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Head-to-head · Container Build Tools

Earthly vs Dagger

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score Earthly #6 in Container Build Tools 8.6/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Earthly
Dagger #8 in Container Build Tools 8.4/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 2 of 3 features Visit Dagger

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

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreEarthly · 8.6/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Dagger

Earthly scores higher on our rubric for container build tools: 8.6 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #6 and #8.

On build cache backends, Earthly gives you Multiple where Dagger offers Local.

Earthly is the better fit for portable builds with local and remote caching. Dagger is the better fit for programmable CI and container build workflows.

  • Earthly fits best

    Portable builds with local and remote caching

  • Dagger fits best

    Programmable CI and container build workflows

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 Earthly 8.6/10 Visit ↗ Dagger 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.6 8.4
Ranking #6 in Container Build Tools #8 in Container Build Tools
Best for Portable builds with local and remote caching Programmable CI and container build workflows
Pricing model Free Free plan + paid
Starting price Free plan —
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — 14 days
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Email, Community, Docs Community, Email, Docs · 24/7
Integrations 6 integrations 11 integrations
Built for Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Earthly 2/3 · Dagger 2/3
Multi-architecture builds ✓ ✓
SBOM generation Not checked yet Not checked yet
Build secret handling ✓ ✓
Specs
Build method Local_daemon Not checked yet
Build cache backends Multiple Local
Concurrent builds Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • 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
  • Programmable DAG workflows using real code and a clean API
  • Multi-platform builds with automatic workflow and layer caching
  • Custom Docker, Kubernetes, and Podman runners
Cons
  • 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
  • The Individual plan supports one user
  • Its scope extends beyond pure container image building
  • Advanced team and enterprise capabilities sit in paid tiers
Our verdict

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 →

Dagger is a programmable CI platform for developers and platform teams building, testing, and publishing containerized software. It replaces shell scripts and CI configuration with code, a clean API, and a portable DAG execution engine.…

Read the review →
  1. EarthlyContainer Build Tools 8.6Free plan
  2. DaggerContainer Build Tools 8.4Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • 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

  • Dagger — where it wins

    • Programmable DAG workflows using real code and a clean API
    • Multi-platform builds with automatic workflow and layer caching
    • Custom Docker, Kubernetes, and Podman runners

    Where it doesn't

    • The Individual plan supports one user
    • Its scope extends beyond pure container image building
    • Advanced team and enterprise capabilities sit in paid tiers

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