OrbStack: Fast, Light Docker & Linux for macOS
Dec 7, 2025
dockermacoscontainersdevtools
OrbStack is a drop-in Docker Desktop replacement built specifically for macOS. If you’ve ever complained about Docker Desktop’s resource usage, slow startup, or battery drain—this is the alternative developers are switching to in 2025.
What It Does
OrbStack runs Docker containers and full Linux virtual machines on macOS. It’s a native Swift app designed from the ground up for Apple’s ecosystem, not a port.
Key capabilities:
- Docker containers: Full Docker CLI compatibility, Compose support, works with all your existing tooling
- Linux VMs: Run 15+ distros (Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Arch, CentOS, etc.) as lightweight VMs
- Kubernetes: Built-in single-node K8s cluster
- Networking: Automatic
.orb.localdomains for every container
Why Developers Are Switching
Performance Numbers
| Metric | OrbStack | Docker Desktop |
|---|---|---|
| Startup time | ~2 seconds | 20-30 seconds |
| Idle CPU usage | ~0.1% | Noticeably higher |
| Power consumption | ~180mW | ~726mW |
| File system speed | Native-like | VM overhead |
One user summed it up: “I used to check Activity Monitor and always found Docker Desktop constantly consuming CPU even when not using containers. OrbStack fixes this completely.”
Native macOS Integration
Unlike Docker Desktop (which runs a Linux VM under the hood), OrbStack was designed specifically for macOS and Apple Silicon. This means:
- Better battery life on laptops
- Quieter fans
- Seamless Rosetta 2 support for x86 containers on M-series chips
Zero-Config Migration
brew install orbstack
orb migrate docker
That’s it. All containers, images, and volumes migrate automatically. You can switch contexts between OrbStack and Docker Desktop if needed.
Pros
- Extremely fast: 2-second startup, near-zero idle overhead
- Resource efficient: Minimal CPU, memory, and disk usage
- macOS-native: Built in Swift, optimized for Apple Silicon
- Full Docker compatibility: Same CLI, same Compose files, same everything
- Linux VMs included: Run full distros alongside containers
- Automatic DNS:
container-name.orb.localjust works - Simple networking: Containers communicate easily without custom config
Cons
- macOS only: No Windows or Linux support (by design)
- Commercial use requires license: Free for personal use; Pro license needed for business/freelance
- Younger ecosystem: Docker Desktop has more mature enterprise features and broader community support
- Less GUI tooling: More minimal interface compared to Docker Desktop’s dashboard
Pricing
- Free: Personal, non-commercial use; educational use
- Pro: Required for business, freelance, government (~$8/month per user)
- Enterprise: SAML SSO, priority support, MDM settings (minimum 15 seats)
14-day trial included for commercial use.
Community Voices
From GitHub Discussions:
“An all-in-one solution for Linux machines, containers and Kubernetes. You can manage all these in one app.”
From Better Stack Community:
“I downloaded it, opened it, and that was it. No big setup. It started in a couple of seconds. I ran a container, and it just worked.”
From Medium reviews:
“OrbStack is about 1.7 times more efficient in background power consumption, resulting in quieter fans, extended battery life, and less overall wear on your system.”
Bottom Line
If you’re on macOS and Docker Desktop has been a pain point, OrbStack is worth trying. The migration is painless, the performance gains are real, and for personal use it’s free.
The only reason to stick with Docker Desktop: you need cross-platform parity with Windows/Linux teammates, or you rely heavily on Docker Desktop’s enterprise features.