What is containerd?
Open-source daemon software that handles container image storage, retrieval, execution, and networking across Linux and Windows systems.
containerd pricing
We don't have containerd's full plan breakdown yet (its pricing page resisted automated reading). Here's what we could confirm. Always check live pricing for exact numbers.
What containerd does
The capabilities that matter for container orchestration tools, normalised so it lines up with every alternative. “-” means we haven't confirmed it, not that it's missing.
- Orchestration scope
- None / single-host
- Hosting
- Self-hosted only
- OCI / CRI compliant
- ✓
- CNCF Certified Kubernetes conformant
- -
- Rootless operation
- ✓
- Daemonless architecture
- -
- Windows containers
- ✓
- ARM architecture support
- -
- GPU scheduling
- -
- Stateful workloads
- -
- Built-in networking / CNI
- -
- Vendor-managed control plane
- -
- CNCF maturity
- Graduated
- GUI dashboard
- -
Platform & deployment
Independently observed- CLI
- Linux
- Windows
- Self-hosted
Security & compliance
Known vulnerabilities: 22 (7 in the last 12 months), max severity HIGH sourcea count reflects scale & disclosure, not quality
containerd FAQ
Common questions about containerd, answered from independent, dated evidence.
What is containerd?
Open-source daemon software that handles container image storage, retrieval, execution, and networking across Linux and Windows systems. It is indexed under Container Orchestration Tools.
Source: https://containerd.io
Is containerd free to use?
containerd is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the Apache-2.0 licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.
Source: https://containerd.io
What platforms does containerd support?
containerd supports Windows, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.
Source: https://containerd.io
Can containerd be self-hosted?
Yes. containerd can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.
Source: https://containerd.io
Is containerd open source?
Yes. containerd is published under the Apache-2.0 licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.
containerd alternatives
Other container orchestration tools we track, ranked by the same independent score.
- DockerAn open-source containerization toolkit and framework for building custom container-based systems from modular componentsmedium · 61%
- Google Kubernetes EngineA managed Kubernetes service that automates infrastructure operationslow · 39%
- KubernetesAutomates the deployment and scaling of containerized applications in production environmentslow · 29%
- HelmA package manager for Kubernetes applicationslow · 41%
- BuildahA command-line tool for building OCI-format container imageslow · 41%
- Red Hat OpenShiftA Kubernetes-based platform for building, deploying, and managing cloud-native applications across hybrid and cloud environmentslow · 40%
Compare containerd
Side by side against other container orchestration tools, attribute by attribute, with a source on every value.
The vioscaleAI score: one lens on the evidence
Not user reviews and not a paid placement: a confidence-weighted blend of the independent signals below (adoption, activity, security posture, and more), which you can sort and re-weight yourself. Vendors can correct their listing but can never move their rank, and stars are weighted low as a vanity metric. It is one way to read the evidence for containerd, not the verdict.
| Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Development activity | 63 | 0.09 | 5.9 | ✓ |
| Dependent projects | 74 | 0.06 | 4.6 | ✓ |
| Security score | 91 | 0.04 | 3.8 | ✓ |
| Capabilities | 58 | 0.06 | 3.6 | ✓ |
| Stars | 82 | 0.03 | 2.1 | ✓ |
| Integrations | 0 | 0.07 | 0.0 | - |
| Release cadence | 0 | 0.05 | 0.0 | - |
| Security posture | 0 | 0.12 | 0.0 | - |
| Package downloads | 0 | 0.14 | 0.0 | - |
| Developer Q&A activity | 0 | 0.06 | 0.0 | - |
Computed . Re-weight it by intent, or see the full method.
All data & sourcesshow ↓
Every value we hold, with its source, retrieval date, and confidence. This is the evidence behind the score: don't trust it, verify it.
Activity
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Commits last 30d | 100 | mediumsource · 2026-10-05 · 65% |
Adoption
Content
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Faq | 5 items | mediumsource · 2026-09-10 · 67% |
Features
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Capabilities | Hosting: self · Rootless: Yes · Cncf maturity: graduated · Oci compliant: Yes · Orchestration: single_host · Windows containers: Yes | mediumsource · 2026-09-02 · 60% |
Language
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Go | highsource · 2026-10-05 · 90% |
License
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Spdx | Apache-2.0 | highsource · 2026-10-05 · 95% |
Pricing
Release
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| History | 20 items | mediumsource · 2026-10-05 · 70% |
Security
Is containerd the right choice for you?
Tell us the job, the constraints and what you weigh most, and we will rank containerd against the rest of the container orchestration tools we index, using the same dated evidence weighted your way.
Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works
Is this your product?
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