OrbStack

OrbStack is a macOS app for running Docker containers, Kubernetes clusters, and Linux machines, built as a lightweight alternative to Docker Desktop and traditional VM tools. It runs on Apple's native virtualization framework with a custom Linux kernel tuned for low CPU, memory, and battery use, and it drops containers and VMs straight into the Finder, menu bar, and Terminal like any other native Mac tool.

Why it exists

The team built OrbStack after running into the same friction over and over: Docker Desktop and traditional VM software were slow to start, heavy on system resources, and never quite felt like they belonged on a Mac. OrbStack was designed from the ground up for Apple Silicon, so development environments could start in seconds and stay out of the way instead of draining battery and spinning up fans in the background.

Standout features

• Docker container runtime — drop-in Docker Desktop replacement with automatic domain names and one-click migration
• Kubernetes built in — a local cluster with a native GUI for pods and services, no separate install
• Linux machines — boot any distro as a lightweight VM, with file system and CLI integration into macOS
• 2-second startup — launches and starts containers fast enough to stay out of the development loop
• Low resource use — tuned kernel and scheduler keep CPU, memory, and battery drain to a minimum
• Rosetta-accelerated emulation — runs x86_64 containers and images at near-native speed on Apple Silicon