Colima vs OrbStack
Colima
colima.run
OrbStack
orbstack.devSide by side
| Figure | Colima | OrbStack |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $8/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 3 |
| Spec score · Container Development Environments | 8.6 (#4) | 8.6 (#6) |
| Spec score · Container Runtime Software | 8.5 (#4) | 8.5 (#5) |
| Docker compatibility | The maker says Colima is fully Docker compatible and existing Docker workflows and tools work without changes. | OrbStack provides a Docker engine, Docker Compose and buildx, and is designed to work with existing Compose files and third-party tools such as Dev Containers. |
| Installation | The installation guide provides macOS and Linux installation options, including Homebrew and manual installation. | The documented installation path is downloading and opening the app or installing it with brew install --cask orbstack. |
| Kubernetes | Colima can start a local k3s Kubernetes cluster with a single command. | It includes a lightweight Kubernetes cluster with integrated networking and graphical management for local development. |
| Support | The project lists GitHub Discussions, GitHub Issues, announcements, and a #colima channel in CNCF Slack as community channels. | Official support is offered through email, discussions, an issue tracker and a Discord community. |
Plans
In their own words
Colima
Colima runs container environments on macOS and Linux, with Docker, containerd, Kubernetes and Incus runtime options. Docker compatibility is intended to let existing Docker workflows and tools continue without changes; containerd users can use nerdctl for a Docker-like command line. It can launch a local, single-node k3s cluster, and users can select an exact K3s version. CPU, memory and disk allocations are configurable, and multiple isolated instances can run with different settings. Colima also documents GPU-accelerated AI workloads on Apple Silicon using Krunkit, with model runners supporting Docker AI Registry and HuggingFace; Ramalama also supports Ollama registries. Those workloads require Apple Silicon, macOS 13 or newer, and Krunkit, with at least 8 GB of RAM recommended. The AI containers are isolated from the host filesystem, other containers and network access unless network access is enabled. Colima is free and MIT-licensed, with installation options for macOS and Linux. Incus virtual machines require m3 or newer Apple Silicon.
OrbStack
OrbStack is a macOS app for running Docker containers and Linux machines. It can also run a lightweight, single-node Kubernetes cluster for local development, with a GUI and network integration. The maker says it starts in two seconds and uses optimized networking, file systems, and x86 emulation. Docker CLI, Compose, Earthly, and VS Code Dev Containers work with OrbStack. Linux machines integrate with macOS networking and file sharing, and support SSH agent forwarding and remote VS Code. OrbStack requires macOS 14.0 or later. Personal, non-commercial use is free; freelance, business, and commercial users need a license for each user, with up to five devices covered per user. Pro costs $8/user/mo, billed as $96 annually, and adds Debug Shell and priority support. Enterprise lists SAML SSO and invoice and PO payments, with no price listed. A trial is available without a card, and the FAQ gives users a 30-day grace period to purchase a license. Linux graphical apps and GPU are listed as unsupported.