# Mongonaut: Self-Hosted MongoDB Web GUI

## Overview

---

## Pages

- [Overview](https://mongonaut.org/about-mongonaut)
- [Installation](https://mongonaut.org/installation)
- [Docker setup](https://mongonaut.org/mongodb-gui-docker)

### Compare

- [Mongonaut vs mongo-express](https://mongonaut.org/compare/mongonaut-vs-mongo-express)
- [Mongonaut vs MongoDB Compass](https://mongonaut.org/compare/mongonaut-vs-mongodb-compass)

### Guides

- [Migrate from mongo-express](https://mongonaut.org/guides/migrate-from-mongo-express)
- [Read-only configuration](https://mongonaut.org/guides/read-only-configuration)
- [Troubleshooting](https://mongonaut.org/guides/troubleshooting)

### Security

- [Authentication](https://mongonaut.org/security/authentication)
- [Cloudflare Zero Trust Tunnel](https://mongonaut.org/security/zero-trust-tunnel)

### Community

- [FAQ](https://mongonaut.org/community/faq)
- [Contributing](https://mongonaut.org/community/contributing)

---

![Mongonaut database browser screenshot](https://cdn.zupost.com/wiki-images/iMTjXuOgyKgCzx3LP2OWXbXA0BSn2xpA/940f6374-8ee4-41ca-84a8-5889ecd35f60/2026-05-08-11-40-55-96cf2029.webp "Mongonaut MongoDB web GUI database browser")

# A modern, self-hosted web GUI for MongoDB

Browse databases, inspect collections and manage MongoDB from any browser. Deploy Mongonaut alongside your database with Docker in minutes.

Mongonaut is built for developers and internal teams who want a private MongoDB web interface without installing a desktop client everywhere.

Mongonaut gives you a browser-based view into MongoDB databases, collections and documents, with write actions available only when your configuration allows them.

![Mongonaut document view screenshot](https://cdn.zupost.com/wiki-images/iMTjXuOgyKgCzx3LP2OWXbXA0BSn2xpA/940f6374-8ee4-41ca-84a8-5889ecd35f60/2026-06-19-22-50-39-c48ae7ea.webp "Mongonaut document inspection interface")

<BookShelf>
<Book title="Get started" href="/installation" color="#A66D2B" icon="rocket" />
<Book title="Docker setup" href="/mongodb-gui-docker" color="#184E77" icon="fab:docker" />
<Book title="Compare tools" href="/compare/mongonaut-vs-mongodb-compass" color="#240021" icon="scale-balanced" />
</BookShelf>

## What it helps with


| Need                           | How Mongonaut fits                                                          |
| ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Inspect MongoDB from a browser | Browse databases, collections and documents through a web UI.               |
| Run the UI yourself            | Deploy the Docker image `ghcr.io/withzu/mongonaut` in your own environment. |
| Share controlled access        | Use account login, static password login, OIDC or an external access layer. |
| Offer read-only access         | Set `MONGONAUT_READONLY=true` when users should only inspect data.          |


Mongonaut supports database and collection browsing, document inspection, document creation and editing, collection search, JSON export and read-only operation. It does not currently include aggregation pipeline tools, index management, GridFS browsing or a MongoDB shell in the UI.

## Quick Start

```bash
docker run -it --rm \
  -p 8081:8081 \
  -e MONGO_CONNECTION_URL="mongodb://mongo:27017/" \
  -e MONGONAUT_AUTH_SECRET="$(openssl rand -base64 32)" \
  ghcr.io/withzu/mongonaut
```

Open `http://localhost:8081/setup` on first run and create the initial administrator account.

For a complete setup, use [Docker setup](/mongodb-gui-docker) or [Installation](/installation).

## How it compares

Mongonaut overlaps with a few familiar database tools, but it is deliberately focused on the self-hosted browser workflow.

- [Mongonaut vs MongoDB Compass](/compare/mongonaut-vs-mongodb-compass) explains the difference between a hosted web GUI and a desktop MongoDB client.
- [Mongonaut vs mongo-express](/compare/mongonaut-vs-mongo-express) compares two self-hosted browser interfaces for MongoDB.
- [phpMyAdmin for MongoDB](/phpmyadmin-for-mongodb) covers the phpMyAdmin-style use case without implying that MongoDB works like MySQL.

## Security and access

Do not expose a MongoDB admin interface publicly without access control. Use Mongonaut authentication, Cloudflare Access, a VPN, a reverse proxy with authentication, or another trust boundary.

Recommended starting points:

- [Authentication](/security/authentication)
- [Cloudflare Zero Trust Tunnel](/security/zero-trust-tunnel)
- [Read-only configuration](/guides/read-only-configuration)