubernetes 🇨🇭 | ✓ | On request | – | ||||
| gridscale 🇩🇪 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | €99.00/mo | ★ 4.5 (15) |
| Cloudfleet 🇩🇪 | ✓ | On request | – | ||||
| Kubermatic 🇩🇪 | ✓ | On request | ★ 4.6 (51) | ||||
| SUSE Rancher 🇩🇪 | ✓ | On request | ★ 4.5 (475) | ||||
| Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule 🇫🇷 | ✓ | On request | ★ 1.5 (352) |
Prices per user and month in the cheapest paid plan. Ratings are weighted across G2, Capterra, OMR and other portals, with the review count in brackets.
Portainer: the facts
What to know about the tool you are replacing, with sources.
- Headquarters
- 🇳🇿 NZ · since 2017
- Where your data is stored
- EU region only on some plansEU/German data residency is possible by deploying Portainer on infrastructure located there.
- Price
- Free plan
- Rating
- ★ 4.8 (17 reviews)
What users value in Portainer
- Simplifies container management across multiple environments
- Strong access control and auditing features
- Flexible deployment options, including edge and air-gapped
What they criticise
- No public DPA or sub-processor list available
- Pricing for Business Edition plans not transparently listed
- Backup excludes containers, images, and application data
Sources: capterra.com · portainer.io · researched 6 October 2026
Moving away from Portainer
Portainer exports your data as CSV, JSON and Tar, and its API can read everything out.
Frequently asked questions
Which European tool fully replaces Portainer?
Kubermatic, gridscale, SUSE Rancher, Cloudfleet, Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule and Nine Managed Kubernetes all cover core Portainer jobs. gridscale is the only one that also handles container management, access control, app deployment and backup recovery.
Which European alternative to Portainer is best for Kubernetes management?
Kubermatic, SUSE Rancher, Cloudfleet, Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule and Nine Managed Kubernetes are dedicated Kubernetes platforms. Kubermatic and SUSE Rancher are open source and self-hostable.
Can I take my Portainer data with me when switching to a European alternative?
Portainer lets you export configurations and logs in CSV, JSON, Tar and via API. Check the import options of the tool you shortlist.
Do European Portainer alternatives have EU-based server locations?
Kubermatic, gridscale, SUSE Rancher, Cloudfleet and Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule host data in the EU. Nine Managed Kubernetes does not publish its server location.
What are the pricing models for European Portainer alternatives?
Kubermatic, SUSE Rancher and Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule are open source and free to use. gridscale and Cloudfleet publish their prices. Nine Managed Kubernetes provides pricing on request.
Are there free plans for European Portainer alternatives?
Kubermatic, SUSE Rancher and Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule are open source and free to use. Portainer itself offers a free plan.
Where does Portainer keep my data?
Portainer is based in New Zealand. You can deploy it on EU or German infrastructure to keep data in the EU.