Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Docker Compose VS OpenShift Container Platform

Compare Docker Compose VS OpenShift Container Platform and see what are their differences

Docker Compose logo Docker Compose

Define and run multi-container applications with Docker

OpenShift Container Platform logo OpenShift Container Platform

Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform is the secure and comprehensive enterprise-grade container platform based on industry standards, Docker and Kubernetes.
  • Docker Compose Landing page
    Landing page //
    2024-05-23
  • OpenShift Container Platform Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-04

Docker Compose features and specs

  • Simplified Multi-Container Deployment
    Docker Compose allows users to define and manage multi-container applications with a single YAML file, making it easy to deploy complex applications.
  • Infrastructure as Code
    Compose files are version-controlled, enabling teams to use best practices in infrastructure as code, repeatable builds, and consistent development environments.
  • Portability
    Applications defined with Docker Compose can be shared easily and deployed in any environment that supports Docker, enhancing development and operational consistency.
  • Ease of Use
    With simple CLI commands, developers can start, stop, and manage containers, reducing the complexity of container orchestration.
  • Environment Variables
    Docker Compose supports the use of environment variables, making it easier to configure applications and manage different environments (e.g., development, testing, production).
  • Isolation
    Compose creates isolated environments for different applications, preventing conflicts and allowing for more straightforward dependency management.

Possible disadvantages of Docker Compose

  • Not Suitable for Large-Scale Production
    Docker Compose is not designed for managing large-scale, production-grade applications. For more robust orchestration and scaling, systems like Kubernetes are typically used.
  • Single Host Limitation
    Docker Compose is intended for single-host deployments, which limits its use in distributed and multi-host environments.
  • Networking Complexity
    Networking between containers can become complex, especially as the number of services grows, which may require additional configuration and management.
  • Learning Curve
    While Docker Compose simplifies many tasks, there is still a learning curve associated with understanding Docker concepts, Compose syntax, and best practices.
  • Limited Built-in Monitoring
    Docker Compose has limited built-in monitoring and logging capabilities, necessitating the use of additional tools for comprehensive monitoring.
  • Resource Management
    Docker Compose does not provide advanced resource management features, which can lead to suboptimal resource usage and potential inefficiencies.

OpenShift Container Platform features and specs

  • Comprehensive Kubernetes Platform
    OpenShift Container Platform provides a robust, enterprise-grade Kubernetes environment with advanced features for application lifecycle management, networking, and security out-of-the-box.
  • Integrated Developer Tools
    The platform includes integrated developer tools such as source-to-image (S2I) build systems and Jenkins pipelines, which streamline development workflows and enhance productivity.
  • Multi-cloud Support
    OpenShift supports hybrid and multi-cloud deployments, allowing organizations to run workloads across on-premises, bare metal, and multiple public cloud providers seamlessly.
  • Enhanced Security Features
    The platform offers advanced security capabilities such as built-in compliance checks, role-based access control (RBAC), and automated security updates to protect workloads from vulnerabilities.
  • Rich Ecosystem and Integrations
    OpenShift integrates seamlessly with a wide range of Red Hat and third-party tools and services, providing a rich ecosystem for building, deploying, and managing containerized applications.

Possible disadvantages of OpenShift Container Platform

  • Complexity
    The platform's extensive features and capabilities can lead to a steep learning curve, making it challenging for teams without prior Kubernetes or OpenShift experience.
  • Cost
    OpenShift Container Platform can be costly, especially for large-scale deployments, as it includes enterprise-grade support and additional tooling not found in vanilla Kubernetes.
  • Resource Intensive
    The platform may require significant compute and storage resources to run efficiently, which can be a consideration for organizations with limited infrastructure capacity.
  • Vendor Lock-in
    While OpenShift is based on open-source Kubernetes, certain features and integrations are Red Hat-specific, possibly leading to a degree of vendor lock-in.
  • Operational Overhead
    Managing and maintaining an OpenShift environment can introduce additional operational overhead due to its comprehensive but complex nature, requiring dedicated staff and expertise.

Docker Compose videos

Docker Compose | Containerizing MEAN Stack Application | DevOps Tutorial | Edureka

More videos:

  • Demo - What is Docker Compose? (with demo)

OpenShift Container Platform videos

OpenShift Container Platform by RedHat | Kubernetes Made Easy | Tech Primers

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Docker Compose and OpenShift Container Platform)
Developer Tools
52 52%
48% 48
DevOps Tools
61 61%
39% 39
Containers As A Service
0 0%
100% 100
Cloud Computing
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Docker Compose and OpenShift Container Platform

Docker Compose Reviews

We have no reviews of Docker Compose yet.
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OpenShift Container Platform Reviews

11 Best Rancher Alternatives Multi Cluster Orchestration Platform
On the flip side, the OpenShift Container Platform is a powerful commercialized tool introduced by Red Hat as flagship software. It boasts a very simple and intuitive user interface that lets you easily create, build, test, and deploy your applications directly to the cloud.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Docker Compose seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 42 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Docker Compose mentions (42)

  • Connecting RDBs and Search Engines — Chapter 1
    This removes all container volumes and resets everything to its initial state. See the official documentation for more details. - Source: dev.to / 1 day ago
  • Docker Compose and Devcontainers for Microservices Development
    This tutorial assumes familiarity with Docker, Docker Compose, Devcontainers and that your services have Dockerfile implemented. - Source: dev.to / 14 days ago
  • Building a bot to talk to my cats
    I talk a lot about using containers for local development. The container that I always used was some running LLM container that I pulled from the Docker Hub official AI image registry. I initially started dev work by just running npm start to get my app running and test connecting to a container, and then I got more savvy with my approach by leveraging Docker Compose. Docker Compose allowed me to automatically... - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • How to Keep Docker Secrets Secure
    Docker includes a secrets management solution, but it doesn't work with standalone containers. You can supply secrets to your containers when you're using either Docker Compose or Docker Swarm. There's no alternative for containers created manually with a plain docker run command. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
  • Docker + Cypress in 2025: How I’ve Perfected My E2E Testing Setup
    Docker Compose Docs: Essential for orchestrating multi-container environments and scaling test runners. - Source: dev.to / about 2 months ago
View more

OpenShift Container Platform mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of OpenShift Container Platform yet. Tracking of OpenShift Container Platform recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Docker Compose and OpenShift Container Platform, you can also consider the following products

Kubernetes - Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

Docker - Docker is an open platform that enables developers and system administrators to create distributed applications.

Docker Swarm - Native clustering for Docker. Turn a pool of Docker hosts into a single, virtual host.

Google Kubernetes Engine - Google Kubernetes Engine is a powerful cluster manager and orchestration system for running your Docker containers. Set up a cluster in minutes.

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

Amazon ECS - Amazon EC2 Container Service is a highly scalable, high-performance​ container management service that supports Docker containers.