5 powerful Docker containers you can set up in under 1 hour

Published May 15, 2026, 8:30 AM EDT Nick Lewis is an editor at How-To Geek. He has been using computers for 20 years --- tinkering with everything from the UI to the Windows registry to device firmware. Before How-To Geek, he used Python and C++ as a freelance programmer. In college, Nick made extensive use of Fortran while pursuing a physics degree. Nick's love of tinkering with computers extends beyond work. He has been running video game servers from home for more than 10 years using Windows, Ubuntu, or Raspberry Pi OS. He also uses Proxmox to self-host a variety of services, including a Jellyfin Media Server, an Airsonic music server, a handful of game servers, NextCloud, and two Windows virtual machines. He enjoys DIY projects, especially if they involve technology. He regularly repairs and repurposes old computers and hardware for whatever new project is at hand. He has designed crossovers for homemade speakers all the way from the basic design to the PCB. Nick enjoys the outdoors. When he isn't working on a computer or DIY project, he is most likely to be found camping, backpacking, or canoeing. Subscription services are pretty convenient, but they're usually not free. Even when they don't cost money, you almost always pay with your privacy. With 30 minutes and Docker, you can install dozens of different self-hosted utilities that replace everything from Google Photos to Netflix—all for free, and without any privacy concerns. Paperless-ngx Ditch the stack of papers Paper records are bulky and prone to becoming a cluttered mess. One of the most helpful Docker containers I've tried in years is Paperless-ngx. Paperless-ngx is a self-hosted service that allows you to upload images (or scans) of your paper records to your own private server. Then, it automatically uses optical character recognition (OCR) to extract text, add tags, and categorize them. You can search for documents by keyword, filter by type or sender, or any custom tags that you apply. It is much more convenient than sifting through a stack of papers looking for the individual piece that you need. Setting up Paperless-ngx is pretty simple once you have Docker and Docker Compose installed. Just run a single command: bash -c "$(curl --location --silent --show-error https://raw.githubusercontent.com/paperless-ngx/paperless-ngx/main/install-paperless-ngx.sh)" Once that is done, you'll be able to access Paperless-ngx by typing its IP and port into the address bar of your browser. WD_BLACK 2TB SSD Storage capacity 2TB Hardware Interface PCIE x 4 Compatible Devices Laptop, Motherboards Brand Western Digital TBW 7300 MB/s Dimensions 3.15"L x 0.87"W x 0.09"Th The WD_Black 2TB SSD is great for gaming. It offers read speeds of up to 7,300 mb/s and features an optional heatsink. The drive includes the wd_black dashboard software for monitoring health and customizing RGB lighting on compatible models. Uptime Kuma You always know the status of your self-hosted services Uptime Kuma answers a simple but important question: are your services actually running? You can use Uptime Kuma to monitor your services and ports, and it'll ping you the moment something goes down. If you're running a homelab, it is an easy way to keep an eye on things. The setup is about as painless as it gets. Once you have Docker installed, just run: docker run -d --restart=always -p 3001:3001 -v uptime-kuma:/app/data --name uptime-kuma louislam/uptime-kuma:2 Then connect to the web interface by entering your server's IP address and Uptime Kuma's port (3001) into your browser's address bar. It'll walk you through setting up a database, picking a username and password, and then setting up monitors. There are dozens of presets that simplify the setup process so you're not left tweaking configuration files manually for every single service. Immich The self-hosted alternative to Google Photos Credit: Ismar Hrnjicevic / How-To Geek Google Photos is a difficult service to replace. The storage is competitively priced, the app comes stock on most Android phones, and it has a number of AI features that make using it a breeze—especially if you need to search through your photos. The best replacement available is Immich. In many ways, it works a lot like Google Photos does. It backs up the photos and videos from your phone and then displays them in a timeline interface. It even has some integrated "AI" features that enable smart browsing. However, unlike Google Photos, Immich runs locally on your own device. Your data is securely stored on your own server instead of being sent into the cloud. Related The only real downside is the hardware required. You can run Immich on almost any old PC, but it is more demanding than most other things that I self-host. You need at least 6GB of RAM available, and if you want the AI features to be quick, you really want a GPU to provide hardware acceleration. However, for the cost of a GPU and 6GB of RAM, you can take control over your photo and video library. If you value your privacy, it is a tempting option. Jellyfin The self-hosted streaming powerhouse Credit: Tim Brookes / How-To Geek If you have an extensive media library, I'd recommend installing Jellyfin. Jellyfin is an open-source project that allows you to display and play your existing collection of movies, shows, and music with a minimalist interface from your TV, phone, or any device that supports a web browser. The initial setup is pretty easy, but the Docker install is especially simple. The Jellyfin page has the instructions laid out command-by-command. Once it is done installing, mount your media directory and let it scan. While it scans, you can dig into more complex features like hardware transcoding, automatic subtitles, or media metadata to create a Netflix-like experience without a subscription cost. If you require transcoding, then I'd recommend self-hosting Jellyfin on a PC with an Intel CPU for QuickSync or a dedicated GPU. If you don't need transcoding, Jellyfin runs well on anything, even a Raspberry Pi. Syncthing Easily transfer files between any two devices I use Syncthing to replace some cloud sync services for my backup and synchronization needs. It keeps my folders in sync across different devices without routing my data through a central server. Everything stays encrypted, local, and you aren't stuck dealing with someone else's storage tiers or a monthly subscription. Once you install it, you can access the admin UI via your browser by typing in the server's IP address followed by port 8384. Once you're connected to the web UI, you can share a folder, then connect your devices by scanning a QR code or exchanging keys. I've found it especially helpful for maintaining consistent file access across multiple machines, since I frequently move between my Linux laptop and a Windows desktop. I'd also recommend picking some kind of file versioning when sharing a folder—it'll help protect you against accidental deletions or data corruption. Docker makes the hard part of homelabbing easier The major appeal of Docker isn't the performance—there is actually a slight performance decrease over running things "bare metal." However, what it does do is make it unbelievably convenient to quickly setup and try new self-hosted services without the headache. Paperless-ngx, Immich, Jellyfin, Syncthing, and Uptime Kuma are all great examples of how a few minutes skimming the Docker installation instructions can turn an old PC sitting in a corner into something that is convenient and reliable enough to use daily.