Alternatives to Docker Buildx
A Docker CLI plugin that extends image builds with BuildKit, including multi-platform builds. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Docker Buildx
A Docker CLI plugin that extends image builds with BuildKit, including multi-platform builds.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Docker Buildx.
Buildah
A command-line tool for building OCI container images without a running daemon.
Buildah builds OCI images from the command line without a running daemon or the Docker CLI, which suits scripts and CI pipelines.
Cloud Native Buildpacks
Tooling that turns application source code into container images without writing a Dockerfile.
Cloud Native Buildpacks build images from source code without writing a Dockerfile, giving teams consistent builds but less direct control over the image than Dockerfile-based builds.
ko
A container image builder for Go applications that works without a Dockerfile or Docker installed.
ko builds multi-platform images with SBOMs for Go applications without Docker installed, but it only handles Go and cannot build images needing cgo or OS packages.
Podman
Daemonless container engine with a Docker-compatible command line.
Podman is a daemonless, rootless engine with a Docker-compatible command line that builds and runs images without needing the Docker CLI.
Finch
An open-source command-line client for building and running containers on macOS and Windows.
Finch bundles BuildKit, nerdctl, containerd and Lima in one installer for macOS and Windows, using nerdctl-style commands instead of the Docker CLI.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Docker Engine
The container runtime that builds, packages and runs applications in Docker containers.
dive
Explore container image layers and find wasted space.
Dagger
A container-based engine for writing build and CI pipelines as code and running them anywhere.
Skopeo
A command-line tool for inspecting, copying and signing container images in remote registries.
Container Structure Test
A command-line tool for validating the structure and contents of container images against defined tests.
Harbor
A self-hosted container registry with vulnerability scanning, image signing and role-based access control.
