Rancher Desktop vs Docker Swarm

Struggling to choose between Rancher Desktop and Docker Swarm? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Rancher Desktop is a Development solution with tags like kubernetes, container-orchestration, local-development.

It boasts features such as Runs a single-node Kubernetes cluster locally, Supports Kubernetes versions 1.23 to 1.25, Includes Docker Desktop for managing containers, Integrates with VS Code for debugging, Supports deploying apps from source code, Includes Rancher tools like Rancher kubectl and RKE, Runs on macOS, Windows and Linux and pros including Easy Kubernetes setup without needing a cloud provider, Fast testing and development of Kubernetes apps, Integrates Kubernetes with local development tools, Open source and free to use.

On the other hand, Docker Swarm is a Development product tagged with clustering, container-orchestration, docker.

Its standout features include Native clustering for Docker, Turns multiple Docker hosts into a single virtual host, Load balancing, Service discovery, Scaling services across hosts, Rolling updates, Health checks and failover, and it shines with pros like Easy clustering of Docker containers, Horizontal scaling, High availability, Load balancing out of the box, Rolling updates with zero downtime, Built-in service discovery.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Rancher Desktop

Rancher Desktop

Rancher Desktop is an open source Kubernetes distribution that runs on macOS, Windows and Linux. It allows developers to quickly set up a local Kubernetes cluster on their desktop for testing and development purposes.

Categories:
Development Kubernetes Management
kubernetes container-orchestration local-development

Rancher Desktop Features

  1. Runs a single-node Kubernetes cluster locally
  2. Supports Kubernetes versions 1.23 to 1.25
  3. Includes Docker Desktop for managing containers
  4. Integrates with VS Code for debugging
  5. Supports deploying apps from source code
  6. Includes Rancher tools like Rancher kubectl and RKE
  7. Runs on macOS, Windows and Linux

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Easy Kubernetes setup without needing a cloud provider

Fast testing and development of Kubernetes apps

Integrates Kubernetes with local development tools

Open source and free to use

Cons

Limited to a single node, not a full Kubernetes cluster

Less stable than a hosted Kubernetes provider

Requires local resources unlike a cloud cluster

Lacks advanced Kubernetes features like load balancing

Docker Swarm

Docker Swarm

Docker Swarm is a native clustering solution for Docker containers that turns a group of Docker engines into a single virtual Docker engine. It allows users to manage multiple Docker hosts as a cluster and deploy services across the cluster.

Categories:
Development Containerization
clustering container-orchestration docker

Docker Swarm Features

  1. Native clustering for Docker
  2. Turns multiple Docker hosts into a single virtual host
  3. Load balancing
  4. Service discovery
  5. Scaling services across hosts
  6. Rolling updates
  7. Health checks and failover

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Easy clustering of Docker containers

Horizontal scaling

High availability

Load balancing out of the box

Rolling updates with zero downtime

Built-in service discovery

Cons

More complex than standalone Docker

Requires Docker Engine on each node

Not as feature rich as Kubernetes

Limited metrics and logging