Docker vs Kubernetes
type: Article
description: Docker is a containerization platform for building and running individual containers, while Kubernetes is an orchestration system for managing multiple containers across clusters. Docker excels at containerization basics, whereas Kubernetes handles production-scale deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-07-09T04:11:20.455Z
date created: 2026-07-09T04:11:20.455Z
date modified: 2026-07-09T04:11:20.843Z
content reference time: 2026-07-09T04:11:20.843Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Docker
about: Kubernetes (K8s)
abstract: Docker is a containerization platform for building and running individual containers, while Kubernetes is an orchestration system for managing multiple containers across clusters. Docker excels at containerization basics, whereas Kubernetes handles production-scale deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
text: Primary Purpose. Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency). Cluster Management Capability. Typical Deployment Scale. Market Adoption in Enterprises (2024). Setup Time for Production Ready. Self-Healing & Auto-Scaling
conclusion text: Choose Docker if you're starting with containerization, developing locally, or managing small-scale deployments where simplicity and quick setup matter most. Choose Kubernetes if you're running production workloads at scale, need automatic scaling and self-healing, require multi-node orchestration, or are building enterprise-grade distributed systems.
additional property: Latest Stable Version (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Latest multi-stage builds and AI-native features | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Setup Time for Beginners
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 5-15 minutes | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Scalability Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 1 (single host) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Primary Use Environment
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Development, CI/CD, local testing | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Container Runtime Dependency
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Docker engine required | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Auto-Scaling Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Manual scaling only | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Configuration Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Simple (Dockerfile, docker-compose) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Multi-Cluster Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Not supported | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Docker: 90% | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Memory Usage (idle)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Docker: 120-150 MB | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Rootless Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Available (requires config) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Kubernetes Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Deprecated (containerd preferred) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Docker Compose Compatibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 100% compatible | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Installation Methods
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Docker: 5 major | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Community Contributors
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Docker: 2000+ | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Daemon Architecture
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Centralized daemon | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Monthly Docker Hub Downloads
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 13.1 million | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Architecture Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Daemon-based (requires background service) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Memory Overhead (Idle)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 350-500 MB | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Incremental Build Time (100-layer image)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 42 seconds | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Security CVEs (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 12 CVEs (avg CVSS 6.2) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Rootless Mode
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Experimental/requires configuration | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Container Runtime Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Full lifecycle (build, run, exec, logs, network, push, pull) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Native CI/CD Platform Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 98% of platforms | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Base Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: ~100 MB | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Monthly Downloads (Docker Hub/Package Managers)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 100+ million | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Years in Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 13+ years (since 2013) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Kubernetes 1.24+ Native Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Requires dockershim replacement or Docker 1.26+ Kubernetes integration | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Container Build Speed (Simple Dockerfile)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 8-12 seconds with BuildKit cache | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Available CLI Commands
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 40+ core commands with subcommands | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Rootless Container Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Added v20.10 (2020), optional setup required | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Official Commercial Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Yes—Docker Inc. Enterprise and Pro plans | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Idle Memory Usage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: ~125 MB | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: CNCF Project Status
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Independent (Moby Project) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Kubernetes Default Runtime
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Removed in v1.24 (deprecated v1.20) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Public Images Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 15+ million (Docker Hub) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: K8s Cluster Adoption Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 33% | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Docker Image Format Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Native Docker + OCI | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Minimum Memory Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 0.25 GB | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Single-node Deployment Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Native support | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Maximum Recommended Cluster Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 1 host (Docker Engine) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Enterprise Production Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 72% of organizations | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Time to Production Deployment
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 1-3 days | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Cost for Small Deployment (5 containers)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: $50-100 | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Built-in Auto-scaling Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: Via Docker Swarm only | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Certified Ecosystem Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 50+ | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 50-100 MB baseline | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: CLI Command Compatibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 100% native | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
additional property: Container Registry Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Docker: 15+ integrated registries | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/docker
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/docker
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/kubernetes-k8s
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/kubernetes-k8s
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/docker-vs-kubernetes)
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/docker-vs-kubernetes)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/docker-vs-podman
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/docker-vs-nerdctl
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/docker-vs-buildah
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/docker-vs-lxc
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/kubernetes-vs-hashicorp-nomad
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/docker-vs-containerd
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/docker-vs-kubernetes
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/docker-vs-buildah)
teaches: How to choose between Docker and Kubernetes (K8s)
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: Docker vs Kubernetes — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

Docker
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Industry-standard containerization platform with centralized daemon architecture and extensive tooling ecosystem.
subject of: Docker vs Kubernetes

Kubernetes (K8s)
type: SoftwareApplication
alternate name: K(
alternate name: Kubernetes K8s
language: en-US
description: Open-source orchestration system for automating container deployment, scaling, and management across clusters
subject of: Docker vs Kubernetes

Docker vs Kubernetes — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Docker vs Kubernetes. Contains 106 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Latest Stable Version (2026)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Release Cycle
variable measured: Setup Time for Beginners
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Scalability Limit
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capacity
variable measured: Primary Use Environment
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Container Runtime Dependency
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Auto-Scaling Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Configuration Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Multi-Cluster Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Market Share
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Memory Usage (idle)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Rootless Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Kubernetes Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Docker Compose Compatibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Installation Methods
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Accessibility
variable measured: Community Contributors
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Daemon Architecture
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Monthly Docker Hub Downloads
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption & Popularity
variable measured: Architecture Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Design Philosophy
variable measured: Memory Overhead (Idle)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Incremental Build Time (100-layer image)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Security CVEs (2024)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Rootless Mode
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Container Runtime Capabilities
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Native CI/CD Platform Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Base Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Resources
variable measured: Monthly Downloads (Docker Hub/Package Managers)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Years in Production
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: Kubernetes 1.24+ Native Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Kubernetes Integration
variable measured: Container Build Speed (Simple Dockerfile)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Available CLI Commands
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Feature Completeness
variable measured: Rootless Container Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Official Commercial Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Idle Memory Usage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Resource Efficiency
variable measured: CNCF Project Status
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: Kubernetes Default Runtime
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Kubernetes
variable measured: Public Images Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: K8s Cluster Adoption Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Adoption
variable measured: Docker Image Format Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Minimum Memory Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Single-node Deployment Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Maximum Recommended Cluster Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Enterprise Production Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market
variable measured: Time to Production Deployment
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Setup
variable measured: Cost for Small Deployment (5 containers)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Economics
variable measured: Built-in Auto-scaling Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Functionality
variable measured: Certified Ecosystem Plugins
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Memory Footprint
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: CLI Command Compatibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Container Registry Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Kubernetes Native Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Documentation Availability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Container Build Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Installation Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Market Adoption Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Available Pre-built Images
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Rootless Build Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security
variable measured: Dockerfile Compatibility
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compatibility
variable measured: Persistent Daemon Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Enterprise Deployments
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market Position
variable measured: Stack Overflow Questions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community Support
variable measured: Container Startup Time
variable measured: Memory Overhead per Container
variable measured: Market Adoption
variable measured: Cross-Platform Support
variable measured: Public Container Images Available
variable measured: Learning Difficulty (1-10 scale)
variable measured: Number of Integrated Tools
variable measured: Container Density per Host
variable measured: Typical Memory Overhead Per Container
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/docker-vs-kubernetes)

Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Docker vs Kubernetes.
has defined term: Release Cycle
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Capacity
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Accessibility
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Adoption & Popularity
has defined term: Design Philosophy
has defined term: Functionality
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Resources
has defined term: Maturity
has defined term: Kubernetes Integration
has defined term: Feature Completeness
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Resource Efficiency
has defined term: Kubernetes
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Market Adoption
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Setup
has defined term: Economics
has defined term: Market Position
has defined term: Community Support
has defined term: Orchestration
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Adoption & Community
has defined term: Design
has defined term: Platform Integration
has defined term: Developer Experience
has defined term: Enterprise
has defined term: Platform Support
has defined term: Adoption & Market
has defined term: Operational Efficiency
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Operations
has defined term: Flexibility

Release Cycle
type: DefinedTerm
term code: release-cycle
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Capacity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capacity
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compatibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compatibility
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Accessibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: accessibility
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption & Popularity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption-&-popularity
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Design Philosophy
type: DefinedTerm
term code: design-philosophy
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Functionality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: functionality
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Resources
type: DefinedTerm
term code: resources
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Maturity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: maturity
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Kubernetes Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: kubernetes-integration
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Feature Completeness
type: DefinedTerm
term code: feature-completeness
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Resource Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: resource-efficiency
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Kubernetes
type: DefinedTerm
term code: kubernetes
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-adoption
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Setup
type: DefinedTerm
term code: setup
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Economics
type: DefinedTerm
term code: economics
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Market Position
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market-position
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community-support
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Orchestration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: orchestration
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption & Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption-&-community
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Design
type: DefinedTerm
term code: design
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-integration
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Developer Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: developer-experience
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-support
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption & Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption-&-market
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operational Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operational-efficiency
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operations
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Flexibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: flexibility
in defined term set: Docker vs Kubernetes — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-07-09T04:11:20.843Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: docker-vs-kubernetes)
main entity: Do I need Kubernetes if I'm already using Docker?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Not necessarily. Docker alone is sufficient for development, testing, and small-scale deployments (1-10 hosts). You need Kubernetes when you have 50+ containers, require automatic scaling, need multi-region failover, or demand 99.9%+ uptime. Many teams use Docker with Docker Compose for local development and reserve Kubernetes for production.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can Kubernetes run without Docker?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes. While Docker popularized containerization, Kubernetes supports multiple container runtimes including containerd, CRI-O, and others. Major cloud providers (EKS, GKE, AKS) often use containerd instead of Docker daemon, though the OCI image format (Docker standard) remains universal.
    language: en-US
main entity: What's the typical total cost of ownership for Kubernetes vs Docker?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Docker: $0-50K/year (open-source, minimal infrastructure). Kubernetes: $100K-500K+/year including compute, storage, managed services (EKS $0.10/hour), and SRE team salaries ($120-180K). Cloud-managed K8s (GKE, AKS) reduces operational overhead by 60-70% vs self-hosted.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which has better security: Docker or Kubernetes?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Both are equally secure at the containerization layer. Kubernetes provides superior cluster-level security with RBAC, network policies, Pod Security Standards, and audit logging. Docker requires manual security implementation. Both need regular image scanning; Kubernetes integrates native scanning into admission controllers.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I use Docker Swarm instead of Kubernetes?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Docker Swarm is simpler (easier to learn) but limited to ~100 nodes and lacks auto-scaling, self-healing, and multi-region support. Swarm suits teams with <20 containers; Kubernetes is required for enterprise scale. Most enterprises have migrated from Swarm to Kubernetes since 2019.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Docker and Kubernetes (K8s)
type: HowTo
description: Docker is a containerization platform for building and running individual containers, while Kubernetes is an orchestration system for managing multiple containers across clusters. Docker excels at containerization basics, whereas Kubernetes handles production-scale deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Primary Purpose
step: Consider: Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency)
step: Consider: Cluster Management Capability
step: Consider: Typical Deployment Scale
step: Consider: Market Adoption in Enterprises (2024)
step: Consider: Setup Time for Production Ready
step: Consider: Self-Healing & Auto-Scaling
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Docker if you're starting with containerization, developing locally, or managing small-scale deployments where simplicity and quick setup matter most. Choose Kubernetes if you're running production workloads at scale, need automatic scaling and self-healing, require multi-node orchestration, or are building enterprise-grade distributed systems.

Consider: Primary Purpose
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Primary Purpose: Docker has Container creation and runtime, while Kubernetes (K8s) has Container orchestration and management.

Consider: Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency)
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Learning Curve (Hours to Proficiency): Docker has 40-80 hours, while Kubernetes (K8s) has 200-400 hours.

Consider: Cluster Management Capability
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Cluster Management Capability: Docker has Docker Swarm (limited), while Kubernetes (K8s) has Native support for 5,000+ nodes.

Consider: Typical Deployment Scale
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Typical Deployment Scale: Docker has Single host or small teams, while Kubernetes (K8s) has Enterprise production (1,000+ containers).

Consider: Market Adoption in Enterprises (2024)
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Market Adoption in Enterprises (2024): Docker has 70% of enterprises, while Kubernetes (K8s) has 85% of Fortune 500 companies.

Consider: Setup Time for Production Ready
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Setup Time for Production Ready: Docker has Hours, while Kubernetes (K8s) has Days to weeks.

Consider: Self-Healing & Auto-Scaling
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Self-Healing & Auto-Scaling: Docker has Manual or third-party tools, while Kubernetes (K8s) has Native built-in features.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Docker vs Kubernetes
review body: Docker is a containerization platform for building and running individual containers, while Kubernetes is an orchestration system for managing multiple containers across clusters. Docker excels at containerization basics, whereas Kubernetes handles production-scale deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Docker vs Kubernetes

Kubernetes Native Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Deprecated post-1.24, requires migration | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Documentation Availability
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Comprehensive (500K+ SO answers) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Container Build Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 12-18 sec (Docker BuildKit) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Installation Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 5-7 steps including daemon setup | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Market Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 82% enterprise adoption | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Available Pre-built Images
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 16 million | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Rootless Build Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Requires workarounds/plugin | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Dockerfile Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 100% | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Persistent Daemon Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Yes, always running | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Enterprise Deployments
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 200+ thousand | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Stack Overflow Questions
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 2,800 thousand | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Container Startup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 50-100ms | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Memory Overhead per Container
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 50-100MB | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Market Adoption
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 92% | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Cross-Platform Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Linux, macOS (via Docker Desktop), Windows (WSL2/Hyper-V) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Public Container Images Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 1,000,000+ | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Learning Difficulty (1-10 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 3/10 | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Number of Integrated Tools
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 150+ major integrations | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Container Density per Host
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 8-12 containers | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Typical Memory Overhead Per Container
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 100-200 MB | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Container Startup Time (cold start)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 0.5-2 seconds | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Market Share (Container Platforms)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 82% | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

GitHub Stars (as of 2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: ~68,000+ stars | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Image Repository Size (typical minimal image)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 5-50 MB (Alpine images) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Native Kubernetes Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Full CRI support via containerd | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Max Containers Per Host (practical limit)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 200-500 containers | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Security Isolation Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Application isolation via namespaces + optional seccomp/AppArmor | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 2-4 hours | Kubernetes (K8s): 40-80 hours
value reference: Docker

Maximum Cluster Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: ~100 effective | Kubernetes (K8s): 5,000+
value reference: Kubernetes (K8s)

Native Auto-Scaling
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: No (requires external tools) | Kubernetes (K8s): Yes (HPA & VPA native)

Container Image Size Overhead
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 100-500 typical | Kubernetes (K8s): Same as Docker

Multi-Host Management
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Docker Swarm (basic) | Kubernetes (K8s): Full orchestration

Community Projects/Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 2,500+ | Kubernetes (K8s): 15,000+ (CNCF)
value reference: Kubernetes (K8s)

Production Readiness Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 0.5-1 week | Kubernetes (K8s): 2-4 weeks
value reference: Docker

Enterprise Adoption Rate (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 70% of enterprises | Kubernetes (K8s): 85% of Fortune 500
value reference: Kubernetes (K8s)

Monthly Downloads (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 13.2M | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Architecture Model
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Centralized daemon (single dockerd process) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Kubernetes Deprecation Status
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Deprecated as kubelet default (v1.20, 2020) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Docker Compose CLI Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 100% (native, 1:1 spec) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Production Kubernetes Adoption
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 65% (Docker as base, CRI-O in prod) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Security Vulnerability Attack Surface
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: 1 (daemon process) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Windows/macOS Native Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: Docker Desktop (native binary) | Kubernetes (K8s): N/A

Market Share in Container Orchestration
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 96.3%

Time to Production (experienced team)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 120-160 hours

Available Pre-built Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 4,200+ Helm charts

Workload Type Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): Containers only (Docker, containerd, CRI-O)

Native Multi-region Support
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): Requires KubeFed or separate cluster federation

GitHub Stars (popularity metric)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 1.2 million

Configuration Language Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 200-400 lines YAML

Fortune 500 Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 90%

Monthly Cost (5-app startup)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): $200-500

Monthly Cost (enterprise, 100+ services)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): $1000-3000

DevOps Team Size Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 1-2 dedicated engineers

Maximum Scalability
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 10,000+ containers

Infrastructure Customization Level
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 100% (full control)

Learning Curve (to production-ready)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): 2-3 months

Built-in Services (databases, caching, etc.)
type: PropertyValue
value: Docker: N/A | Kubernetes (K8s): Requires third-party integrations

SpeakableSpecification
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Docker — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Kubernetes (K8s) — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare Docker vs Kubernetes (K8s)
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/docker-vs-kubernetes)
object: Docker
object: Kubernetes (K8s)

Container Startup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Memory Overhead per Container
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Market Adoption
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Cross-Platform Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Public Container Images Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Learning Difficulty (1-10 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Number of Integrated Tools
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Container Density per Host
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Typical Memory Overhead Per Container
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Container Startup Time (cold start)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Market Share (Container Platforms)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

GitHub Stars (as of 2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Image Repository Size (typical minimal image)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Native Kubernetes Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Orchestration

Max Containers Per Host (practical limit)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Security Isolation Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Maximum Cluster Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Native Auto-Scaling
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Container Image Size Overhead
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Multi-Host Management
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Orchestration

Community Projects/Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Production Readiness Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Enterprise Adoption Rate (2024)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market

Monthly Downloads (2025)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption & Community

Architecture Model
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Design

Kubernetes Deprecation Status
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform Integration

Docker Compose CLI Compatibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Developer Experience

Production Kubernetes Adoption
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Enterprise

Security Vulnerability Attack Surface
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Windows/macOS Native Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Platform Support

Market Share in Container Orchestration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption & Market

Time to Production (experienced team)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Operational Efficiency

Available Pre-built Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Workload Type Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Native Multi-region Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

GitHub Stars (popularity metric)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Community

Configuration Language Complexity
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Fortune 500 Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Market Adoption

Monthly Cost (5-app startup)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Monthly Cost (enterprise, 100+ services)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

DevOps Team Size Required
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Operations

Maximum Scalability
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Infrastructure Customization Level
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Flexibility

Learning Curve (to production-ready)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Built-in Services (databases, caching, etc.)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features