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Colima vs Podman Desktop

The same facts for both, read from GitHub every night, and the relation a person reviewed.

ColimaPodman Desktop
LanguageGoTypeScript
LicenceMITApache-2.0
Stars31k8.1k
Latestv0.10.3v1.29.3
Last push2026-10-022026-10-06
Release cadenceabout 56 days between releasestoo few releases
Active contributors8 commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days47+ commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days
Flagsnonenone

How they relate

  • Both replace Docker Desktop. Alternatives to Docker Desktop →

    PartialColimaRuns a container runtime and an optional Kubernetes from the command line, with no GUI.

    Full replacementPodman DesktopContainers, images, pods and a local Kubernetes through Podman, with Docker API compatibility.

  • Both replace OrbStack. Alternatives to OrbStack →

    PartialColimaRuns Docker and Kubernetes in a Lima VM on macOS, from the command line.

    PartialPodman DesktopManages containers, pods and a local Kubernetes from a GUI, without Linux machines.