Incus

Incus is a free, open-source manager for system and application containers and virtual machines, best suited to people operating Linux infrastructure. Its combination of workload types and management interfaces is compelling, but it calls for Linux-host ownership and careful control of privileged access.

Overview

Incus manages containers and virtual machines together, allowing both to use the same underlying storage and networks. That shared model suits teams running mixed workloads that want one place to configure and manage them; it is less compelling if the need is only a lightweight container runtime.

Instances can be managed from a command line, through a REST API, or with third-party tools. The project describes the API as scaling from a laptop to clusters of thousands of compute nodes, making the architecture relevant to both individual development environments and larger deployments. Daily images for a wide range of Linux distributions give operators a practical starting point for creating instances.

Key features

Snapshots, backup and recovery, migration, configurable storage pools and networks, and resource controls cover core instance lifecycle and administration needs. These capabilities make Incus more than a way to launch containers: it can manage virtual machines alongside them and apply shared infrastructure to both.

Documented integrations include Terraform, OpenTofu, Ansible, Packer, Distrobuilder, GARM, Kubernetes Cluster API, and Incant. That breadth is useful for teams already using infrastructure-as-code or automation tools, though it also makes Incus a better fit for operators prepared to own an infrastructure layer than for someone seeking a standalone desktop application.

Containers are unprivileged by default, a sensible security baseline. But local access to the Unix socket grants full control of Incus, so access should be limited to users trusted with root-level authority. The security guidance also recommends supported versions, making release maintenance part of responsible operation.

Pricing

Incus costs nothing. The plan is free software under the Apache 2 license, with no paid tier or seat or usage cap described. That makes it suitable for personal use as well as production workloads without a license fee; organizations wanting commercial support can obtain it from Zabbly when using its Debian or Ubuntu packages.

Platforms

The daemon runs on Linux, which is the key deployment constraint: a Windows or macOS client can manage Incus, but does not make those systems supported daemon hosts. The client is available for Windows and macOS, and installation guidance also identifies FreeBSD client packages. Incus supports rootless mode and OCI image building.

Upstream does not distribute packages directly. Operators can install through Linux distribution packages, third-party repositories, or a source build, so setup depends on the chosen Linux distribution and repository path rather than a single upstream installer.

The project offers LTS and feature releases. Incus 6.0 LTS is supported until June 2029, while feature releases normally receive support only until the next release, published about monthly. The LTS track is the more practical choice for installations where frequent upgrade work is unwelcome.

Who it's for

Incus is a strong candidate for Linux administrators and development or production teams that want to manage system containers, application containers, and VMs through a common API and infrastructure model. Its automation integrations and release tracks can serve both growing deployments and smaller setups. It is not the right choice for people who need the virtualization daemon itself to run on Windows or macOS, or who cannot tightly restrict local socket access.

Pros and cons

Pro: Containers and VMs share storage and networking, which can simplify operations for teams managing both workload types.

Pro: CLI, REST API, and documented automation integrations give operators multiple ways to manage instances.

Pro: The free Apache 2 license and supported LTS release make it viable for both development and production without a software license charge.

Con: The daemon is Linux-only, so other platform clients cannot replace a Linux host.

Con: Unix socket access confers full control, requiring administrators to treat membership and permissions as privileged access.

Con: Installation relies on distribution packages, third-party repositories, or a source build rather than direct upstream packages.

Alternatives

Docker Desktop is worth considering if its Docker Engine, Kubernetes, and Docker Hub features better match the intended workflow, or if a freemium product is preferable; its Personal plan is free and its Pro plan is $9 a month.

BuildKit is another free option, licensed under Apache License 2.0, for readers comparing container-building tools.

LXD is a free alternative with KVM-based virtual machines, system containers, and self-hosted deployment.

Apptainer is a free open-source container platform with commercial support available through partners.

gVisor is a free Linux-compatible sandbox that requires Linux 5.6 or later and an x86_64 or ARM64 processor.

Podman offers free container, pod, and image management along with Podman Desktop.

youki is a free, Apache-2.0-licensed option for Linux users comparing container software.

containerd is a free, Apache 2.0-licensed container runtime for Linux, Windows, and self-hosted deployments.

For broader comparisons, browse Container Engines and Container Runtime Software.

Verdict

Choose Incus if you want one free, API-driven system to manage containers and virtual machines on Linux, with shared infrastructure and substantial automation support. Look elsewhere if you need a daemon hosted on Windows or macOS, or cannot safely limit access to its powerful Unix socket.