Do I have to build the image myself?

Not on while: your Dockerfile is built for every version. An image that is already built, public or pushed to while’s registry, also runs as it is.

What about Docker Compose?

On while, your agent translates your services into while.yaml: the app, its database, its cache.

Can my container run as root?

Not on while: it always runs without administrator privileges, even if the Dockerfile leaves that out.

Best Docker hosting in 2026: 4 options compared

Your app fits in a Dockerfile, and you want to see it live without renting or maintaining a server. Here are the hosts that take it as it is, and what each one allows when your AI agent is the one deploying.

The right choice depends on your app

Are your users all over the world? Choose Fly.io: your container runs in many regions, close to them¹.
Do you want to keep your own server? Choose Coolify: it builds your Dockerfile on your server².
Should your AI agent deploy your container, in France? Choose while: your Dockerfile is built for every version, and your container never runs as an administrator.

Try while on your app, without an account. Copy the instructions

The comparison

Host	Your container	Your AI agent	In France	To get started
Fly.io	Your Dockerfile, or a generated Dockerfile³	An MCP server in beta, which doesn’t deploy	Yes for apps, not for the database¹	Pay-as-you-go, with no lasting free plan
Coolify	A Dockerfile, Docker Compose or a published image²	A built-in MCP server, with limited-permission tokens⁴	If your server is there	Free, or $5 per month on Cloud, plus your servers⁵
Scaleway	An image that is already built, pushed to a registry⁶	An MCP server in the CLI, with every command open by default⁷	Yes, in its French region⁶	Pay-as-you-go containers, with a free allowance every month⁹, and a database from about €11 per month⁸
while	Your Dockerfile, built for every version, or an image that is already built	An MCP server with OAuth: sensitive actions wait for your approval	Yes, with Nextmap, a French company	€0 to get started, then €13.75 per month for an app and its database

Fly.io, close to your users

Fly.io runs your apps in many regions around the world, as close as possible to your users¹.

Coolify, on your own server

Coolify is open source and free, and turns any server into a PaaS¹⁰.

Scaleway, containers on demand

Scaleway scales your containers from zero to 200 instances with demand, in a European cloud⁶.

while, your Dockerfile deployed by your agent

Your AI agent sends your code over MCP: your Dockerfile builds the image for every version, its test stage runs if it has one, and the previous version stays ready. Your container never runs as root, even if it leaves out the USER line, and its packages are checked against known vulnerabilities at every deployment, then every day. Everything runs in France.

The best Docker container hosting, with no server to manage