youki

Free plan Linux

What youki is

youki is a container runtime for Linux, written in Rust and built to implement the OCI runtime specification. It provides commands for the main container lifecycle: creating, starting, listing, inspecting, and deleting containers. It can run containers as a non-root user, and its documentation covers using it as a runtime with Docker and Podman. The project reports that youki passed containerd’s end-to-end test and is used in several production environments.

The software is free under the Apache License, Version 2.0. Building locally requires Rust edition 2024 and a Linux kernel version of at least 5.3. Local builds are supported on Linux; Vagrant environments and GitHub Codespaces are available for trying it in other environments. The project describes itself as a Cloud Native Computing Foundation sandbox project and points users to its community page for support and contribution information. Security issues can be reported through GitHub Security Advisories or by emailing the committers, who aim to send a first response within seven days. A fix may take longer.

Who it suits

youki suits developers and operators who need an OCI runtime on Linux and want to connect it with Docker or Podman. It may also suit users who need rootless container operation and can meet its build requirements.

What it does well

Implements the OCI runtime specification.
Supports creating, starting, listing, inspecting, and deleting containers.
Can run containers as a non-root user.
Documentation covers Docker and Podman runtime integration.
Free software under Apache License, Version 2.0.

What to know first

Local builds are supported only on Linux.
Building requires Rust edition 2024 and Linux kernel 5.3 or later.
It does not provide image building or Kubernetes CRI support.
Windows containers are not supported.

Limits

The software is free under the Apache License, Version 2.0. Building locally requires Rust edition 2024 and Linux kernel 5.3 or later, and local builds are supported on Linux.

Plans

Plan	Billed and limits	Price
Apache-2.0 licensed software	No-charge, royalty-free license to use, reproduce, and distribute the work	Free

As github.com lists them, read 8 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.

Getting started

Open the project repository at https://github.com/youki-dev/youki.
Use a Linux environment for a local build, with Rust edition 2024 and Linux kernel 5.3 or later.
Try the project through its Vagrant environments or GitHub Codespaces if you are using another environment.
Follow the README instructions for container lifecycle commands or Docker and Podman integration.
Visit the project community page for community and contribution information.

Verdict

Choose youki if you need a free Linux OCI runtime with rootless operation and documented Docker or Podman integration. Its Linux-only local builds and Rust and kernel requirements make it a fit for environments that can meet those prerequisites.

Questions

How much does youki cost?

The listed plan is free. It is provided under the Apache License, Version 2.0.

Which operating system does youki support?

Local builds are supported on Linux. The project provides Vagrant environments for trying it on other platforms.

Can youki run containers without root?

Yes. It can run containers as a non-root user.

Does youki work with Docker or Podman?

The project documentation describes using youki as a runtime with both Docker and Podman.

What is required to build youki?

Building requires Rust edition 2024 and a Linux kernel version of at least 5.3.

What license does youki use?

The repository provides youki under the Apache License, Version 2.0, which grants no-charge, royalty-free copyright and patent licenses subject to its conditions.

Facts from youki's own pages

Build platform: The README says local builds are supported only on Linux, with Vagrant environments provided to try it on other platforms. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Compatibility: The project says it has passed containerd’s end-to-end test and is adopted in several production environments. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Container lifecycle: Its documented commands include creating, starting, listing, and deleting containers. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Development environment: The project README says users can try Youki in GitHub Codespaces. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Integrations: The README shows how to configure Docker to use youki as a container runtime and includes a Podman example. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
License: The repository provides the software under the Apache License, Version 2.0. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Platform support: Local builds are supported on Linux, and the project provides Vagrant environments for trying it on other platforms. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Project affiliation: The README identifies youki as a Cloud Native Computing Foundation sandbox project. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Project home: The repository describes youki as a Cloud Native Computing Foundation sandbox project. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Project status: The README says youki has passed containerd’s end-to-end test and is adopted in several production environments. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Purpose: youki is an implementation of the OCI runtime specification written in Rust, similar to runc. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Requirements: Building requires Rust edition 2024 and a Linux kernel version 5.3 or later. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Rootless mode: youki provides a mode for running containers as a non-root user. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Runtime requirements: The README lists Rust edition 2024 and a Linux kernel version of at least 5.3 as requirements. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Security: Security issues can be reported through GitHub Security Advisories or by emailing the project committers. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
Security design: The README cites Rust’s memory-safety benefits as a reason for implementing the runtime in Rust. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Security reporting: Security issues can be reported through GitHub Security Advisories or by emailing the project’s committers. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Security response: The security policy says committers will try to triage a report and send a first response within seven days. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026
Support and community: The README directs users to the project community page for community and contribution information. · github.com, 7 Oct 2026
What it does: youki is a container runtime written in Rust that implements the OCI runtime specification. · github.com, 8 Oct 2026

Where youki stands on Freedom251

Container Runtime Software#24 of 28
Container Engines#27 of 31