LXD
LXD: A broad Linux systems manager for teams that need containers, VMs, and infrastructure control. Ranked #5 of 31 in Container Engines by our editors (8.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for linux system containers and virtual machines.
At a glance
- Editor score8.8 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forLinux system containers and virtual machines
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Rootless modeYes
- Founded2004 · London, United Kingdom
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Manages system containers and virtual machines through one interface
- Combines clustering, migration, snapshots, and detailed resource limits
- Offers REST, web, CLI, image building, and hardware passthrough
Where it doesn't
- Requires a Linux host operating system
- Does not provide Windows containers
- Uses its own image format rather than explicitly OCI or Docker
Our verdict on LXD
LXD is an open-source manager for full Linux systems running as system containers or virtual machines. Maintained within the Canonical family, it is aimed at developers, infrastructure teams, and organizations managing workloads from individual workstations through production data centers. Its management surface includes a command-line client, web interface, and REST API, while its free and open-source model suits teams that want control over deployment and infrastructure without a paid product tier.
Its strongest fit is breadth of systems management. LXD can create instances from images, organize them with projects and profiles, configure storage and networking, and apply limits to CPU, memory, network I/O, disk space, and kernel resources. Snapshots support scheduling and automatic expiry, while live migration and stateful snapshotting help with workload movement. Clustering extends management across containers and virtual machines, and hardware passthrough covers GPUs, USB devices, NICs, disks, and other hardware. Custom image building is available through LXD image builder.
LXD also fits environments that need an API-led ecosystem. Its REST API manages instances, networks, storage, and other resources, and integrations include Kubernetes CSI, MAAS, and MicroCloud. The platform supports Linux containers and Linux virtual machines across a Linux host, while Windows is supported for virtual machines rather than Windows containers. Teams should choose LXD when they need a unified control layer for system containers and VMs, with infrastructure organization and migration built in. It is less suitable for workflows centered specifically on Windows containers or image formats explicitly documented as OCI or Docker.
Your product? Our editors can test LXD in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
LXD pricing
LXD fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Rootless mode | Yes |
| Image building | Yes |
| Kubernetes CRI | Not verified |
| Windows containers | Not verified |
| Image format | Not verified |
| Runtime interface | Other |
| Supported host OS | Linux |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 6 integrations: Juju, MAAS, Ansible, Terraform, Puppet Bolt, Packer See all → |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | canonical.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
LXD integrations
LXD lists 6 integrations on its own site.
- Juju
- MAAS
- Ansible
- Terraform
- Puppet Bolt
- Packer
Alternatives to LXD
- Docker EngineA broad container engine for building, running, and managing applications across major platforms.9.4
- PodmanA free, Docker-compatible container engine with rootless execution and Kubernetes YAML support.9.2
- containerdA focused open-source runtime for Kubernetes and production infrastructure.9.0
LXD vs the competition
Compare LXD with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
LXD is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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