Side-by-side
| Axis | Docker | Podman |
|---|---|---|
| Setup time | Install via convenience script or apt. Daemon-based. 1 minute. | apt install podman. Daemonless. 1 minute. Drop-in for most docker commands. |
| Security model | Daemon runs as root by default. Rootless mode available but not default. | Rootless by default. Each user has their own container namespace. |
| Model support | Docker Compose for orchestration. Established. | podman-compose works; podman-pods is the native primitive (different mental model). |
| Cost | Free for self-hosted; Docker Desktop has commercial licensing. | Free, no licensing wrinkles. |
| Ecosystem | Most agent install instructions assume Docker. | Compatible with most Docker images. Some agents recommend Docker explicitly. |
| Best for | Default. Most agents expect Docker. | When rootless containers are a hard requirement, or on RHEL/Fedora where Podman is the default. |
Verdict
Docker for compatibility; Podman for security. Most self-hosted AI users should run Docker because that's what tutorials assume. If you're in a regulated environment, Podman's rootless-by-default is a meaningful security improvement — at the cost of some friction.
Notes
- podman generate kube can export pods as Kubernetes manifests — useful for graduating workloads later.
- Docker's bind-mount semantics differ subtly from Podman's; double-check volume permissions when migrating.
- Both work fine on the Mac Mini M4 (Apple Silicon) and on the Pi 5.
Going deeper
For the full landscape report including hosting economics, security posture and regulatory context, see the 2026 landscape report. For the OpenClaw-specific history, see the complete OpenClaw timeline.
New comparison requests are welcome — subscribe and reply to any edition with your short-list.