Container Desktop
Container Desktop is a desktop interface for managing Podman, Docker, and Apple Container on Linux, macOS, and Windows.
What Container Desktop is
Container Desktop is a desktop interface for managing Podman, Docker, and Apple Container on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It connects locally, over SSH, and through WSL. Users can inspect container logs, environment variables, mounts, ports, and live stats, then start, stop, or restart containers. The interface can open exposed container services in a browser. For image builds, it includes a Containerfile editor with live linting, build options, a build timeline, and an image layer inspector. Other tools cover image security, pods, networks, secrets, and volumes. A built-in assistant can inspect and operate containers; it asks for approval before actions that change state. Its AI options include local connections to LM Studio and llama.cpp and cloud services OpenRouter and Anthropic. The project is free and open source under the MIT license. Its privacy policy says the app itself does not perform telemetry or collect, store, or transmit data. It also notes that third-party registries, including docker.io and quay.io, have their own privacy practices. Linux and Windows downloads list x86_64 and arm64 options.
Good
- Supports Linux, macOS, and Windows.
- Connects locally, over SSH, and through WSL.
- Includes container controls and live stats.
- Built-in assistant requests approval before state-changing actions.
- Free and open source under MIT.
Watch out
- No local Kubernetes support is listed.
- Compose workflows are not supported.
Who it suits
Container Desktop may suit desktop users who manage Podman, Docker, or Apple Container through local, SSH, or WSL connections. Its listed container controls and image-building tools are relevant to people who need to inspect and operate containers.
Verdict
Container Desktop brings container inspection, controls, and image-building tools into a desktop interface. It is free and open source, but does not support local Kubernetes or Compose workflows.
Plans and prices
From Container Desktop's own pricing page, checked 9 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Container Desktop | Free | Free and open source · MIT licensed |
The facts
Each one read from Container Desktop's own pages, with the date it was checked.
Where it runs
- AI approvals
- The assistant asks for approval before performing actions that change state.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Browser access
- The app can open exposed container services in a browser.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Linux packages
- Linux downloads are listed for Debian/Ubuntu, Fedora/RHEL, portable tarball, AppImage, and Arch Linux, in x86_64 and arm64 variants.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Windows packages
- Windows downloads include the Microsoft Store, an installer, and a portable zip, with x86_64 and arm64 options listed.checked 9 Oct 2026
What it does
- AI assistant
- The built-in assistant can inspect and operate containers, and asks before actions that change state.checked 9 Oct 2026
- AI integrations
- The assistant supports LM Studio and llama.cpp locally, as well as OpenRouter and Anthropic in the cloud.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Connections
- It supports local connections, SSH, and WSL.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Container controls
- Users can view logs, environment variables, mounts, ports, and live stats, and start, stop, or restart containers.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Container management
- Users can view logs, environment variables, mounts, ports, and live stats, and start, stop, or restart containers.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Downloads
- Downloads are offered for Linux, macOS, and Windows; Linux and Windows packages list x86_64 and arm64 options.checked 9 Oct 2026
- External services
- The privacy policy says third-party registries such as docker.io and quay.io have their own privacy practices.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Image building
- The app includes a Containerfile editor with live linting, build options, a build timeline, and an image layer inspector.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Image builds
- It includes a Containerfile editor with live linting, a build timeline, and an image layer inspector.checked 9 Oct 2026
- License
- The project is free and open source under the MIT license.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Maintainer
- The site footer credits Ionut Stoica and identifies the project as MIT licensed.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Other features
- The product includes image security, pods, networks, secrets, and volumes management.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Other resources
- The interface includes image security, pods, networks, secrets, and volumes features.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The privacy policy says the app performs no telemetry and collects, stores, or transmits no data of its own.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Privacy limitation
- The policy says third-party registries such as docker.io and quay.io have their own privacy behavior.checked 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Container Desktop is a desktop interface for Podman, Docker, and Apple Container.checked 9 Oct 2026
The company
- Maker attribution
- The site footer credits Ionut Stoica.checked 9 Oct 2026
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