Docker Desktop
The GUI and daemon most developers use to run containers locally.
Self-hosted Proprietary (free for small business/personal) containerslocal-dev
Pricing
Free for personal use and small businesses (under 250 employees / $10M revenue). Paid for larger orgs.
Docker Desktop is still the default way most developers run containers locally on macOS and Windows — the underlying Docker Engine is open source, but the Desktop app and licensing around it are not.
Key features
- GUI for managing containers, images, and volumes
- Kubernetes cluster built in for local testing
- Resource limits configurable without touching a VM directly
- Extension marketplace for added tooling
Self-hosted vs. cloud
Runs entirely locally. Note the licensing terms changed in 2021 — larger companies need a paid subscription; check your org’s size against Docker’s current terms before assuming it’s free.
Quick start
# macOS
brew install --cask docker
Alternatives
OrbStack is a lighter, faster alternative on macOS specifically, with a more permissive free tier for solo developers.