Podman: A tool for managing OCI containers and pods.
Docker-compatible CLI, daemonless and rootless by default.
- Language
- Go
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 33k
- Latest
- v6.2.0
- Last push
- 2026-11-12
alternatives to
Docker Engine (Moby)
The Moby Project - a collaborative project for the container ecosystem to assemble container-based systems
Podman, nerdctl, containerd and more. 8 alternatives to Docker Engine (Moby), in Go, Java. Compare fit, licence, stars and the latest signed release. Drop-in: Podman.
Side by side
| Tool | Fit | Stars | Licence | Terms | Self-hosted | Language | Latest | Last push |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Podman | Drop-in | 33k | Apache-2.0 | Open source | No | Go | v6.2.0 | 2026-11-12 |
| nerdctl | Full replacement | 10k | Apache-2.0 | Open source | No | Go | v2.4.2 | 2026-11-09 |
| containerd | Partial | 21k | Apache-2.0 | Open source | No | Go | v2.4.2 | 2026-11-11 |
| Jib | Partial | 14k | Apache-2.0 | Open source | No | Java | v3.5.4-gradle | 2026-11-03 |
| Buildah | Partial | 9.2k | Apache-2.0 | Open source | No | Go | v1.46.1 | 2026-11-11 |
| ko | Partial | 8.6k | Apache-2.0 | Open source | No | Go | v0.19.1 | 2026-11-09 |
| pack | Partial | 3k | Apache-2.0 | Open source | No | Go | v0.40.10 | 2026-11-09 |
| Apptainer | Partial | 2k | Other | Open source | No | Go | v1.5.5 | 2026-11-09 |
Every alternative
8 alternatives
contaiNERD CTL - Docker-compatible CLI for containerd, with support for Compose, Rootless, eStargz, OCIcrypt, IPFS, ...
A Docker-compatible command line for containerd.
- Language
- Go
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 10k
- Latest
- v2.4.2
- Last push
- 2026-11-09
An open and reliable container runtime
The runtime Docker itself runs on, without image builds or the Docker CLI; driven by Kubernetes or nerdctl.
- Language
- Go
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 21k
- Latest
- v2.4.2
- Last push
- 2026-11-11
🏗 Build container images for your Java applications.
Builds container images from Maven or Gradle without a Dockerfile or a Docker daemon, for Java apps only.
- Language
- Java
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 14k
- Latest
- v3.5.4-gradle
- Last push
- 2026-11-03
A tool that facilitates building OCI images.
Builds OCI images from Dockerfiles or shell scripts without a daemon; running them is left to Podman.
- Language
- Go
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 9.2k
- Latest
- v1.46.1
- Last push
- 2026-11-11
Build and deploy Go applications
Builds and pushes container images for Go apps without a Dockerfile or a Docker daemon.
- Language
- Go
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 8.6k
- Latest
- v0.19.1
- Last push
- 2026-11-09
CLI for building apps using Cloud Native Buildpacks
Builds container images from source with Cloud Native Buildpacks instead of a Dockerfile.
- Language
- Go
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 3k
- Latest
- v0.40.10
- Last push
- 2026-11-09
Apptainer: Application containers for Linux
Runs containers without root and without a daemon, built for HPC with single-file SIF images.
Head to head
- Apptainer vs Buildah
- Apptainer vs containerd
- Apptainer vs Jib
- Apptainer vs ko
- Apptainer vs nerdctl
- Apptainer vs pack
- Apptainer vs Podman
- Buildah vs containerd
- Buildah vs Jib
- Buildah vs ko
- Buildah vs nerdctl
- Buildah vs pack
- Buildah vs Podman
- containerd vs Jib
- containerd vs ko
- containerd vs nerdctl
- containerd vs pack
- containerd vs Podman
- Jib vs ko
- Jib vs nerdctl
- Jib vs pack
- Jib vs Podman
- ko vs nerdctl
- ko vs pack
- ko vs Podman
- nerdctl vs pack
- nerdctl vs Podman
- pack vs Podman
About Docker Engine (Moby)
- Language
- Go
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Stars
- 72k
- Last push
- 2026-11-11