Side by side
BuildKit vs Incus
Both stand on container engines. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxMac+2
BuildKit offers a flexible build toolkit with caching, multiple frontends and outputs, and rootless execution. macOS users relying on the unofficial Homebrew formula should note that it does not include the daemon.
Visit BuildKit Free plan APILinuxMac+2
Incus combines container and virtual-machine management with storage, networking, migration, and resource controls. Plan for a Linux daemon and trusted-only socket access, and choose an installation route through a distribution, third-party repository, or source.
Visit IncusThe facts
| BuildKit | Incus | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | github.com | linuxcontainers.org |
| On container engines | #2 of 31 | #6 of 31 |
BuildKit: what it does well
- Supports concurrent dependency resolution and instruction caching.
- Builds can run without root privileges.
- Offers multiple output formats.
- Binaries are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Licensed under Apache-2.0.
What to know first
- Unofficial macOS Homebrew formula excludes buildkitd.
- Some listed cache options are experimental.
Incus: what it does well
- Manages containers and virtual machines with shared storage and networking.
- Supports snapshots, backups, recovery, and migration.
- Offers REST API and command-line management.
- Free software under the Apache 2 license.
What to know first
- The daemon runs on Linux only.
- Upstream does not directly provide packages.
- Unix socket access grants full control.
Alternatives to BuildKit Alternatives to Incus The whole list