docker alternatives for Mac
docker — Pack, ship and run any application as a lightweight container — is installed 64,961 times a month through Homebrew. These are hand-picked alternatives that occupy the same slot, ordered by how comparable their user base is.
Run
brew install docker to install docker itself.- OrbStack3.1× smaller user base
- Microsoft Visual Studio Code36,536 installs/mo
- Postman7.1× smaller user base
- Zed7.4× smaller user base
- Bruno13.6× smaller user base
- Tower624.6× smaller user base
- DBeaver Community Edition6.6× smaller user base
- Insomnia79.9× smaller user base
Full comparison
| docker | OrbStack | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | CLI tool | GUI app |
| Category | DevOps & Cloud | DevOps & Cloud |
| Open source | Yes | Not declared |
| Licence | Apache-2.0 | Not declared |
| Apple silicon | All Macs (binary package) | Universal |
| Latest version | 29.9.2 | 2.2.5,21124 |
| Dependencies | 0 | 0 |
| Installs (30 days) | 64,961 | 20,787 |
| Install command | brew install docker | brew install --cask orbstack |
How we picked these
The list comes from a hand-maintained set of same-purpose apps, not from keyword matching. Alternatives are removed automatically when Homebrew no longer carries them. Ordering reflects 30-day install volume, not paid placement. Data updated 2026-10-26.