Best Container Engines in 2026
Updated
32 container engines ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
32ranked
2free plans on this page
8 Oct 2026last checked
Input list Container Engines 7 channels on this page · 26 of 56 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromRootless modeImage buildingKubernetes CRIWindows containersImage formatRuntime interface Spec sheet Score
26 Apple container Free planYesPaid fromnot statedRootless modenot statedImage buildingYesKubernetes CRInot statedWindows containersNoImage formatociRuntime interfacenot stated 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
27 Charliecloud Free planYesPaid fromnot statedRootless modeYesImage buildingYesKubernetes CRInot statedWindows containersnot statedImage formatnot statedRuntime interfaceother 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
28 Inclavare Containers Free planYesPaid fromnot statedRootless modenot statedImage buildingnot statedKubernetes CRIYesWindows containersnot statedImage formatociRuntime interfacecontainerd 4/8spec lines stated 5.8
29 AppJail Free planYesPaid fromnot statedRootless modeNoImage buildingYesKubernetes CRInot statedWindows containersnot statedImage formatbothRuntime interfaceother 5/8spec lines stated 5.7
30 OpenVZ Free planYesPaid fromnot statedRootless modenot statedImage buildingnot statedKubernetes CRInot statedWindows containersNoImage formatnot statedRuntime interfaceother 3/8spec lines stated 5.7
31 Shifter Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedRootless modenot statedImage buildingNoKubernetes CRInot statedWindows containersnot statedImage formatdockerRuntime interfaceother 3/8spec lines stated 5.7
32 systemd-nspawn Free planYesPaid fromnot statedRootless modeYesImage buildingnot statedKubernetes CRInot statedWindows containersnot statedImage formatnot statedRuntime interfaceother 3/8spec lines stated 5.7
Compare all 7 in a table
| # | Tool | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Rootless mode | Image building |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 | Apple container | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | — | Yes |
| 27 | Charliecloud | 5.8 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | Yes | Yes |
| 28 | Inclavare Containers | 5.8 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 29 | AppJail | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | No | Yes |
| 30 | OpenVZ | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | — | — |
| 31 | Shifter | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | — | No |
| 32 | systemd-nspawn | 5.7 | No | — | Yes | — | Yes | — |
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