Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Podman Desktop VS Docker Desktop

Compare Podman Desktop VS Docker Desktop and see what are their differences

Podman Desktop logo Podman Desktop

Containers and Kubernetes for application developers

Docker Desktop logo Docker Desktop

Docker Desktop is a one-click-install application that lets you to build, share, and run containerized applications and microservices.
  • Podman Desktop Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-07
Not present

Podman Desktop features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    Podman Desktop provides a graphical user interface that makes it easier for users, especially those new to containerization, to manage and interact with containers without needing extensive command-line knowledge.
  • Rootless Mode
    Podman Desktop supports rootless containers, enhancing security by allowing users to run containers without requiring root access, reducing the risk of system-wide changes.
  • Compatibility with Docker
    Podman uses the Docker CLI, enabling easy transition for users familiar with Docker, and provides compatibility with Docker images and commands.
  • Daemonless Architecture
    Unlike Docker, Podman does not require a background daemon, improving simplicity and reducing system resource usage.
  • Pod Support
    It offers built-in support for Kubernetes-like pods, allowing users to manage multiple containers as a single unit, simplifying multi-container applications.

Possible disadvantages of Podman Desktop

  • Limited Ecosystem
    Compared to Docker, Podman has a less mature ecosystem with fewer third-party tools and integrations available for container management and orchestration.
  • Learning Curve
    For users familiar with Docker's daemon-based architecture, transitioning to Podman’s daemonless approach can require a learning curve and adaptation.
  • Performance Overhead
    Running containers in rootless mode may introduce performance overhead compared to traditional root-based container execution.
  • Less Community Support
    The community around Podman, while growing, is still smaller than Docker's, potentially leading to slower support and fewer community-created resources.

Docker Desktop features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Docker Desktop is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing developers to work in their preferred environment with a consistent toolset.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Docker Desktop provides a graphical user interface that simplifies the process of managing containers, making it accessible to both new and experienced developers.
  • Integrated Tools
    It includes Docker Compose, Docker CLI, Kubernetes, and other useful tools bundled in one package, streamlining the workflow for container management and orchestration.
  • Easy Installation
    Docker Desktop offers a straightforward installation process that abstracts away the complexity of setting up Docker and its components from scratch.
  • Consistent Development Environment
    It helps maintain consistency between development, testing, and production environments, reducing potential discrepancies and deployment issues.

Possible disadvantages of Docker Desktop

  • Performance Overhead
    Running Docker Desktop can introduce performance overhead, especially on Windows and macOS, due to the virtualization layer required by these operating systems.
  • Resource Usage
    Docker Desktop can be resource-intensive, consuming significant amounts of CPU and memory, which might impact the performance of other applications.
  • Licensing Costs
    For businesses, Docker Desktop may require a paid subscription depending on the company size, which can be a financial consideration.
  • Limited in Headless Environments
    Docker Desktop is primarily designed for development environments with a graphical interface and may not be suitable for headless server environments.
  • System Integration Issues
    Some users might face integration issues with specific system setups, especially on less common or older platforms.

Podman Desktop videos

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Docker Desktop videos

Docker Desktop Overview

More videos:

  • Review - Docker Desktop for macOS Setup and Tips

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Podman Desktop and Docker Desktop)
Dev Ops
100 100%
0% 0
Developer Tools
54 54%
46% 46
DevOps Tools
40 40%
60% 60
Cloud Computing
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Podman Desktop seems to be a lot more popular than Docker Desktop. While we know about 35 links to Podman Desktop, we've tracked only 1 mention of Docker Desktop. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Podman Desktop mentions (35)

  • Quadlet: Running Podman containers under systemd
    I am part of the Podman Desktop[1] team, and I am personally a big fan of Podman Quadlets! Recently I took the journey to deep dive into Quadlets, and see how it can be integrated into Podman Desktop. With the extension system we have (very similar to VS-Code), I created an extension called `Podman Quadlets` and wrote a blog on our website[2]. It integrate with Podlet[3] (but I am trying to move away from it, as I... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • Docker Desktop Alternative
    I would also encourage people to look at Podman desktop which has pretty good support from Red Hat. https://podman-desktop.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Docker Desktop Alternative
    What does this offer that podman desktop does not? https://podman-desktop.io/. - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Minimal tips to run isolated code
    Thus motivated, install Podman Desktop, a Docker-compatible Linux containers tool with Podman. After Podman Desktop is installed and running, open a terminal and. - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • Use local AI Models easily for Development and Experimentation
    Podman Desktop AI Lab is a recently announced extension for Podman Desktop, aimed at simplifying the development, testing, and running of generative AI (GenAI) applications locally on developers' workstations. This tool provides an intuitive graphical interface, making it easier for developers to integrate AI capabilities into their applications without requiring extensive infrastructure or AI expertise. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
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Docker Desktop mentions (1)

  • Getting Started with .NET and Docker Tutorial
    First, you need to download and install Docker Desktop from the Docker website. You can leave all of the default options checked during the installation process. Once it’s downloaded, sign in using your Docker Hub account. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up at hub.docker.com. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Podman Desktop and Docker Desktop, you can also consider the following products

Podman - Simple debugging tool for pods and images

Portainer - Simple management UI for Docker

Kubernetes - Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

OrbStack - Fast, light, simple Docker & Linux on macOS

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

k3s - K3s is a lightweight Kubernetes distribution by Rancher Labs intended for IoT, Edge, and cloud deployments.