Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Kitematic VS Docker Desktop

Compare Kitematic VS Docker Desktop and see what are their differences

Kitematic logo Kitematic

The easiest way to start using Docker on your Mac

Docker Desktop logo Docker Desktop

Docker Desktop is a one-click-install application that lets you to build, share, and run containerized applications and microservices.
  • Kitematic Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-08
Not present

Kitematic features and specs

  • User-friendly Interface
    Kitematic provides a simple and intuitive graphical user interface for managing Docker containers, making it easier for users who are not comfortable with command-line interactions.
  • Quick Container Setup
    Kitematic allows for rapid setup and run of Docker containers with just a few clicks, streamlining the process of deploying applications.
  • Integration with Docker Hub
    It offers seamless integration with Docker Hub, enabling users to search for and pull container images directly from the interface.
  • Cross-platform Support
    Available for Windows and macOS, Kitematic caters to a wide range of users across different operating systems.
  • Beginner-friendly
    Especially useful for beginners, it allows for easy exploration and management of Docker containers without deep Docker knowledge.

Possible disadvantages of Kitematic

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Kitematic lacks support for some advanced Docker features found in the command-line interface, potentially limiting power users.
  • No Longer Actively Maintained
    Development and updates for Kitematic have ceased, which means users may encounter bugs or issues without official fixes.
  • Resource Usage
    The graphical interface may consume more system resources compared to the lightweight nature of command-line tools.
  • Dependency on Docker Desktop
    Kitematic relies on Docker Desktop to be installed and running, potentially complicating deployments if Docker Desktop is not desired.
  • Limited Customizability
    The application may not offer the level of customization that some users require, especially those needing complex or custom Docker setups.

Docker Desktop features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Docker Desktop is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, allowing developers to work in their preferred environment with a consistent toolset.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Docker Desktop provides a graphical user interface that simplifies the process of managing containers, making it accessible to both new and experienced developers.
  • Integrated Tools
    It includes Docker Compose, Docker CLI, Kubernetes, and other useful tools bundled in one package, streamlining the workflow for container management and orchestration.
  • Easy Installation
    Docker Desktop offers a straightforward installation process that abstracts away the complexity of setting up Docker and its components from scratch.
  • Consistent Development Environment
    It helps maintain consistency between development, testing, and production environments, reducing potential discrepancies and deployment issues.

Possible disadvantages of Docker Desktop

  • Performance Overhead
    Running Docker Desktop can introduce performance overhead, especially on Windows and macOS, due to the virtualization layer required by these operating systems.
  • Resource Usage
    Docker Desktop can be resource-intensive, consuming significant amounts of CPU and memory, which might impact the performance of other applications.
  • Licensing Costs
    For businesses, Docker Desktop may require a paid subscription depending on the company size, which can be a financial consideration.
  • Limited in Headless Environments
    Docker Desktop is primarily designed for development environments with a graphical interface and may not be suitable for headless server environments.
  • System Integration Issues
    Some users might face integration issues with specific system setups, especially on less common or older platforms.

Kitematic videos

Get Started With Docker Quickly, using Kitematic

More videos:

  • Review - Jenkins on Docker using Kitematic on a Mac!
  • Tutorial - Hadoop tutorial - How to run Hue in no time with Docker and Kitematic

Docker Desktop videos

Docker Desktop Overview

More videos:

  • Review - Docker Desktop for macOS Setup and Tips

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Kitematic and Docker Desktop)
Developer Tools
60 60%
40% 40
DevOps Tools
61 61%
39% 39
Containers As A Service
57 57%
43% 43
Containers And Microservices

User comments

Share your experience with using Kitematic and Docker Desktop. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Docker Desktop should be more popular than Kitematic. It has been mentiond 2 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.

Kitematic mentions (1)

  • Is there a way to insert a environmental variable without running the container in a git termal?
    Otherwise, you might want to see if Kitematic works for you - it's old and deprecated but might still function well enough for your uses. I have never used it myself, it's just a suggestion based on the GitHub issue. Source: almost 4 years ago

Docker Desktop mentions (2)

  • Containerizing Spring Boot Applications with Docker: A Complete Guide
    To use Docker, first download Docker Desktop from docker.com/products/docker-desktop. Pick the version for your OS (Windows or macOS). If you're on Linux, follow the guide at docs.docker.com/engine/install. Install it like any app and launch Docker Desktop. - Source: dev.to / 4 months ago
  • Getting Started with .NET and Docker Tutorial
    First, you need to download and install Docker Desktop from the Docker website. You can leave all of the default options checked during the installation process. Once it’s downloaded, sign in using your Docker Hub account. If you don’t have an account, you can sign up at hub.docker.com. - Source: dev.to / 5 months ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Kitematic and Docker Desktop, you can also consider the following products

Portainer - Simple management UI for Docker

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

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

Panamax - Panamax is a containerized app creator with an open-source app marketplace hosted in GitHub.

OrbStack - Fast, light, simple Docker & Linux on macOS

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