BuildKit
6.8#2 in container enginesFree planFree planAPILinuxmacOSSelf-hosted
VisitBuildKit vs containerd
containerd
6.1#10 in container enginesFree planFree planLinuxSelf-hostedWindows
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | BuildKit | containerd |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | BuildKit converts source code into build artifacts efficiently and repeatably. | containerd is an industry-standard container runtime for managing a host’s container lifecycle, including image transfer and storage, execution, and supervision. |
| Support | The README directs users to the #buildkit channel on Docker Community Slack. | Nightly builds are available for Linux and Windows, but may contain critical bugs, are not recommended for production, and receive no support. |
BuildKit plans
- BuildKit (Apache License 2.0)Free
containerd plans
- containerdFree
Pick BuildKit if…
BuildKit suits developers and teams who need configurable, cache-aware builds and multiple artifact formats. It also fits users who want rootless execution or integration with Docker and other listed projects.
Pick containerd if…
It suits teams embedding a container runtime in a larger system or using it as a Kubernetes runtime. It is not designed as a direct end-user tool.