OrbStack vs Vessel
OrbStack
orbstack.devVessel
vessel.shippingdocker.comSide by side
| Figure | OrbStack | Vessel |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $8/mo | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | Yes | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 0 |
| Spec score · Container Development Environments | 8.6 (#6) | 6.8 (#38) |
| Installation | The documented installation path is downloading and opening the app or installing it with brew install --cask orbstack. | Vessel is installed in a Laravel project through Composer and its command and Docker files are published with Artisan. |
| Support | Official support is offered through email, discussions, an issue tracker and a Discord community. | The opened Vessel pages link to usage and customization documentation and do not state a support service or response time. |
Plans
In their own words
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.
Vessel
Vessel has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.