Colima
Open-source command-line tool that runs Docker, containerd or Kubernetes in a lightweight VM on macOS and Linux.
- Verified facts
- 5 of 5
- Alternatives ranked
- 4
- Approved reviews
- 0
- Visits sent from here
- 0
About Colima
Colima provides container runtimes on macOS and Linux with very little setup. It starts a Linux virtual machine using Lima and runs Docker inside it, so the normal docker CLI and Docker Compose work on the Mac without Docker Desktop. It can also run containerd with nerdctl, a single-node k3s Kubernetes cluster with one flag, or Incus for system containers and VMs. CPU, memory and disk are set with flags or a config file, several profiles can run side by side, and on Apple silicon it can use the macOS Virtualization framework with Rosetta for x86 images. Recent versions add GPU-accelerated containers for running AI models. There is no graphical interface: everything is done from the terminal. Colima is free and MIT-licensed, maintained by an independent developer with community sponsorship, and installs through Homebrew, MacPorts, Nix or Mise.
Best for: Developers who want a free Docker Desktop replacement on the Mac and are happy in the terminal.
Pros and cons
What works
- Free and MIT-licensed, with no commercial-use licence fees
- Works with the standard docker CLI and Compose
- Kubernetes (k3s) and containerd available with one flag
- Multiple profiles with their own resources
Why people leave
- No GUI for browsing containers, images or logs
- File sharing and networking are slower than OrbStack's
- Switching VM type or runtime means deleting and recreating the VM
Top Colima alternatives
See all 4- 1
OrbStack66.5Adds a native Mac GUI and faster file sharing and networking, for those willing to pay for commercial use.
- 2
Docker Desktop62.6The official Docker app with a GUI, extensions and Docker's own support, at the cost of a paid licence for larger companies.
- 3
Podman Desktop59.6Free, open-source GUI around daemonless Podman, for those who want a visual app without Docker Desktop's licence.
- 4
Rancher Desktop57.2Free, open-source GUI that bundles Kubernetes version switching and a choice of dockerd or containerd.
Why people left Colima
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Colima, review the app you switched to and tell us why.
Reviews
No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers
Write a review of Colima
Colima: common questions
Is Colima free?
Yes. Colima is free, open-source software.
Is Colima open source?
Yes. The source code is on GitHub at abiosoft/colima.
What platforms does Colima run on?
Colima is available for macOS and Linux.
What are the best alternatives to Colima?
The highest-ranked Colima alternatives right now are OrbStack, Docker Desktop and Podman Desktop. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.