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Head-to-head · Container Runtime Software

Docker Desktop vs Incus

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 2 checks side by side
Higher score Docker Desktop #1 in Container Runtime Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit Docker
Incus #7 in Container Runtime Software 8.5/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 1 of 4 features Visit Incus

Docker Desktop leads on 0 checks, Incus on 0, and 2 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 2 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreDocker Desktop · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresIncus · 1 of 4

Docker Desktop scores higher on our rubric for container runtime software: 9.4 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #7.

Docker Desktop is the better fit for cross-platform desktop container development. Incus is the better fit for linux system containers and virtual machines.

  • Docker Desktop fits best

    Cross-platform desktop container development

  • Incus fits best

    Linux system containers and virtual machines

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 Docker Desktop 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Incus 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.5
Ranking #1 in Container Runtime Software #7 in Container Runtime Software
Best for Cross-platform desktop container development Linux system containers and virtual machines
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $9/user/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Desktop Self-hosted
Platforms Windows, macOS, Linux Windows, macOS, Linux
Integrations 5 integrations 5 integrations
Features Docker Desktop 0/4 · Incus 1/4
Rootless mode Not checked yet ✓ (best)
OCI support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Desktop GUI Not checked yet Not checked yet
Windows containers Not checked yet Not checked yet
Specs
Runtime mode Not checked yet Not checked yet
Host platforms Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Combines Docker Engine, CLI, Compose, image building, and Kubernetes.
  • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with configurable resource controls.
  • Offers Personal, Pro, Team, and Business plans for different team needs.
  • Combines system containers, OCI applications, and virtual machines
  • Adds clustering, snapshots, migration, storage, and network management
  • Integrates with Ansible, Terraform, OpenTofu, Packer, and Kubernetes Cluster API
Cons
  • Advanced identity and isolation controls are limited to the Business plan.
  • Audit logs and role-based access control start with the Team plan.
  • Paid plans are priced per user and the listed starting price uses annual billing.
  • The Incus daemon runs on Linux
  • Windows and macOS support is for clients, not the server
  • Its broad scope may exceed the needs of app-container-only deployments
Our verdict

Docker Desktop is a desktop application for building, sharing, and running containerized applications and microservices. It brings a graphical dashboard together with Docker Engine, the Docker CLI, Docker Build, Docker Compose, local…

Read the review →

Incus is an open-source manager for system containers, OCI application containers, and virtual machines. It is aimed at developers, infrastructure teams, and production environments that need to run and manage Linux systems or virtual…

Read the review →
  1. Docker DesktopContainer Runtime Software 9.4Free plan
  2. IncusContainer Runtime Software 8.5Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Docker Desktop — where it wins

    • Combines Docker Engine, CLI, Compose, image building, and Kubernetes.
    • Runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux with configurable resource controls.
    • Offers Personal, Pro, Team, and Business plans for different team needs.

    Where it doesn't

    • Advanced identity and isolation controls are limited to the Business plan.
    • Audit logs and role-based access control start with the Team plan.
    • Paid plans are priced per user and the listed starting price uses annual billing.

  • Incus — where it wins

    • Combines system containers, OCI applications, and virtual machines
    • Adds clustering, snapshots, migration, storage, and network management
    • Integrates with Ansible, Terraform, OpenTofu, Packer, and Kubernetes Cluster API

    Where it doesn't

    • The Incus daemon runs on Linux
    • Windows and macOS support is for clients, not the server
    • Its broad scope may exceed the needs of app-container-only deployments
  • Docker Desktop9.4/10 · Free plan

    A broad desktop container workspace with local Kubernetes, Compose, and tiered team controls.

    Visit DockerFull verdict →
  • Incus8.5/10 · Free plan

    A broad Linux-focused runtime for system containers, OCI apps, and virtual machines.

    Visit IncusFull verdict →

More comparisons

All container runtime software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update