ArcBox vs Docker Desktop
How ArcBox compares to Docker Desktop, and how to migrate.
Comparison
| ArcBox | Docker Desktop | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free (core + desktop) | Free for personal, $11+/mo for business |
| Open source | Core runtime is MIT/Apache-2.0 | Proprietary |
| Cold start | ~300ms | ~1,200ms |
| Warm start | ~90ms | ~490ms |
| Idle memory | <150 MB | ~220 MB |
| File I/O | >90% native | 75–95% native |
| Network throughput | 52 Gbps | 44 Gbps |
| Account required | No | Yes |
| Linux machines | Built-in | Via Docker contexts only |
| Sandboxes | Built-in | Not available |
| Docker Extensions | Not supported | Supported |
| Windows containers | Not supported | Supported |
| Platform | macOS (Apple Silicon) | macOS, Windows, Linux |
What's Better in ArcBox
- 4x faster container startup with a lighter hypervisor and optimized kernel
- Lower resource usage both idle and under load
- No account or subscription for any tier of personal use
- Open-source core you can inspect, audit, and contribute to
- Built-in Linux machines and sandboxes
.arcboxdomains for zero-config service access
What Docker Desktop Has That ArcBox Doesn't
- Docker Extensions marketplace
- Windows container support
- Intel Mac support (ArcBox is Apple Silicon only)
- Multi-platform (Windows, Linux desktop)
- Docker Scout vulnerability scanning integration
- Docker Hub integrated admin features
Migrate from Docker Desktop
Install ArcBox
Install ArcBox Desktop. Do not uninstall Docker Desktop yet.
Stop Docker Desktop
Quit Docker Desktop from the menu bar to release the Docker socket.
Pull Your Images
# Export image list while Docker Desktop was running
docker images --format '{{.Repository}}:{{.Tag}}' > images.txt
# Pull into ArcBox
cat images.txt | xargs -I {} docker pull {}Migrate Volumes (Optional)
# Export from Docker Desktop
docker run --rm -v my-volume:/data -v $(pwd):/backup alpine \
tar czf /backup/my-volume.tar.gz -C /data .
# Import into ArcBox
docker volume create my-volume
docker run --rm -v my-volume:/data -v $(pwd):/backup alpine \
tar xzf /backup/my-volume.tar.gz -C /dataUninstall Docker Desktop (Optional)
Once verified, remove Docker Desktop from Applications.
Differences to Expect
ArcBox does not support Docker Desktop Extensions or Windows containers. The built-in features cover most development use cases. If you rely on a specific Extension, check if ArcBox has equivalent functionality before migrating.