List of Free Private Docker Registries and Repositories

Private container registries no longer have to be a separate paid service. The most practical free option is often already attached to the source-control or cloud platform you use.

Pricing, storage, transfer, pull-rate, and retention rules change. Treat this as a shortlist and confirm the linked provider documentation before choosing a registry for production.

Quick comparison

Quick comparison

Registry	Useful free option	Best fit	Important caveat
GitHub Container Registry	Private container images for GitHub users and organizations	Code and Actions already live on GitHub	GitHub currently treats container image storage and bandwidth specially; the billing policy can change with notice
Docker Hub	One private repository on the Personal plan	Simple Docker-first workflows	Pull limits and the single-private-repository limit matter
GitLab Container Registry	Registry integrated with GitLab projects	Source, CI/CD, and images in one GitLab project	Storage and transfer rules depend on the namespace and plan
Google Artifact Registry	A small monthly storage allowance before charges	Workloads already running in Google Cloud	Storage beyond the allowance, transfer, and scanning can cost money

GitHub Container Registry

GitHub Container Registry is the natural default when the source repository and CI workflow are already on GitHub. Images use the ghcr.io host and package permissions can inherit access from a repository.

GitHub’s Packages billing documentation currently says Container Registry image storage and bandwidth are free, with notice before that policy changes. Do not assume that statement applies forever or to every other GitHub Packages format.

Choose it when:

• your source and automation already use GitHub;
• repository-linked permissions are useful;
• you do not need a registry that is independent of your source host.

Docker Hub

Docker Hub remains the most familiar registry for Docker tooling. The Personal plan includes one private repository, while authenticated and unauthenticated pulls are subject to usage limits documented by Docker.

Check the current Docker Hub usage and limits before designing a frequently pulled deployment around the free plan.

Choose it when:

• one private repository is enough;
• a Docker-native interface matters more than source-host integration;
• your expected pull volume fits the current limits.

GitLab Container Registry

GitLab Container Registry is available inside GitLab projects and works well with GitLab CI/CD. Keeping code, pipelines, permissions, and images in one project can be simpler than operating a separate registry.

GitLab’s quotas vary by offering and namespace. Review the current storage usage and quota documentation and the limits shown for your namespace instead of relying on an old fixed number.

Choose it when:

• the project already lives on GitLab;
• GitLab CI/CD builds the image;
• project-level permissions match the deployment model.

Google Artifact Registry

Google Artifact Registry supports Docker and other package formats. Its pricing page includes the first 0.5 GiB-month of storage at no charge, but additional storage, network transfer, and scanning can create costs.

Choose it when:

• the workload already runs in Google Cloud;
• integrated identity and regional repositories are worth the setup;
• you can monitor usage and billing rather than requiring a permanently free service.

How to choose

Start with operational fit, not the largest advertised allowance:

1. Put images near the source and CI system that builds them.
2. Confirm that your deployment platform can authenticate without long-lived personal credentials.
3. Estimate stored image size, retention, transfer, and pull frequency.
4. Configure deletion or retention rules for old tags.
5. Recheck the provider’s limits before a production launch.

For most small GitHub-hosted projects, GitHub Container Registry is the simplest current choice. Docker Hub is convenient when one private repository is enough. GitLab and Google Artifact Registry make the most sense when the rest of the delivery workflow already lives on those platforms.