Side by side

Apptainer vs Docker Desktop

Both stand on container runtime software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.

Apptainer

Free plan APILinuxMac+2

Apptainer is oriented toward portable container workloads on Linux, particularly in HPC settings. Check host kernel requirements and the Linux environment needed on Windows or macOS before adopting it.

Visit Apptainer

Docker Desktop

Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1

Docker Desktop combines core container tools, local Kubernetes, and debugging in a desktop product. Companies exceeding the listed size or revenue thresholds need a paid subscription for commercial use.

Visit Docker Desktop

The facts

	Apptainer	Docker Desktop
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Open source	Not published	Not published
Runs on	API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows	Linux, Mac, Web, Windows
Lowest paid plan	Free or on request	Docker Pro: $9 per user a month
Plans published	1	8
Maker	Not published	Not published
Website	apptainer.org	docker.com
On container runtime software	#1 of 28	#2 of 28

Apptainer: what it does well

Creates portable, immutable single-file SIF images.
Supports encrypted containers and cryptographic signing.
Can access GPUs and other host resources.
Root access is unnecessary with user namespaces.

What to know first

Requires Linux to run.
Windows and macOS need a Linux environment.
Full functionality requires FUSE and unprivileged user namespaces.

Docker Desktop: what it does well

Bundles Engine, CLI, Compose, Build, and Kubernetes.
Manage containerized apps locally with built-in Kubernetes.
Debug tools include support for slim containers.
Extensions add third-party development tools.
Docker Personal is free.

What to know first

Some commercial use requires a paid subscription.
Docker Pro is $9 per user per month annually.
Business security controls are part of the Business plan.

Alternatives to Apptainer Alternatives to Docker Desktop The whole list