OrbStack

Fast, lightweight Mac app for running Docker containers, Kubernetes and Linux machines.

Free plan + paidVirtual machine and container apps

Verified facts: 5 of 5
Alternatives ranked: 7
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About OrbStack

OrbStack is a Mac app for running Docker containers and lightweight Linux virtual machines, built as a faster, lighter replacement for Docker Desktop. It's a native Swift app that starts in a couple of seconds, uses very little CPU and memory while idle, and shares files and networking with macOS efficiently. Existing docker and docker compose commands work unchanged, and it can migrate your containers and images from Docker Desktop. It also runs a local Kubernetes cluster, gives containers automatic local domain names with HTTPS, and lets you start full Linux machines from over a dozen distributions, using Rosetta to run x86 software on Apple Silicon. It's free for personal, non-commercial use; businesses pay per user for the Pro plan. It's closed source and only available for macOS, so teams with Windows or Linux machines can't standardise on it.

Best for: Mac developers who want Docker and Linux VMs without Docker Desktop's resource use.

What works

Much lower CPU, memory and battery use than Docker Desktop
Drop-in for docker and compose commands, with migration from Docker Desktop
Runs full Linux machines as well as containers
Automatic local domains and HTTPS for containers

Why people leave

macOS only
Commercial use requires a paid plan
Closed source

Top OrbStack alternatives

See all 7

1
Docker Desktop
The official Docker app, cross-platform and matching what most team docs and tutorials expect.
66.5
2
Podman Desktop
Free and open source for commercial use, with rootless containers on Mac, Windows and Linux.
62.6
3
Rancher Desktop
Free, open-source option focused on matching specific Kubernetes versions.
59.6
4
Colima
Free, MIT-licensed CLI that runs Docker, containerd or k3s in a Lima VM, for those who don't need OrbStack's GUI or paid licence.
57.2
5
Parallels Desktop
Runs full Linux and Windows VMs on Apple silicon with a GUI, for those who need more than OrbStack's lightweight Linux machines.
55.3

Why people left OrbStack

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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OrbStack: common questions

Is OrbStack free?

OrbStack has a free plan and paid plans. Free plan: Personal, non-commercial use (checked on OrbStack's own site).

Is OrbStack open source?

No, OrbStack is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Podman Desktop, Rancher Desktop and Colima.

What platforms does OrbStack run on?

OrbStack is available for macOS.

What are the best alternatives to OrbStack?

The highest-ranked OrbStack alternatives right now are Docker Desktop, Podman Desktop and Rancher Desktop. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 7 OrbStack alternatives

OrbStack facts

5 of 5 verified

Free plan: Personal, non-commercial use; Checked Oct 25, 2026orbstack.dev(opens source in a new tab); “Always free for personal use”
Starting price: Pro, $8 per user/month; Checked Oct 25, 2026orbstack.dev(opens source in a new tab); “$8 per user per month”
App: Native Swift; Checked Oct 25, 2026orbstack.dev(opens source in a new tab); “Light as a feather Keep it breezy with low CPU and disk usage, minimal memory consumption, and a native Swift app.”
Docker Desktop replacement: Drop-in; Checked Oct 25, 2026orbstack.dev(opens source in a new tab); “Unbelievably simple Drop-in replacement for Docker Desktop.”
Kubernetes: Yes; Checked Oct 25, 2026orbstack.dev(opens source in a new tab); “Endlessly capable Run containers, Kubernetes, and Linux distros, with USB passthrough and isolated sandboxes for untrusted code.”