Linux Containers (LXC) AlternativesVirtualization Tools and other similar apps like Linux Containers (LXC)

Linux Containers (LXC) is described as 'Containers which offer an environment as close as possible as the one you'd get from a VM but without the overhead that comes with running a separate kernel and simulating all the hardware' and is a Virtualization tool in the network & admin category. There are nine alternatives to Linux Containers (LXC) for a variety of platforms, including Linux, Self-Hosted, Rust, Flathub and Flatpak apps. The best Linux Containers (LXC) alternative is Docker, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Linux Containers (LXC) are KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine), Distrobox, Xen and BoxBuddy.

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Alternatives list

  1. Docker icon
     329 likes

    Docker is an open-source engine that automates the deployment of any application as a lightweight, portable, self-sufficient container that will run virtually anywhere.

    29 Docker alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium (Subscription)
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • TrueNAS
     
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    Comments about Docker as an Alternative to Linux Containers (LXC)
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    LXC is system container, while Docker is application container,... they are two totally different things,..

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Linux Containers (LXC) Icon
    Docker icon
    • Docker is the most popular Web-based, Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Linux Containers (LXC).

    • Docker is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Linux Containers (LXC).

    • Docker is Freemium and Open SourceLinux Containers (LXC) is Free and Open Source
  2. KVM (for Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is a full virtualization solution for Linux on x86 hardware containing virtualization extensions (Intel VT or AMD-V). It consists of a loadable kernel module, kvm.

    41 KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Android
     
    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is the most popular Android alternative to Linux Containers (LXC).

    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is Free and Open SourceLinux Containers (LXC) is also Free and Open Source
    • KVM (Kernel-based Virtual Machine) is Security-focused and Privacy focusedLinux Containers (LXC) is not according to our users
  3. Distrobox icon
     22 likes

    Use any Linux distribution inside your terminal. Enable both backward and forward compatibility with software and freedom to use whatever distribution you’re more comfortable with. Distrobox uses podman or docker to create containers using the Linux distribution of your choice.

    9 Distrobox alternatives

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  4. Xen icon
     74 likes

    Xen.org, home of the Xen hypervisor, the powerful open source industry standard for virtualization. It is a native (bare-metal) hypervisor providing services that allow multiple computer operating systems to execute on the same computer hardware concurrently.

    34 Xen alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  5. BoxBuddy icon
     6 likes

    An unofficial GUI for managing your Distroboxes. Written with GTK4 + Libadwaita.

    10 BoxBuddy alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source (MIT)

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    • Rust
     
  6. containerd icon
     6 likes

    An industry-standard container runtime with an emphasis on simplicity, robustness and portability

    Cost / License

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
     
  7. Flint is a modern, self-contained KVM management tool built for developers, sysadmins, and home labs who want zero bloat and maximum efficiency. It was built in a few hours out of a sudden urge for something better.

    Cost / License

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
    • Linux
     
  8. OpenVZ icon
     12 likes

    OpenVZ is container-based virtualization for Linux.

    OpenVZ creates multiple secure, isolated Linux containers (otherwise known as VEs or VPSs) on a single physical server enabling better server utilization and ensuring that applications do not conflict.

    Each container performs.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Open Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Linux
     
  9. Kata Containers is an open source, secure container runtime with lightweight virtual machines that feel and perform like containers, but provide stronger workload isolation using hardware virtualization technology as a second layer of defense.

    Cost / License

    • Free
    • Proprietary

    Platforms

    • Self-Hosted
     
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