About
OrbStack is a drop-in replacement for Docker Desktop that runs containers, full Linux machines and Kubernetes on macOS while barely registering on the battery. Idle CPU use sits below 0.1 per cent and the app itself takes under 10 MB of disk, yet containers start in seconds and networking simply works, with local domain names for every container and VPN-friendly connectivity. Rosetta handles x86 images on Apple Silicon at speeds emulation is not supposed to reach.
Because it answers the standard Docker CLI, adopting it means installing the app and changing nothing else. Files, SSH agent forwarding and remote VS Code editing all carry across. Developed by Orbital Labs and at version 2.2 as of mid-2026, it is always free for personal use; commercial use requires a Pro plan at $8 per user per month.
