# Best Container Engine Software for Small Business *By [Adam Crivello](https://research.g2.com/insights/author/adam-crivello)* Products classified in the overall Container Engine category are similar in many regards and help companies of all sizes solve their business problems. However, small business features, pricing, setup, and installation differ from businesses of other sizes, which is why we match buyers to the right Small Business Container Engine to fit their needs. Compare product ratings based on reviews from enterprise users or connect with one of G2's buying advisors to find the right solutions within the Small Business Container Engine category. In addition to qualifying for inclusion in the Container Engine Software category, to qualify for inclusion in the Small Business Container Engine Software category, a product must have at least 10 reviews left by a reviewer from a small business. ## Category Overview **Total Products under this Category:** 22 ## Trust & Credibility Stats **Why You Can Trust G2's Software Rankings:** - 30 Analysts and Data Experts - 4,000+ Authentic Reviews - 22+ Products - Unbiased Rankings G2's software rankings are built on verified user reviews, rigorous moderation, and a consistent research methodology maintained by a team of analysts and data experts. Each product is measured using the same transparent criteria, with no paid placement or vendor influence. While reviews reflect real user experiences, which can be subjective, they offer valuable insight into how software performs in the hands of professionals. Together, these inputs power the G2 Score, a standardized way to compare tools within every category. ## Top-Rated Products (Ranked by G2 Score) ### 1. [Ubuntu](https://www.g2.com/products/ubuntu/reviews) Ubuntu is the Linux OS that’s made for everyone. Harness the freedom and creativity of open source, from laptops and workstations to servers and IoT devices Published by Canonical, Ubuntu brings you the best of open source, backed by enterprise-grade assurance. Ubuntu delivers a unified and stable experience. Ubuntu serves as an interoperable platform, from the desktop to the edge. Wherever you innovate, you can expect high-performance and the same rich tooling ecosystem. Through community and partnership, we ensure that Ubuntu is always at the cutting-edge. Open source contributors work to ensure that the latest applications, tools and libraries have a home in the Ubuntu ecosystem. Our hardware partners, such as Dell, Lenovo, HP, IBM and NVIDIA, work with us to certify Ubuntu out-of-the-box on the latest boards, devices and chipsets, through a series of over 500 OS compatibility tests per device. When the time comes to scale up, Ubuntu provides integrations to make device governance manageable. Enforce strict identity management protocols with support for Microsoft Active Directory, Entra ID and Google Cloud platform, through Ubuntu’s AuthD broker. Ubuntu’s regular release cadence empowers you to plan ahead with confidence. Across your stack, Ubuntu LTS (long-term support) releases receive 5 years of patching and maintenance as standard. Additional enterprise-grade support is delivered through Ubuntu Pro - Canonical’s comprehensive subscription for open source security. Ubuntu Pro expands security patching and maintenance for up to 12 years and includes tooling for hardening and compliance, enabling you to stay ahead of CVEs, minimize downtime and meet your regulatory requirements. This includes support for frameworks such as FIPS, DISA STIG, NIST and the Cyber Resilience Act. **Average Rating:** 4.5/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 2,292 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Quality of Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Use:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Admin:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Canonical Ltd.](https://www.g2.com/sellers/canonical-ltd) - **Year Founded:** 2004 - **HQ Location:** London - **Twitter:** @Canonical (109,620 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/234280/ (1,893 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Senior Software Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 47% Small-Business, 33% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Ease of Use (337 reviews) - Linux/Ubuntu OS (299 reviews) - Open Source (213 reviews) - User Interface (190 reviews) - User-Friendly (185 reviews) **Cons:** - Compatibility Issues (141 reviews) - Driver Issues (104 reviews) - Limited Software (104 reviews) - Usage Difficulty (91 reviews) - Performance Issues (80 reviews) ### 2. [Docker](https://www.g2.com/products/docker-inc-docker/reviews) Docker Hub is the world’s largest repository of container images with an array of content sources including container community developers, open source projects and independent software vendors (ISV) building and distributing their code in containers. Users get access to free public repositories for storing and sharing images or can choose subscription plan for private repos. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 278 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Quality of Support:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 9.2/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Use:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Admin:** 9.0/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Docker](https://www.g2.com/sellers/docker-d3866a4b-8497-449f-be3e-2e6466e6d9aa) - **Year Founded:** 2013 - **HQ Location:** San Francisco, CA - **Twitter:** @docker (547,251 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1301808/ (947 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, Senior Software Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 41% Small-Business, 29% Mid-Market ### 3. [Red Hat Enterprise Linux](https://www.g2.com/products/red-hat-enterprise-linux/reviews) Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is a enterprise operating system designed to provide a secure, stable, and high-performance environment for modern IT infrastructures. It supports a wide range of applications across physical, virtual, and cloud environments, making it a versatile choice for businesses of all sizes. Key Features and Functionality: - Security: RHEL offers live kernel patching, security profiles, and adheres to security standards certifications, ensuring a robust defense against vulnerabilities. - Consistent Lifecycle: The operating system follows a predictable lifecycle with three phases: full support, maintenance support, and an extended life phase, providing long-term stability and planning capabilities. - Cloud Integration: RHEL is optimized for cloud environments and collaborates with major cloud providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, facilitating seamless workload migration and management. - Developer Access: Red Hat provides developers with free access to RHEL through the "Red Hat Enterprise Linux for Business Developers" platform, allowing up to 25 instances for development purposes. Primary Value and Solutions: RHEL addresses the need for a reliable and secure operating system that can handle diverse workloads across various environments. Its comprehensive security features mitigate risks, while the consistent lifecycle ensures long-term support and stability. The integration with leading cloud providers simplifies cloud adoption and management, and the provision of free developer access fosters innovation and accelerates application development. Overall, RHEL empowers organizations to build, deploy, and manage applications efficiently, aligning with business demands for production-readiness and operational excellence. **Average Rating:** 4.6/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 920 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Quality of Support:** 8.8/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Use:** 8.4/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Admin:** 8.5/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Red Hat](https://www.g2.com/sellers/red-hat) - **Year Founded:** 1993 - **HQ Location:** Raleigh, NC - **Twitter:** @RedHat (299,757 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/3545/ (19,305 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer, System Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 50% Enterprise, 29% Mid-Market #### Pros & Cons **Pros:** - Stability (58 reviews) - Security (57 reviews) - Reliability (52 reviews) - Customer Support (48 reviews) - Ease of Use (43 reviews) **Cons:** - High Cost (33 reviews) - Expensive (21 reviews) - Subscription Issues (15 reviews) - Usage Difficulty (15 reviews) - Outdated Software (14 reviews) ### 4. [Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Compute](https://www.g2.com/products/oracle-cloud-infrastructure-compute/reviews) Compute options range from VMs to GPUs to bare metal servers, and includes options for dense I/O workloads, high performance computing (HPC), and AMD EPYC processors. **Average Rating:** 4.1/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 59 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Quality of Support:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 8.1/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Use:** 8.7/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Admin:** 8.2/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Oracle](https://www.g2.com/sellers/oracle) - **Year Founded:** 1977 - **HQ Location:** Austin, TX - **Twitter:** @Oracle (827,310 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/1028/ (199,301 employees on LinkedIn®) - **Ownership:** NYSE:ORCL **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Who Uses This:** Software Engineer - **Top Industries:** Information Technology and Services, Computer Software - **Company Size:** 48% Enterprise, 30% Mid-Market ### 5. [Canonical MicroK8s](https://www.g2.com/products/canonical-microk8s/reviews) MicroK8s is pure upstream Kubernetes, not a subset. We keep it small with sensible choices that just work. That makes a quick install, with easy upgrades and great security — and leaves your options open later. **Average Rating:** 4.4/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 17 **User Satisfaction Scores:** - **Quality of Support:** 8.3/10 (Category avg: 8.2/10) - **Has the product been a good partner in doing business?:** 7.8/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Use:** 9.5/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) - **Ease of Admin:** 7.9/10 (Category avg: 8.6/10) **Seller Details:** - **Seller:** [Canonical Ltd.](https://www.g2.com/sellers/canonical-ltd) - **Year Founded:** 2004 - **HQ Location:** London - **Twitter:** @Canonical (109,620 Twitter followers) - **LinkedIn® Page:** https://www.linkedin.com/company/234280/ (1,893 employees on LinkedIn®) **Reviewer Demographics:** - **Top Industries:** Computer Software - **Company Size:** 59% Small-Business, 24% Mid-Market ## Parent Category [Containerization Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/containerization) --- ## Buyer Guide ### What You Should Know About Container Engine Software ### What is Container Engine Software? Container engine software provides the infrastructure to run, manage, and execute container instances. Containers are executable software units that run on the cloud, desktop, or traditional IT systems. The container engine supports running multiple, isolated, container instances on the same OS kernel. The container engine is responsible for many tasks in containers. This includes container creation by taking container images. Container images are built-in units that house applications, metadata, and dependencies required for a container runtime.  Most container engines use the open container initiatives (OCI) container image formats. The software prepares the isolated environment for containers – known as provisioning – and allocates requirements for the container execution. To ensure smooth execution in isolated environments, it monitors container runtimes and enhances security, allowing set security policies and configurations as required. ** ** Many open-source providers offer container engine software. A command line interface (CLI) can also manage container engines, whereby instructions are given to container runtimes in the command line. ### What are the Common Features of Container Engine Software? Container engine software comes with a lot of functionalities. While every vendor might not provide all the features, here are the most common features in container engine software. **Isolation and resource management:** The container engine creates new containers and isolates old ones from the operating systems. It then allocates necessary resources such as memory, CPU, and network so the container runs efficiently.  **Container creation:** It creates a new container by setting up resources and pulling in a container image, a built-in unit that stores all dependencies and libraries required for the execution of containers. **Container execution:** The container engine software produces the necessary container runtime environment to execute containers. It also monitors the container during execution and manages its lifecycle. **Security** : Container engine solutions ensure the safety of the container by restricting access privileges and isolating containers from each other. **Integration** : The container can integrate and verify compatibility with other container software. ### What are the Benefits of Container Engine Software? Container engines are an essential part of the ecosystem of container tools. They are crucial to the smooth and efficient functioning of containers. Here we list the most important benefits: **Easy deployment:** Containerization engine software facilitates well-ordered-enables deployment of containers and guarantees automation across different environments. **Efficient resource utilization and automation:** Container engines ensure optimal resource usage, as it makes it possible for multiple containers to run in a single operating system through isolation for execution. **Security:** The container engine isolates containers for execution into namespaces and assigns restrictions on container access to provide holistic protection. ### Who Uses Container Engine Software? Companies involved in software development and deployment use the containerization engine system.  **Developers:** Developers use this software to bundle cloud-native applications and execute them in the desired environment. **DevOps teams:** DevOps teams utilize container engines in the continuous development/continuous deployment automation practices. **System administrators:** Container engines manage the lifecycle of containers, in turn helping system administrators handle their production environments. ### What are the Alternatives to Container Engine Software? Container engine software can be replaced by this type of software, either partially or completely: **Virtual machines (VM)**: They provide isolations between cloud-native applications. Each VM runs its own operating system instance. **Operating system virtualization** : This provides a way to isolate apps, but might be limited to some OSs.  #### Software Related to Container Engine Software Container engine software is used along with other container technology software, including: [Container orchestration tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/container-orchestration) **:** Container orchestration tools assist in the deployment and management of container lifecycles. They also boost security by keeping containers separate from each other. [Container management software](https://www.g2.com/categories/container-management) **:** Container management software provides support for virtualization, resource allocation, and management of container workloads. These platforms scale containerization processes by organizing container workloads and related resources, and troubleshooting when allocation issues arise. [Container security tools](https://www.g2.com/categories/container-security) **:** Container security software is used to protect containerized applications, related resources, container networks, nodes, and the infrastructure. ### Challenges with Container Engine Software Software solutions can come with their own set of challenges. The container engine has to work with the entire container ecosystem; if not,  security and performance issues may develop. **Security:** If not correctly configured, security risks occur because containerized applications share the same kernel. Safety problems in one container's workload can affect the others. Regular updates and the right configuration are important for mitigating these risks. **Monitoring:** Because they have to function properly in different environments, at the right performance levels, keeping an eye on metrics for all the running containers is arduous. **Storage:** The container engine needs to connect with persistent storage and data centers to stow docs and information that are accessible without latency when containerized applications are running. ### Which Companies Should Buy Container Engine Software? Companies that are in development that use container technology should invest in container engine software. **Software development companies:** Companies that use DevOps principles should buy container engine software. It lends a hand to their continuous integration/continuous deployment practices. **Cloud platform providers:** By including the capabilities to run containerized apps, cloud platform providers can cater to clients who use containers in their IT landscape. ### How to Buy Container Engine Software #### Requirements Gathering (RFI/RFP) for Container Engine Software The software’s ability to integrate with development lifecycle workflows, cloud infrastructure, other container software, and APIs must be considered. Companies should take advantage if a container engine software vendor offers a free trial to evaluate the product before investing. Depending on the scope of the deployment, it might be helpful to produce an RFI, a one-page list with a few bullet points describing what a business needs from the software.  #### Compare Container Engine Software Products **Create a long list** Buyers need to identify features and use cases that they need from their container engine tools, which will start them off with a large pool of software providers. Next comes evaluating the pros and cons of each product. Plenty of open-source projects provide free setups. CRI-O is an example of a community-driven container engine. **Create a short list** Short lists cross-reference the results of initial vendor evaluations with other buyer reviews on third-party review sites such as [G2.com](http://www.g2.com/), which guide the buyer on their path to purchase. From a list of three to five products, buyers compare pricing and features to determine the best fit. **Conduct demos** Companies should try out all of the products on their shortlist. During vendor demonstrations, buyers should ask specific questions about the functionalities and use cases they care about the most. For example, they might ask the vendor to show how the container engine software tool enforces access control. #### Selection of Container Engine Software **Choose a selection team** Involving the most relevant personnel is crucial during the software selection process. The team should include relevant company stakeholders who can scrutinize the software to check whether it will meet the organization’s requirements. The individuals responsible for the day-to-day use of container registry software must be a part of the selection team.  **Negotiation** The cost of the software varies based on the features offered, the number of instances, and the number of users. Buyers looking to trim costs should negotiate the specific functions that matter to them to get the best price. More often than not, the price and specifications on the vendor’s pricing page are flexible. It’s crucial to negotiate about the fees for implementation and support, as well.  **Final decision** Before deciding to purchase the software, testing it for a short period is advisable. Everyday users are the best people to perform this assessment. They can use and analyze the software product's capabilities and offer valuable feedback. In most cases, software service providers offer tutorials and a short-term product trial. If the selection team is satisfied with what the software does, the buyers can proceed with the purchase or contracting process.