Dev workflow and DevOps · Comparison
Docker vs Kubernetes
They are partners more than rivals. Docker packages an app into a container and runs it; Kubernetes runs many containers across a fleet of machines and keeps them healthy.
2 options · 8 questions side by side · updated
| Compare | Docker | Kubernetes |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Builds and runs containers | Orchestrates containers across machines |
| Scale | One machine; Compose for a few services | Clusters of a few to thousands of machines |
| Main job | Package an app with its dependencies | Schedule, heal, scale and update containers |
| Setup | Install Docker, write a Dockerfile | A cluster, YAML manifests, often Helm |
| Learning curve | Gentle | Steep |
| Cost | Engine free; Desktop paid at larger firms | Free software; managed control planes and nodes cost |
| Typical user | Every developer, locally and in CI | Platform teams running many services |
| Watch out for | Bloated images and secrets baked into them | Operational overhead for small teams |
How to choose between Docker and Kubernetes
- Use Docker to package apps and run them locally or on a single server, often with Docker Compose.
- Add Kubernetes when many services must run across several machines with automatic scaling and self-healing.
- For a small product, platforms such as Cloud Run, Fly.io or Render run containers without the Kubernetes overhead.
The options
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