Linux Containers (LXC) AlternativesVirtualization Tools and other similar apps like Linux Containers (LXC)

Linux Containers (LXC) is described as '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' and is a Virtualization tool in the network & admin category. There are eight alternatives to Linux Containers (LXC) for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, Flathub, TrueNAS and Web-based apps. The best Linux Containers (LXC) alternative is Docker, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Linux Containers (LXC) are KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine), Distrobox, Xen and containerd.

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Containers which offer an environment as close as possible as the one you'd get from a VM but without the overhead that...

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Linux Containers (LXC) alternatives page was last updated May 3, 2025
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  1. Docker icon
     300 likes
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    Docker is an open-source engine that automates the deployment of any application as a lightweight, portable, self-sufficient container that will run virtually anywhere.

    28 Docker alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • TrueNAS

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Container Virtualization
    2.  Virtualization
    3.  Server Management
    4.  Command line interface
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Portable
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Hypervisor

    Docker VS Linux Containers (LXC)

     
    Comments about Docker as an Alternative to Linux Containers (LXC)
    Guest
    Negative Jun 17, 2021
    0

    LXC is system container, while Docker is application container,... they are two totally different things,..

    Linux Containers (LXC) Icon
    Docker icon
    • Docker is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Linux Containers (LXC).

    • Docker is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Linux Containers (LXC).

    • Docker is Freemium and Open SourceLinux Containers (LXC) is Free and Open Source
    • Docker is LightweightLinux Containers (LXC) is not according to our users
  2. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V). It consists of a loadable kernel module, kvm.

    42 KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Android

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Security-focused

    Features

    1.  Virtualization
    2.  Linux-based
    3.  Nt kernel
    4.  Command line interface
    5.  Portable
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Container Virtualization
    8.  Emulation

    KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) VS Linux Containers (LXC)

     
    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is the most popular Android alternative to Linux Containers (LXC).

    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is Free and Open SourceLinux Containers (LXC) is also Free and Open Source
    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is Lightweight and Privacy focusedLinux Containers (LXC) is not according to our users
  3. Distrobox icon
     14 likes
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    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.

    8 Distrobox alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • IT flagItaly
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Distrobox Features

    1.  Container Virtualization
    2.  Command line interface
    3. Docker icon  Support for Docker
    4.  Docker Container

    Distrobox VS Linux Containers (LXC)

     
  4. Xen icon
     74 likes
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    Xen.org, home of the Xen hypervisor, the powerful open source industry standard for virtualization. It is a native (bare-metal) hypervisor providing services that allow multiple computer operating systems to execute on the same computer hardware concurrently.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux

    Xen Features

    1.  Hypervisor

    Xen VS Linux Containers (LXC)

     
  5. containerd icon
     5 likes
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    An industry-standard container runtime with an emphasis on simplicity, robustness and portability

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted

    containerd Features

    1.  Container Virtualization

    containerd VS Linux Containers (LXC)

     
  6. BoxBuddy icon
     1 like
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    An unofficial GUI for managing your Distroboxes. Written with GTK4 + Libadwaita.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub

    BoxBuddy Features

    1.  Graphical User Interface
    2.  Gtk

    BoxBuddy VS Linux Containers (LXC)

     
  7. OpenVZ icon
     11 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Linux

    OpenVZ Features

    1.  Container Virtualization
    2.  Linux-based

    OpenVZ VS Linux Containers (LXC)

     
  8. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Kata Containers is an open source, secure container runtime with lightweight virtual machines that feel and perform like containers, but provide stronger workload isolation using hardware virtualization technology as a second layer of defense.

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Kata Containers VS Linux Containers (LXC)

     
8 of 8 Linux Containers (LXC) alternatives