compare
container vs Lima
The same facts for both, read from GitHub every night, and the relation a person reviewed.
| Fact | container | Lima |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Swift | Go |
| Licence | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| Stars | 51k | 22k |
| Latest | 1.5.0 | v2.2.1 |
| Last push | 2026-10-05 | 2026-10-06 |
| Release cadence | about 14 days between releases | too few releases |
| Active contributors | 32 commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days | 33+ commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days |
| Flags | none | none |
How they relate
Both replace Docker Desktop. Alternatives to Docker Desktop →
PartialcontainerRuns Linux containers in lightweight virtual machines on Apple silicon Macs, from the command line, without a GUI or Kubernetes.
PartialLimaLinux VMs running containerd or Docker, driven from the command line, with no GUI.
Both replace OrbStack. Alternatives to OrbStack →
PartialcontainerContainers only, from the command line, without Linux machines or Kubernetes.
PartialLimaLinux VMs for containers on macOS, from the command line.
container
- 1.5.02026-09-29⌨️ denotes breaking CLI changes.
- 1.4.12026-09-09This release addresses two security issues in the Containerization package:
- 1.3.12026-08-29This patch release addresses a number of security issues in the Containerization package:
- 1.3.02026-08-24⌨️ denotes breaking CLI changes.
- 1.2.22026-08-08This release fixes a glitch that prevented container k8s working when installed from the release package.
Lima
- v2.3.0-beta.12026-10-03Highlights:pre-release
- v2.2.12026-10-03Several bug fixes and dependency updates.
- v2.3.0-beta.02026-09-01Highlights:pre-release
- v2.2.02026-07-21Highlights:
- v2.2.0-rc.02026-07-16Highlights:pre-release
container
✓ signed The latest release, 1.5.0, carries a signature GitHub verified.
Loading the security report
Lima
✓ signed The latest release, v2.2.1, carries a signature GitHub verified.
Loading the security report