Side by side
LXC vs LXD
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 APILinuxSelf-hosted
LXC provides Linux-native containers with several process-containment mechanisms and language bindings. Its security caveats matter: configure resource limits for untrusted containers and do not expose privileged container root to untrusted users.
Visit LXC
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
LXD provides a single open-source platform for managing both containers and virtual machines, with several interfaces and integrations. Linux host support and the listed Ubuntu Pro options are key considerations.
Visit LXDThe facts
| LXC | LXD | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Ubuntu Pro Enterprise workstation: $25 per workstation a year |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | linuxcontainers.org | canonical.com |
| On container engines | #13 of 31 | #9 of 31 |
LXC: what it does well
- Free software for Linux containers.
- Includes liblxc, control tools, and distribution templates.
- Provides API bindings for five languages.
- Unprivileged container root maps to an unprivileged host user.
- LXC 7.0 and 6.0 have listed long-term support.
What to know first
- Requires Linux kernel version 2.6.32 or later.
- Denial-of-service attacks are not prevented by default.
- Privileged containers run processes as host root.
- Untrusted containers require configured cgroup limits.
LXD: what it does well
- Combines LXC system containers and KVM virtual machines.
- Supports images for Linux distributions and Windows virtual machines.
- Offers CLI, REST API, web UI, and third-party management.
- Unprivileged containers are the default.
- Includes snapshots, live migration, and advanced networking.
What to know first
- Supported host OS is Linux.
- Desktop GUI is listed as unavailable.
- Commercial Ubuntu Pro enterprise plans are separately priced.