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Yes. Portainer is still free in 2026 through Community Edition (CE), which is open source and needs no license key. Business Edition (BE) is also free forever for up to three nodes, but it requires a Portainer license key; paid subscriptions apply when you need more nodes, commercial licensing, or higher support levels.
Portainer’s free options in 2026
Portainer has two different ways to run it without paying a normal commercial subscription. They are not interchangeable, and the distinction matters if you operate a company’s infrastructure.
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Community Edition is open-source software distributed under the zlib licence. It requires no license key, does not depend on Portainer’s licensing infrastructure, and has no telemetry according to Portainer’s January 5, 2026 statement. CE is therefore the simplest choice for a personal server, home lab, learning environment, or anyone who wants a no-account, no-key installation.
Portainer does not describe CE as a paid plan with a particular number of included nodes. Instead, it is the open-source edition; you deploy and manage it under the edition’s software terms. If you need commercial features or vendor business support, Business Edition is the relevant product.
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Business Edition free for three nodes
Business Edition has a separate free allowance: Portainer says BE is “free forever for up to 3 nodes.” This gives a small deployment access to BE features without a recurring subscription, but it is still a licensed product. You must request, receive, and apply a license key.
The three-node offer is useful for a small homelab, a test environment, or a very small non-commercial installation that needs Business Edition capabilities. It is not the same as CE: BE remains connected to Portainer’s licensing process, while CE does not require a key.
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What a “node” means for Portainer pricing
Portainer licenses by node, not by user seat. A node is a physical server, virtual machine, Raspberry Pi, desktop, laptop, industrial computer, or embedded device that can run containers and is running Portainer Server or managed by it.
- A separate virtual machine counts as a node even when several VMs share one physical host.
- A Raspberry Pi can count as one node, just like a conventional server.
- A desktop or laptop used as a container host is also a node when Portainer runs on it or manages it.
- In Docker Swarm, agents on each server count toward the node total.
- In Kubernetes, the cluster’s nodes count.
- If one machine runs Portainer Server and an agent, that machine counts as one node, not two.
Portainer’s current pricing statement says that one Portainer license covers all orchestrators and runtimes across the licensed nodes. You do not pay an additional runtime fee simply for using Docker, Swarm, and Kubernetes together. The practical calculation is the number of licensed nodes, regardless of which supported runtime each node uses.
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- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 16GB with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (16GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
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Portainer CE, BE and paid plans compared
| Option | Price or allowance | Node treatment | License key | Use and support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Community Edition | Free, open source | No license-based node cap is stated | No | Community edition and community support channels |
| Business Edition free allowance | Free forever | Up to 3 nodes | Yes | BE feature set; free users use community support channels |
| Starter | $1,045 per year on the 2026 pricing page | Selectable 5, 10 or 15 nodes | Yes | Community support; up to 16 vCPUs per node |
| Scale | $2,095 per year on the 2026 pricing page | Selectable 5 through 25 nodes | Yes | Next-business-day support; up to 24 vCPUs per node |
| Enterprise | Custom pricing | Configured for business-critical deployments | Yes | Enterprise service levels and support terms |
| Home & Student | $149 per year in the licensing FAQ | Up to 15 nodes | Yes | Non-commercial only; community support |
The dollar amounts above are the prices displayed for 2026. Portainer’s pricing and eligibility rules can change, so check the live pricing page before purchasing or budgeting a renewal. The $149 Home & Student amount is documented in a licensing FAQ last updated in 2026 and should be rechecked because FAQ pricing can change independently of the main plan page.
How the paid plans work
Starter: five to 15 nodes
Starter is listed at $1,045 per year. The plan offers 5-, 10-, or 15-node choices, community support, and a limit of up to 16 vCPUs per node. It is the paid tier to examine when three nodes are not enough but your deployment fits within 15 nodes and does not require Scale’s support commitment.
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Scale is listed at $2,095 per year and provides node options from 5 through 25. It allows up to 24 vCPUs per node and includes next-business-day support. The pricing page presents Scale as the stronger service option for organizations that need a larger licensed footprint or a defined response target.
Enterprise: custom pricing
Enterprise pricing is not a published flat amount. Portainer lists it as custom pricing for business-critical deployments. The final cost therefore depends on the required node count, service expectations, and commercial agreement rather than on a public per-user price.
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Is Portainer free for a homelab?
Usually, yes. CE is free and requires no key. A homelab with no more than three nodes can instead use the BE free allowance if it needs Business Edition features. BE’s free offer is described as perpetual, but you still need to obtain and install the license key.
If your homelab has four to 15 nodes and is strictly non-commercial, the Home & Student plan is the separately listed paid route at $149 per year for up to 15 nodes. Because that amount comes from a licensing FAQ, confirm the current figure and terms before relying on it.
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Do not use Home & Student for a business, paid service, client environment, or other commercial activity. Non-commercial eligibility also applies to the special five-node renewal described in Portainer’s licensing FAQ.
Choosing the right edition
- Choose CE when open source, no license key, and independence from Portainer’s licensing infrastructure are your priorities.
- Choose free BE when you have up to three nodes and need Business Edition features, accepting the license-key requirement.
- Choose Home & Student only for qualifying non-commercial use when you need more than three and up to 15 nodes, and only after confirming the current FAQ price.
- Choose Starter for a commercial deployment that fits the published 5-, 10-, or 15-node options and community support.
- Choose Scale when you need up to 25 nodes, a higher per-node vCPU limit, or next-business-day support.
- Contact Portainer about Enterprise when the deployment is business-critical or does not fit the public plan choices.
There is no separate charge based on the number of Portainer users in the current pricing model. A team with many administrators still budgets by licensed nodes, not seats.
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- Powerful Single Board Computer: Equipped with 4GB RAM and high-performance processor, delivers fast running speed for 4K playback, AI projects, programming and daily computing tasks. SANOOV for raspberry pi 5 4GB is equipped with broadcom 64 quad-core Arm Cortex A76 processor with gigabit ethernet and upgraded with IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 dual-band 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz and Power Over Ethernet (POE). Upgrading delivers 2-3 x speed vs Pi 4, redefining the experience
- Efficient Active Cooler: Effectively lowers operating temperature and prevents performance throttling. Runs quietly even under long-time heavy load, ensures stable operation all day long. SANOOV RPi 5 4GB kit offer an active cooler, which combines an aluminium heatsink with a high-performance PWM fan. Active cooler is fully compatible with the Pi OS, which can effectively reduce the temperature of RPi5 and ensure its good performance during long-term high load operation
- Sturdy ABS Protective Case: Well-fitted for Raspberry Pi 5 board, can be secured with 4 screws to effectively protect the Pi 5 motherboard from damage, reserves full access to all ports and buttons. SANOOV uses ABS material to produce the case, which has a softer texture and feel. Meanwhile, SANOOV case adopts a layered design for easy disassembly and installation. (Tip: The Case cannot install M.2 HAT Add on Board and Solid State Drive!)
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What happens when a free license expires?
The three-node BE allowance is described by Portainer as free forever, so it is different from a time-limited trial. Portainer also advertises a separate extended enterprise trial that lasts 45 days and covers up to 15 nodes; that trial should not be confused with the perpetual three-node offer.
Portainer’s renewal FAQ addresses users who previously received a free five-node license. If they still need more than three nodes and continue to use the license non-commercially, they may apply for another five-node license. If they have three or fewer nodes, Portainer directs them to move to the three-node-free program instead.
The renewal rule is conditional: it does not turn a commercial installation into a free one, and it is not an entitlement to five free nodes for every user. Commercial deployments should use an appropriate paid Business Edition agreement.
If a key-based BE license reaches its expiry date, review the license terms and renewal instructions in Portainer’s current documentation rather than assuming that the software will behave like CE. Keep a record of the licensed node count and the key’s expiry date so you can request a replacement or move editions before an operational change is required.
Best Value
- 【What you Get】You will get 1*Pi 5 8GB Single Board,1*RasTech Case,1*Active Cooler,1*Screwdriver,1*Installation instructions,12-month free warranty, lifetime service, 24-hour prompt and friendly response.
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- 【 Excellent Chips And Applications】Pi 5 is a full-size Pi computer using silicon built in-house at Pi. The RP1 “southbridge” provides the bulk of the I/O capabilities for Pi 5. Pi 5 is more friendly and convenient in the development of Internet of Things, Web development, machine identification, automatic control and other electronic equipment applications and network.
- 【 Faster CPU, Better GPU 】 Pi 5 features a Broadcom BCM2712 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz, it delivers a 2–3× increase in CPU performance relative to RaspberryPi 4. The 800MHz VideoCore VII GPU is compatible to OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.2, substantial uplift in graphics performance. Pi 5 Offers lightning-fast CPU speed, a PCI Express interface, a Real Time Clock (RTC) and a power button and runs significantly cooler than Pi 4.
Support differences between free and paid use
CE users, users of the free-node programs, and Home & Student users rely on community support channels. Paid Business customers receive business support; Scale and Enterprise provide stronger service levels, with Scale specifically listing next-business-day support and Enterprise negotiated for business-critical requirements.
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Support level is therefore a material part of the price decision. A free installation may be technically adequate while still being unsuitable for an organization that requires a contractual response time.
Pricing pitfalls to avoid
- Counting servers instead of nodes: VMs, Swarm members, Kubernetes nodes, and small devices can each increase the licensed total.
- Assuming CE and BE free are identical: CE needs no key; BE’s three-node offer does.
- Applying non-commercial terms to a business: Home & Student and renewed five-node-free licenses are restricted to non-commercial use.
- Budgeting from an old screenshot: plan prices and eligibility are volatile; verify the live 2026 page before signing a purchase order.
- Adding a user-seat multiplier: Portainer’s current model is node-based, not user-based.
- Treating the 45-day trial as permanent: the extended enterprise trial is time-limited and separate from the three-node-free BE allowance.
A practical way to calculate your cost
- Inventory every managed host. List physical servers, VMs, Raspberry Pis, laptops, desktops, embedded devices, Swarm servers, and Kubernetes nodes that Portainer will run on or manage.
- Remove double counting. A machine running Portainer Server and an agent is still one node.
- Separate environments. Include production, staging, development, disaster-recovery, and lab nodes if the same license will manage them.
- Classify the use. Mark the deployment as personal/non-commercial or commercial before considering Home & Student or a renewed five-node allowance.
- Match the total to an option. Up to three nodes can use CE or free BE; 5–15 commercial nodes fit the published Starter choices; Scale covers 5–25; larger or business-critical cases require a custom discussion.
- Check hardware limits and support. Compare Starter’s 16-vCPU-per-node limit and community support with Scale’s 24-vCPU limit and next-business-day support.
- Verify the current page. Confirm price, node options, eligibility, and renewal language immediately before deployment or renewal because Portainer can revise them.
Bottom line for 2026 budgets
Portainer is genuinely free in two different senses: CE is open source with no license key, while BE is free forever for up to three nodes but remains key-based. Once you exceed that allowance or need commercial support and terms, pricing is calculated per node. The published 2026 reference points are $1,045 per year for Starter, $2,095 per year for Scale, and custom pricing for Enterprise, with a separately documented $149-per-year Home & Student option for up to 15 non-commercial nodes. Count nodes carefully, keep commercial and non-commercial use separate, and recheck Portainer’s live terms before treating any figure as a final quote.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
