Colima
6.5#7 in container runtime softwareFree planFree planLinuxmacOS
VisitColima vs OrbStack
What both publish
| Fact | Colima | OrbStack |
|---|---|---|
| Docker compatibility | The maker says Colima is fully Docker compatible and existing Docker workflows and tools work without changes. | OrbStack provides a Docker engine, Docker Compose and buildx, and is designed to work with existing Compose files and third-party tools such as Dev Containers. |
| Installation | The installation guide provides macOS and Linux installation options, including Homebrew and manual installation. | The documented installation path is downloading and opening the app or installing it with brew install --cask orbstack. |
| Kubernetes | Colima can start a local k3s Kubernetes cluster with a single command. | It includes a lightweight Kubernetes cluster with integrated networking and graphical management for local development. |
| Support | The project lists GitHub Discussions, GitHub Issues, announcements, and a #colima channel in CNCF Slack as community channels. | Official support is offered through email, discussions, an issue tracker and a Discord community. |
Colima plans
- ColimaFree
OrbStack plans
- FreeFree
- Pro$8 a month
- EnterprisePriced on request
Pick Colima if…
Colima suits developers on macOS or Linux who need local container runtimes, Kubernetes, or isolated instances. Its documented GPU-accelerated AI workloads are aimed at users with qualifying Apple Silicon devices.
Pick OrbStack if…
OrbStack suits macOS users who want local containers, Linux machines, or a lightweight Kubernetes cluster for development. Personal users can use the free plan, while commercial users need a per-user license.