Compare software

nerdctl vs Finch: catalog facts
nerdctl	Finch
Free Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 license.	Free Free and open source under the Apache 2.0 licence.
Linux, Command line	Windows, macOS, Command line
Same commands as docker, so existing habits carry over Runs Docker Compose files	One installer sets up nerdctl, containerd, BuildKit and Lima Familiar nerdctl-style commands
Requires containerd rather than working with an existing Docker daemon Many advanced features are optional extras that need separate setup	Does not implement every upstream nerdctl command Not intended for production or multi-tenant workloads
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: Apache-2.0	License: Apache-2.0
No account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

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