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Docker Desktop vs minikube: catalog facts
Docker Desktop	minikube
Freemium Free for personal use, education, open source projects and small businesses. Larger…	Free The open-source application is available without a license fee.
Windows, macOS, Linux	Windows, macOS, Linux
Everything in one installer: engine, Compose, Kubernetes and a dashboard The reference implementation, so every tutorial assumes it	Local clusters with common Kubernetes features
Paid subscription required above a company size threshold Closed source, unlike the Docker engine itself	Requires enough local resources and a supported runtime or driver.
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Closed source	Open source
License not stated	License: Apache-2.0
No account needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 21, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 22, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.