Docktor vs Grafana
Grafana draws dashboards. Docktor explains what’s wrong.
| Topic | Docktor | Grafana |
|---|---|---|
| Nothing to install on the server | Yes: Nothing | No: Needs a metrics setup |
| Data stays with you | Yes: On your Mac | Partly: Self-host or cloud |
| Explains the likely cause | Yes: Findings with evidence | No: You read the graphs |
| Runs when your Mac is off | No: Mac awake, app open | Yes: Runs on a server |
| Alerts and paging | No: None | Yes: Rules and routing |
| Keeps history | Yes: Local, bounded | Yes: Long retention |
| Logs and traces | No: No | Yes: Yes |
| Price | One-time license | Free. Paid cloud. |
Based on public docs, reviewed October 6, 2026. Check each project for current details.
Pick Grafana if
- You need alerts when your laptop is closed
- You want custom dashboards, logs, traces
- A team needs shared access
Pick Docktor if
- You run a few Compose apps
- You want nothing installed on servers
- You want data to stay on your Mac
- You want a plain-English answer first
Together: Grafana for always-on alerts, Docktor for quick answers.
Is Docktor a Grafana alternative?
Only for “why is my Compose app slow?” It has no dashboards, alerts, logs or traces.
Do I need Prometheus?
No. Docktor reads Docker and kernel data directly over SSH.
See what’s wrong before you open a terminal.
Diagnose Docker Compose issues over SSH, with the evidence on your Mac.
Download for Macv0.1.0 · macOS 15+ · Apple silicon & Intel