Docker Hub vs Quay: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for Docker Hub and Quay side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Docker Hub leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
Docker Hub
Container image registry and community
Best for you if:
- • You want a free tier before you commit
Quay
Enterprise container registry with built-in security scanning
| At a Glance | Docker Hub | Quay |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free plan, paid from $5/mo, billed monthly Pro plan | From $15/mo flat, billed monthly Developer plan |
Category | DevOps Security | Security Cloud & Infrastructure |
Rating | 4.6/5 G2 4.6 303 reviews | n/a |
Free plan | Yes | No |
Watch out for | Unauthenticated pulls are limited to 10/hour per IP. In shared CI environments (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI runners), multiple teams share IP addresses and collectively hit limits. This causes unpredictable build failures. | No clear overage pricing for private repos beyond Micro tier. |
Choose Docker Hub or Quay?
Choose Docker Hub if
- You want a free tier before you commit
Choose Quay if
- You need security features specifically.
In-Depth Analysis
Docker Hub
Container image registry and community
Docker Hub free tier is sufficient for most individual developers and open-source projects: unlimited public repositories with 40 pulls/hour.
Watch out
Unauthenticated pulls are limited to 10/hour per IP. In shared CI environments (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI runners), multiple teams share IP addresses and collectively hit limits. This causes unpredictable build failures.
Strengths
- Pro: Container registry
- Pro: Industry standard
- Pro: Good ecosystem
- Pro: Active development
- Pro: Free tier
Weaknesses
- Con: Pull limits
- Con: Per-image pricing
- Con: Better alternatives exist
- Con: Security concerns
- Con: Support varies
Key features
Quay
Enterprise container registry with built-in security scanning
Quay's pricing is quite generous, especially with its robust free Developer tier offering unlimited public repos and security scanning.
Watch out
No clear overage pricing for private repos beyond Micro tier.
Strengths
- Pro: Container registry
- Pro: Red Hat backed
- Pro: Good security scanning
- Pro: Enterprise features
- Pro: Active development
Weaknesses
- Con: Complex setup
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Enterprise focus
- Con: Documentation gaps
- Con: Pricing unclear
Key features
Plans and prices: Docker Hub vs Quay
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Docker Hub |
| hub.docker.com/pricing read Oct 23, 2026 |
| Quay |
| quay.io/plans read Nov 5, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on Docker Hub pricing and Quay pricing.
Key Takeaways
Docker Hub
- Has a free plan
Quay
- Worth considering for security
What the data shows
On the data below, Docker Hub leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Only Docker Hub has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 303 reviews); Quay has none we can show.
- Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Docker Hub $5/mo, billed monthly; Quay $15/mo flat, billed monthly.
- Only Docker Hub has a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do Docker Hub and Quay compare in 2026?
On the data below, Docker Hub leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Only Docker Hub has a published user rating (4.6/5 from 303 reviews); Quay has none we can show. Entry prices are not ranked, they are charged on different bases: Docker Hub $5/mo, billed monthly; Quay $15/mo flat, billed monthly. Only Docker Hub has a free plan.
What are Docker Hub and Quay used for?
Docker Hub: Container image registry and community. Quay: Enterprise container registry with built-in security scanning.
What does Docker Hub cost vs Quay?
Docker Hub's cheapest paid plan is Pro at $5/mo, billed monthly; it also has a free plan. Quay's cheapest paid plan is Developer at $15/mo flat, billed monthly. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 5, 2026.
What's the main difference between Docker Hub and Quay?
Docker Hub's main strength: container registry. Quay's main strength: container registry.
Spotted an outdated price or a wrong fact? Suggest a correction: we check it against the vendor's own page. Work for one of these vendors? Claim your listing to update it yourself.