Docker
Container engine software
Container registry software
Service discovery software
DevOps software
Containerization software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$9 per user per month
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What is Docker
Docker is a containerization platform centered on building, packaging, and running applications as containers using the Docker Engine and related tooling. It is used by developers and DevOps teams to create reproducible application images, run containers locally or on servers, and integrate container workflows into CI/CD pipelines. The product ecosystem includes Docker Desktop, Docker Engine, Docker Build/BuildKit, and Docker Hub for image distribution, with support for common container standards and Linux-based container runtimes.
Mature container build workflow
Docker provides a widely adopted image build format (Dockerfile) and tooling for repeatable builds across environments. It supports layered images, build caching, and multi-stage builds to reduce image size and separate build-time and runtime dependencies. These capabilities make it practical for packaging microservices and developer tooling into portable artifacts.
Strong developer tooling ecosystem
Docker Desktop bundles local container runtime, image build tools, and integrations that simplify development on macOS, Windows, and Linux. The CLI and Compose workflow support multi-container applications for local development and testing. Broad third-party documentation and community examples reduce onboarding time for common container use cases.
Integrated public image distribution
Docker Hub functions as a widely used container registry for publishing and consuming container images. It supports public repositories and common image distribution patterns used in CI/CD pipelines. This registry presence helps teams standardize how they share base images and application images across environments.
Not a full orchestration platform
Docker alone does not provide full cluster scheduling, autoscaling, and production-grade orchestration features typically required for large deployments. Teams commonly pair it with separate orchestration and service management layers for multi-node production environments. This can introduce additional operational components and configuration complexity.
Service discovery is limited
Docker includes basic networking and name resolution features (for example, within Docker networks and Compose), but it is not a dedicated service discovery system for heterogeneous infrastructure. Advanced discovery patterns, cross-cluster routing, and policy-driven traffic management typically require additional tooling. Organizations with complex service topologies may need to integrate external discovery and networking solutions.
Desktop licensing and governance
Docker Desktop has commercial licensing requirements for certain organization sizes and use cases, which can affect cost planning and compliance. Enterprises often need governance around image provenance, vulnerability management, and registry controls beyond what a default setup provides. These requirements may lead to adopting additional security and policy tooling around Docker workflows.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal | $0 | Docker Desktop, Docker Engine + Kubernetes, Docker Hub, Docker Scout, Docker Debug. Includes: 1 user; 1 Docker Scout-enabled repo; 100 Docker Hub pulls/hr (fair-use); 1 private Docker Hub repo; Docker Build Cloud & Testcontainers Cloud free trial. |
| Pro | $9 per user/month (annual) — $11 per user/month (monthly) | For individual professionals. Includes Docker Build Cloud; Testcontainers Cloud; Synchronized File Shares; Docker Scout health scores; 5 business day support response. Included usage: 1 user; 2 Docker Scout-enabled repos; Unlimited Docker Hub pull rate; 200 Docker Build Cloud build minutes; 100 Testcontainers Cloud runtime minutes. |
| Team | $15 per user/month (annual) — $16 per user/month (monthly) | For small teams (up to 100 users). Includes bulk user add, audit logs, Docker Hub RBAC, 2 business day support. Included usage: Up to 100 users; Unlimited Docker Scout-enabled repos; Unlimited Docker Hub pull rate; Unlimited private Docker Hub repos; 500 Docker Build Cloud build minutes; 500 Testcontainers Cloud runtime minutes; 10 organization access tokens; 1 Docker Hub organization. |
| Business | $24 per user/month | For enterprises (no user cap). Includes Hardened Docker Desktop, SSO, SCIM, Image & Registry Access Management, Desktop Insights, Enhanced Container Isolation, purchase via invoice, 1 business day support. Included usage: No user cap; Unlimited Scout repos; Unlimited Docker Hub pull rate; Unlimited private Docker Hub repos; 1,500 Docker Build Cloud build minutes; 1,500 Testcontainers Cloud runtime minutes; 100 organization access tokens; Unlimited Docker Hub organizations. |
Additional consumption pricing (as listed on official pricing page):
- Additional Docker Build Cloud build minutes: 500 minutes = $25; 1,000 minutes = $50; 5,000 minutes = $250; 10,000 minutes = $500.
Notes: Docker also lists Docker Hardened Images (DHI) tiers (DHI, DHI Enterprise, DHI ELS) on the pricing page but specific prices are not listed publicly and require contacting Docker/sales or trial requests.
Seller details
Docker, Inc.
Palo Alto, CA, USA
2010
Private
https://www.docker.com/
https://x.com/docker
https://www.linkedin.com/company/docker/
