vioscaleAI
Comparison

Docker vs Kubernetes

On the evidence we track, Docker leads this comparison with a composite score of 69/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.

Docker full profile →Kubernetes full profile →
Machine formatsMarkdownJSONGraphQLAll open, no key required.
★Docker69
Kubernetes63
Score
vioscaleAI score
Docker69 / 100medium · 65%
Kubernetes63 / 100low · 30%
Pricing
Free tier
Docker✓
Kubernetes✓
Model
Dockercommercial
Kubernetesopen_source
Price level
Dockerlow
Kubernetesfree
Transparent
Docker✓
Kubernetes✓
Security
Disclosure policy
Docker✓
Kubernetes✓
Gdpr
Docker✓
Kubernetes–
Iso27001
Docker✓
Kubernetes–
Scorecard
Docker9.1
Kubernetes7.2
Soc2
Docker✓
Kubernetes–
Trust center
Vulnerabilities
Reliability
Status page
Docker✓
Kubernetes–
Adoption
Dependent repos
Docker1,657
Kubernetes–
Github stars
Docker72,082
Kubernetes126,872
Activity
Commits last 30d
Docker100
Kubernetes100
Release
Cadence days
Docker5
Kubernetes1
History
Docker20 items
Kubernetes20 items
License
Spdx
DockerApache-2.0
KubernetesApache-2.0
Language
Primary
DockerGo
KubernetesGo
Market
Availability
Content
Faq
Docker7 items
Kubernetes5 items

Capabilities

Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for container orchestration tools. “-” means undocumented, not absent.

Core
Orchestration scope
DockerSwarm / Compose
KubernetesKubernetes
Deployment
Hosting
DockerCloud + self-hosted
KubernetesCloud + self-hosted
Standards
OCI / CRI compliant
Docker-
Kubernetes-
CNCF Certified Kubernetes conformant
Docker-
Kubernetes✓
Security
Rootless operation
Docker✓
Kubernetes-
Architecture
Daemonless architecture
Docker-
Kubernetes-
Platform
Windows containers
Docker✓
Kubernetes✓
ARM architecture support
Docker-
Kubernetes-
Workloads
GPU scheduling
Docker-
Kubernetes-
Stateful workloads
Docker-
Kubernetes✓
Networking
Built-in networking / CNI
Docker✓
Kubernetes✓
Ops
Vendor-managed control plane
Docker-
Kubernetes-
Ecosystem
CNCF maturity
Docker-
Kubernetes-
UX
GUI dashboard
Docker✓
Kubernetes-

What each one is

The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.

Docker

Leader

Docker is a containerization platform that enables developers to package applications and their dependencies into isolated containers. It provides build tools, container engines, registries, and orchestration capabilities for managing containerized systems.

Independently observed

Kubernetes

A platform for orchestrating containerized applications across clusters of computers, automatically handling deployment, scaling, and updates based on decades of production experience at Google and community best practices.

Independently observed

Pricing

List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.

Docker

Leader
from $9/moHybridFree tier

From free (Personal tier) to $24/seat/month (Business). Docker Hardened Images starting at $5k/repo (Select tier).

  • Docker PersonalFree
    • Docker Desktop
    • Docker Engine + Kubernetes
    • Docker Hub
    • Docker Scout
    • Docker Debug
  • Docker Pro$9/seat/month (monthly billing) or $11/seat/month (annual billing)
    • Docker Build Cloud
    • Testcontainers Cloud
    • Synchronized File Shares
    • Docker Scout health scores visibility
    • 5 business day support
  • Docker Team$15/seat/month (monthly billing) or $16/seat/month (annual billing)
    • Add users in bulk
    • Audit logs
    • Docker Hub role-based access control
    • 2 business day support
  • Docker BusinessContact sales
    • Hardened Docker Desktop
    • Single Sign-On (SSO)
    • SCIM user provisioning
    • Image and Registry Access Management
    • Desktop Insights Dashboard
    • +3 more
as of verify ↗

Kubernetes

Open source

Free and open source

as of verify ↗

Platform & deployment

Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.

Platforms
Windows
Docker✓
Kubernetes✗
Linux
Docker✓
Kubernetes✗
CLI
Docker✓
Kubernetes✓
Deployment
Cloud / SaaS
Docker✗
Kubernetes✓
Self-hosted
Docker✓
Kubernetes✓
On-premise
Docker✗
Kubernetes✓
Hybrid
Docker✗
Kubernetes✓
Still deciding?

Docker or Kubernetes: which one depends on you

A composite score cannot know your constraints. Describe them and both get re-weighted against what you actually need, with the evidence behind every position.

Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works

Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.