Finch
6.2#12 in container runtime softwareFree planFree planLinuxmacOSWindows
VisitFinch vs Incus
What both publish
| Fact | Finch | Incus |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2022 | 2023 |
| Purpose | Finch is an open source tool for local container development that provides a native client for upstream container projects. | Incus is a system container, application container, and virtual machine manager. |
| Security limitation | Finch is a developer tool not meant for production use, especially multi-tenant workloads, and its macOS and Windows virtual machine does not create a security boundary. | Local access to the Incus Unix socket grants full control of Incus, so the guide recommends giving it only to trusted users. |
| Support | Users can report issues through the Finch GitHub repository, and AWS customers with Developer tier or higher support can open technical support tickets for Finch. | Community support is available through the Linux Containers forum, and Zabbly provides commercial support for users of its Debian or Ubuntu packages. |
Finch plans
- FinchFree
Incus plans
- IncusFree
Pick Finch if…
Finch suits developers who want a local, open-source container tool across macOS, Windows, or Linux, particularly those using Compose workflows or Visual Studio Code Dev Containers. It is not intended for production use, especially multi-tenant workloads.
Pick Incus if…
Incus suits developers and operators managing container or virtual-machine workloads who want shared storage and networking, API access and integration options. Its daemon requires Linux, even though client applications are available on other platforms.