apko

Mac · Linux · Self-hosted

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Freedom report

One barScore 5.5

Free tierNo free tier on record
Open codeNo open-source code on record
Runs widely2 of 6 device platforms
DocumentedPlans, terms and facts published

apko is ranked #13 of 32 in container build tools on Freedom251. It runs on Linux, macOS, Self-hosted.

Compared on container build tools

Free plan: Yes
Build method: daemonless
Multi-architecture builds: Yes
SBOM generation: Yes

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The record

What it does: apko is an open-source command-line tool that builds container images from APK packages using declarative YAML configuration.
Image output: It builds and publishes OCI container images composed from APK packages.
Reproducibility: The project says apko images are fully bitwise reproducible by design.
SBOM: Successful builds generate SBOM files describing image contents.
Minimal images: apko focuses on lightweight, flat base images containing selected packages.
Multi architecture: An image configuration can specify architectures, and apko can compose images for different architectures and distributions.
Integrations: The project documents use with Docker and provides an apko build action for GitHub Actions CI/CD pipelines.
Installation: The project README lists installation through Homebrew, mise, Go source installation, or its container image.
Publishing: The CLI can publish generated images directly to a container registry.
Package ecosystem limit: A single apko build cannot mix Wolfi and Alpine packages.
Build step limit: apko cannot run arbitrary Dockerfile-style build commands; software installation and shell commands must be included in APK packages.
Companion tool: Chainguard identifies melange as a companion tool for producing APK packages to use with apko.
Support: The project README directs users with questions to the #apko channel on Kubernetes Slack.
Purpose: apko builds and publishes OCI container images from apk packages.

Where it ranks on Freedom251

Best Container Build Tools in 2026#13 of 32

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Sources

edu.chainguard.dev/open-source/build-tools/apko/getting-st· checked 4 Oct 2026
github.com/chainguard-dev/apko· checked 4 Oct 2026
github.com/chainguard-dev/apko/security/policy· checked 4 Oct 2026