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OrbStack

OrbStack is a macOS tool for running Docker containers and Linux machines from a native desktop app and command line.

Apple SiliconIntelFree for personal non-commercial use; Pro US $8 per user monthly when billed annually
Official destinationsFree for personal non-commercial use; Pro US $8 per user monthly when billed annually · Freemium subscription

macOS 14.0 or later

Availability

Available for macOS

Apple Silicon; Intel

Implementation

Native Swift Mac application with Swift, Go, Rust, and C services

Evidence last checked

Verification

2026-08-21

Reviewed Overview

OrbStack is a macOS tool for running Docker containers and Linux machines from a native desktop app and command line. It is designed as a Docker Desktop alternative, but it also exposes machine, networking, file-sharing, and SSH workflows that make local Linux work feel closer to the Mac. Under the hood, OrbStack documents a lightweight Linux virtual machine with a shared kernel; Docker runs alongside Linux machines in that environment. The vendor also documents Rosetta-based x86 emulation on Apple Silicon, VirtioFS-based sharing, and custom services written in Swift, Go, Rust, and C. Current downloads are separate for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs and require macOS 14 or later. OrbStack is free for personal, non-commercial use, while business and commercial use belongs on its paid Pro plan, currently listed as $8 per user per month when billed annually. It fits developers who need containers, local services, or a few reproducible Linux machines without leaving macOS. It can change Docker contexts, install command-line links, and optionally migrate Docker Desktop data, so treat setup as infrastructure work rather than a casual utility install. Isolated machines have different integration behavior, and the vendor explicitly cautions that shared-kernel machines are not a full-VM boundary for actively malicious code.

Reviewed Features

  • Run Docker containers, Kubernetes, and Linux machines from the same macOS application and command-line environment.
  • Use separate official Apple Silicon and Intel downloads on macOS 14.0 or later.
  • Share Mac files with containers and machines through optimized VirtioFS-based mounts and the documented bidirectional file-sharing path.
  • Use Rosetta-based x86 emulation on Apple Silicon for supported container and Linux-machine workflows.
  • Use the free plan for personal non-commercial use, or the commercial Pro plan for business use and its additional features.

Reviewed Workflows

  • Start a Compose project, use the local domain and port-forwarding integration, then inspect its files from macOS as you iterate.
  • Create a Linux machine for a project-specific service, then connect using the included command-line tools or SSH integration.
  • Move from Docker Desktop by reviewing your current context and optionally copying Docker data with OrbStack's migration flow.

Cautions

  • OrbStack requires macOS 14.0 or later, so older Macs are outside the current supported download requirement.
  • The free tier is for personal, non-commercial use; business and commercial use require the current Pro terms, so verify plan eligibility before deploying it at work.
  • Migration can copy existing Docker Desktop data and setup can alter Docker context or command-line links, so inspect local infrastructure state before switching.
  • Shared-kernel Linux machines are not a full-VM security boundary for actively malicious code; use the documented isolated-machine model when that distinction matters.

Verification Sources

These official or authorized sources support only the fact groups listed with each link. They were checked on the date shown; pricing, compatibility, and availability can change.

Screenshots

OrbStack's Mac workspace showing a Compose project, local domains, and a Linux machine alongside Finder files.
OrbStack's virtual-machine service displayed in macOS Activity Monitor with its low CPU activity.

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