Side by side
k3d vs Laradock
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 LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
k3d provides a free, community-driven way to run k3s clusters in Docker, with local development and CI uses listed. Check its Docker and runc requirements before choosing it.
Visit k3d Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
Laradock offers a broad, configurable container setup for PHP projects without a license cost. Its Docker and Compose requirements mean users must manage the local development environment themselves.
Visit LaradockThe facts
| k3d | Laradock | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | 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 | k3d.io | laradock.io |
| On container development environments | #13 of 40 | #17 of 40 |
k3d: what it does well
- Creates single-node and multi-node clusters
- Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Documents Ingress and NodePort service exposure
- Free plan is listed as free
What to know first
- Requires Docker to use
- k3d v5.x.x specifies minimum Docker and runc versions
- It is not an official Rancher (SUSE) product
Laradock: what it does well
- Free and open source under the MIT license
- Supports PHP versions 5.6 through 8.5
- Provides more than 100 configurable services
- Works on Linux, macOS, and Windows
- Supports production image deployment with ./laradock ship
What to know first
- Requires Git and Docker
- Docker Compose 2.20 or newer is required
- Configuration uses a shared .env file
- Primarily a developer environment, not a hosted service