Lima launches Linux virtual machines with automatic file sharing, according to its project page.
OrbStack
OrbStack runs containers and Linux virtual machines on macOS, according to its product page.
About OrbStack
OrbStack is a macOS application for running Docker containers, Kubernetes, and full Linux virtual machines. According to its product page, it is intended as a drop-in replacement for Docker Desktop, with a native Swift app and a command line interface.
Its stated capabilities include file sharing between Mac and Linux, SSH agent forwarding, remote editing over SSH with Visual Studio Code, USB passthrough, and Rosetta-based x86 emulation for running Intel containers and machines on Apple Silicon. The product page reports low background CPU use and small disk usage, and includes a vendor-reported provisioning time comparison with Docker Desktop dated August 2023. Those performance figures are the vendor's own, and the page notes that some speed optimizations apply to some workloads only. Pricing is not stated in the source.
Key features
- Runs Docker containers, Kubernetes, and Linux distributions on macOS
- Linux machines with a choice of 16 distributions
- Rosetta x86 emulation for running Intel containers on Apple Silicon
- File sharing, bind mounts, and access to files on the Mac
- USB passthrough and isolated machines for running untrusted code
- Command line integration, plus SSH agent forwarding and remote VS Code editing
Best for: Developers on a Mac who run Docker containers or Linux environments and want a lighter alternative to Docker Desktop.
Good for
- Described as a drop-in replacement for Docker Desktop
- Includes a native Mac app and a full command line interface
- Lists low CPU, battery, and disk usage as design goals
Watch out for
- Performance optimizations are described as applying to some workloads
- Speed comparison figures are vendor-reported and dated August 2023
- Product page states macOS as the host platform, so other host systems are not covered
OrbStack at a glance
- Website
- orbstack.dev
- Category
- Software & Utilities › Linux Apps
- Type
- Website
- Pricing
- Not confirmed. Check the site
- Platforms
- Linux, Web
- Open source
- Not stated
- Language
- English
- Last checked
- Oct 6, 2026 · Online when checked
- Listed
- Oct 5, 2026
OrbStack alternatives
Tools and sites you could use instead, ranked by how closely they match.
Tart builds, runs, and manages macOS and Linux virtual machines, with remote storage and integrations such as GitHub and GitLab.
Remmina connects to remote desktops and supports protocols including X2Go, RDP, SSH, SPICE, and VNC, with screen and file sharing.
Distrobox runs Linux distributions inside containers and provides documentation and downloads.
WinApps runs Windows applications such as Microsoft Office or Adobe software on Linux and integrates them with GNOME or KDE.
redroid runs Android in a multi-architecture cloud environment with GPU support, according to its documentation.
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OrbStack FAQ
Can OrbStack replace Docker Desktop?
According to its product page, OrbStack is a drop-in replacement for Docker Desktop and can be used with the same Docker workflows.
Can it run Intel x86 containers on an Apple Silicon Mac?
Yes. The product page states that x86 containers and Intel Linux machines can run on Apple Silicon using Rosetta.
Which Linux distributions are supported?
The product page states that 16 Linux distributions are available.
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