The best alternative to Docker is Podman, which is both free and Open Source. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 25 alternatives to Docker and 11 are so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting alternatives to Docker are Linux Containers (LXC), Distrobox, OrbStack and containerd.
Podman is a daemon-less container runtime for managing containers, pods, and container images. It is intended as a counterpart to CRI-O, to provide low-level debugging not available through the CRI interface used by Kubernetes.
Drop-in replacement without the license restrictions of Docker
Containers which offer an environment as close as possible as the one you'd get from a VM but without the overhead that comes with running a separate kernel and simulating all the hardware.
Use any Linux distribution inside your terminal. Enable both backward and forward compatibility with software and freedom to use whatever distribution you’re more comfortable with. Distrobox uses podman or docker to create containers using the Linux distribution of your choice.
OrbStack is an alternative to Docker Desktop for macOS, designed to offer improved performance for Docker and virtual machines on Linux running on Mac computers. It addresses performance issues that have been experienced in the past, particularly on models with Apple Silicon.
An industry-standard container runtime with an emphasis on simplicity, robustness and portability
OpenVZ is container-based virtualization for Linux.
OpenVZ creates multiple secure, isolated Linux containers (otherwise known as VEs or VPSs) on a single physical server enabling better server utilization and ensuring that applications do not conflict.
Each container performs.
The FreeBSD jail mechanism is an implementation of operating system-level virtualization that allows system administrators to partition a FreeBSD-based computer system into several independent mini-systems called jails.
Great tools and documentation, they have been around for much longer than docker and are a more mature solution.
A tool for Linux, which allows the use of interactive command line environments for software development and troubleshooting the host operating system, without having to install software on the host.
A tool for creating and running Linux containers using lightweight virtual machines on a Mac. It is written in Swift, and optimized for Apple silicon.
BunkerVM is a lightweight runtime designed to safely execute AI agent generated code inside isolated Firecracker microVM sandboxes.
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Same syntax, runs without socket, more secure