Atuin synchronizes, searches, and backs up shell history with end-to-end encryption on macOS, Linux, and Windows.
Open source
24 alternativesDistrobox
Distrobox runs Linux distributions inside containers and provides documentation and downloads.
About Distrobox
Distrobox lets users run Linux distributions inside containers from a terminal. It acts as a wrapper around podman, docker or lilipod, which create the containers from the distribution the user chooses. The homepage describes the containers as tightly integrated with the host, sharing the user's HOME directory, external storage, USB devices, graphical apps (X11 and Wayland) and audio.
The homepage says Distrobox is based on OCI images and follows concepts from containers/toolbox, implemented in a simpler form using POSIX sh for broader compatibility. Because containers share host resources such as the home directory and devices, users should review the security implications; the homepage lists this as a separate section, but its content is not included here. Documentation on GitHub refers to the main branch code, and the official documentation is at distrobox.it.
Key features
- Creates containers from a chosen Linux distribution using podman, docker or lilipod
- Shares the user's HOME directory with the container
- Gives containers access to external storage and external USB devices
- Runs graphical apps (X11 and Wayland) and audio from inside the container
- Provides container access to networking, the systemd journal, SSH agent and D-Bus
- Offers commands such as distrobox-create, distrobox-enter, distrobox-export and distrobox-assemble
Best for: Linux users who want to run software from other Linux distributions from their terminal while keeping close integration with their host system.
Good for
- Supports a choice of container managers: podman, docker or lilipod
- Containers can use the host's home directory, storage, devices and graphical apps
- Written in POSIX sh with the aim of broader compatibility
Watch out for
- Needs podman, docker or lilipod to create containers
- Documentation on GitHub refers to code in the main branch, so the official site at distrobox.it is the stated reference
Distrobox at a glance
- Website
- distrobox.it
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Linux Apps
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
Distrobox alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
OrbStack runs containers and Linux virtual machines on macOS, according to its product page.
redroid runs Android in a multi-architecture cloud environment with GPU support, according to its documentation.
PipeWire handles audio and video on Linux, with project documentation describing its media framework.
ugrep searches files by pattern as a compatible grep replacement, with interactive and fuzzy search modes listed in its documentation.
Tart builds, runs, and manages macOS and Linux virtual machines, with remote storage and integrations such as GitHub and GitLab.
Popular in Linux Apps
Well-known listings from the same topic.
AltBoxaltbox.devThe Levelatorarchive.org/details/conversationsnetwork_org-l…Alacrittyalacritty.orgShellScriptshellscript.shghostwriterghostwriter.kde.orgLibrebootlibreboot.org
Distrobox FAQ
Which container managers does Distrobox use?
Distrobox uses podman, docker or lilipod to create containers.
Which parts of the host does a Distrobox container share?
The homepage says containers can share the user's HOME directory, external storage, external USB devices, graphical apps (X11/Wayland) and audio.
Where is the official documentation?
The official documentation is at https://distrobox.it. Documentation on GitHub refers to the code in the main branch.
Is something wrong or out of date?
Tell us and an editor will check it.
Own this website?
Claim this listing
Claim the listing and suggest updates yourself. An editor checks every claim first.