Side by side
Container Desktop vs DevKinsta
Both stand on container development environments. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose Container Desktop if you want a free, open-source desktop interface for managing containers and building images across Linux, macOS, or Windows. Look elsewhere if your workflow depends on local Kubernetes or Compose support.
Visit Container Desktop
Free plan LinuxMacWindows
Choose DevKinsta if you need a free desktop workspace for developing WordPress sites, plugins, or themes. Its Kinsta staging connection is useful for that workflow, but a direct push to a live site is not supported.
Visit DevKinstaThe facts
| Container Desktop | DevKinsta | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | container-desktop.com | kinsta.com |
| On container development environments | #6 of 40 | #10 of 40 |
Container Desktop: what it does well
- Works with Podman, Docker, and Apple Container.
- Supports local connections, SSH, and WSL.
- Shows container logs, environment variables, ports, and live stats.
- Includes Containerfile editing and image layer inspection.
- MIT-licensed and free to use.
What to know first
- Local Kubernetes is not supported.
- Compose workflows are not supported.
- The AI assistant requires approval for state-changing actions.
DevKinsta: what it does well
- Creates single or multisite WordPress sites with one click.
- Adminer supports table editing and SQL queries.
- MailHog captures test email without sending it externally.
- Supports switchable PHP versions from 7.2 through 8.3.
- Local HTTPS is available for testing.
What to know first
- Supports WordPress only.
- Kinsta staging pushes cannot go directly to a live site.
- Product support is through a community forum, without traditional live chat.
Alternatives to Container Desktop Alternatives to DevKinsta The whole list