OrbStack vs Tokaido

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.

Tokaido is a free, open-source tool for creating local Drupal development environments with Docker and the `tok` command-line interface. Its containers can run PHP, Nginx, and MySQL, with optional services including Solr, Memcache, Mailhog, and Adminer. The `tok up` command starts an environment and sets up HTTPS. Project settings can be kept in `.tok/config.yml` in the Git repository, allowing teammates to share configuration. An SSH endpoint provides access to tools such as Drush, Composer, Gulp, Yarn, and Npm. Tokaido supports Linux, macOS, and Windows, though its Windows build is described as beta and experimental. Its local environment is ephemeral: the database resets on restart, and files outside `/tokaido/site` are lost. Drupal multisite is supported, but `tok snapshot` and `tok test` do not account for multisite databases. The project lists Drupal 7 or 8, PHP 7.1, and a Git repository as requirements. Tokaido was founded in 2016, is headquartered in Melbourne, and is primarily maintained by Ironstar.