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Head-to-head · Container Build Tools

Depot vs Earthly

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 4 checks side by side
Higher score Depot #4 in Container Build Tools 8.8/10 7-day trial Free trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Depot
Earthly #6 in Container Build Tools 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Earthly

Depot leads on 0 checks, Earthly on 1, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 4 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreDepot · 8.8/10
  • Free planonly Earthly
  • Free trialonly Depot
  • Most featuresDepot · 3 of 3

Depot scores higher on our rubric for container build tools: 8.8 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

Earthly offers free plan; Depot doesn't. On build method, Earthly gives you Local_daemon where Depot offers Remote. On build cache backends, Earthly gives you Multiple where Depot offers Local.

Depot is the better fit for teams needing fast managed remote builds. Earthly is the better fit for portable builds with local and remote caching.

  • Depot fits best

    Teams needing fast managed remote builds

  • Earthly fits best

    Portable builds with local and remote caching

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Depot 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Earthly 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.6
Ranking #4 in Container Build Tools #6 in Container Build Tools
Best for Teams needing fast managed remote builds Portable builds with local and remote caching
Pricing model Paid Free
Starting price $20/mo Free plan
Free plan — ✓ (best)
Free trial 7 days —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop
Platforms Web, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Email, Docs Email, Community, Docs
Integrations 20 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Depot 3/3 · Earthly 2/3
Multi-architecture builds ✓ ✓
SBOM generation ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Build secret handling ✓ ✓
Specs
Build method Remote Local_daemon
Build cache backends Local Multiple
Concurrent builds Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Persistent remote NVMe caching and native Intel/Arm builds
  • Unlimited concurrency across the Developer and Startup plans
  • Broad CI, CLI, API, registry, SBOM, and secret-mount support
  • Isolates builds in containers for repeatable local and CI workflows
  • Supports parallel targets, layer caching, and persistent remote caching
  • Builds multi-platform images plus reusable artifacts and non-image outputs
Cons
  • No free plan; paid access starts at $20 per month
  • Developer is limited to 1 user and 500 Docker build minutes
  • Remote-first scope may exceed the needs of local-only build teams
  • The official repository says Earthly is no longer actively maintained
  • Earthfile syntax adds a dedicated workflow layer to build pipelines
  • Remote runners and persistent cloud caching extend the platform beyond local builds
Our verdict

Depot provides remote infrastructure for building and delivering software, with Docker and BuildKit workloads running on remote builders. It is aimed at solo developers, startups, and larger teams that need persistent project caching,…

Read the review →

Earthly is a containerized build framework for software teams that need consistent workflows across developer machines and continuous integration systems. Teams define build logic in Earthfiles, using syntax influenced by Dockerfiles and…

Read the review →
  1. DepotContainer Build Tools 8.87-day trial
  2. EarthlyContainer Build Tools 8.6Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Depot — where it wins

    • Persistent remote NVMe caching and native Intel/Arm builds
    • Unlimited concurrency across the Developer and Startup plans
    • Broad CI, CLI, API, registry, SBOM, and secret-mount support

    Where it doesn't

    • No free plan; paid access starts at $20 per month
    • Developer is limited to 1 user and 500 Docker build minutes
    • Remote-first scope may exceed the needs of local-only build teams

  • Earthly — where it wins

    • Isolates builds in containers for repeatable local and CI workflows
    • Supports parallel targets, layer caching, and persistent remote caching
    • Builds multi-platform images plus reusable artifacts and non-image outputs

    Where it doesn't

    • The official repository says Earthly is no longer actively maintained
    • Earthfile syntax adds a dedicated workflow layer to build pipelines
    • Remote runners and persistent cloud caching extend the platform beyond local builds
  • Depot8.8/10 · 7-day trial

    A capable remote BuildKit platform for teams that need speed, caching, and multi-architecture builds.

    Visit DepotFull verdict →
  • Earthly8.6/10 · Free plan

    A portable build system with caching, parallel targets, and broad CI integration.

    Visit EarthlyFull verdict →

More comparisons

All container build tools comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update