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Codespaces vs Docker comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 14, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Codespaces
Ranking in Development Platforms
5th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.4
Number of Reviews
4
Ranking in other categories
IDE (1st)
Docker
Ranking in Development Platforms
1st
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
56
Ranking in other categories
Container Management (5th), Software Supply Chain Security (5th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2025, in the Development Platforms category, the mindshare of Codespaces is 10.6%, up from 3.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Docker is 43.6%, up from 36.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Development Platforms
 

Featured Reviews

Yshay Yaacobi - PeerSpot reviewer
Enabling a consistent remote environment with seamless integration and a consistent developer experience
We use Codespaces as a remote working environment as it provides a consistent working environment and compatibility across devices. Initially, I started using it because I was working on an Apple Silicon device, and my tools weren't compatible with that architecture. The remote environment offered…
Renat Babin - PeerSpot reviewer
Easy to deploy with an impressive networking feature
The volumes for persistent storage could be more user friendly right out of the box. I would like an option to just use it as local storage or some kind of NSF or CIF. Or to mount the volume straight to a Google Drive or through a particular cloud storage. It's not that these things are impossible, but you have to do some extra work or configurations.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"The integration with Visual Studio Code offers a good and fast user experience that feels like a local experience."
"The product allows us to implement feature-related changes or improvements on time. Whenever I write a section of the code or create a new code, it automatically integrates with the former code."
"The developer experience is consistent, and its pricing makes sense since it optimizes the resources."
"The most valuable features of the solution are Copilot and Advanced Security."
"Codespaces' most valuable feature is the repository, which helps the developers to work together. Its data commands are also useful."
"The solution is stable."
"Docker is very reliable. It's easy to scale, and it's very stable."
"The most valuable feature of Docker is its integration with other solutions, such as KVM and AlmaLinux."
"The scalability of Docker is good."
"The most valuable feature is that it gives you the same environment as on a developer machine as well as a production machine relevant to specifications."
"The solution helps save costs."
"In our line of work, we've been involved in various sectors, such as industrial products, transportation, client engineering, telecom, and medical. For instance, we're currently developing an IT platform. One key use case we're tackling is device management."
"We are using Docker to host applications."
 

Cons

"When I close the laptop and open it in a different place, the state of the environment disappears, and I need to rerun several commands. This context switch affects productivity."
"The product indicates incorrect statistics."
"We get merge conflict errors and need to resolve them."
"The main issue is related to state preservation on a disconnection. When I close the laptop and open it in a different place, the state of the environment disappears, and I need to rerun several commands."
"The technical support could respond faster."
"In terms of communication between services, perhaps the configuration within networks between containers could be improved."
"Unfortunately, base images are not currently available."
"Enhancing artificial intelligence capabilities and cluster management should be a priority. It should facilitate some security management."
"We have found that it is not easy to install it into a Windows system."
"The solution is not easy to manage and it is one of the reasons why people introduce orchestration tools to manage it."
"Management can be improved with the necessary tools for orchestration."
"Docker needs to improve its pricing."
"The security layer is very vulnerable, although they are working to improve the system hardening and email hardening."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I am using the product’s free version."
"From what I've seen, the solution doesn't seem like it's overly expensive for what you get."
"Docker is a free open-source solution. However, there is the Docker Enterprise which is a paid solution."
"Docker's price is good."
"We are using the open-source version of the solution."
"The product is not expensive."
"The solution offers an open-source version that is free and includes a lot of functionality."
"Docker is a free open-source solution."
"The current cost for us is nothing as an open source."
"There is a license needed to use Docker."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
14%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Educational Organization
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Computer Software Company
18%
Insurance Company
11%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Government
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Codespaces?
The most valuable features of the solution are Copilot and Advanced Security.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Codespaces?
Using Codespaces for a single station is cost-effective. However, I am not well-versed in the broader licensing considerations.
What needs improvement with Codespaces?
The main issue is related to state preservation on a disconnection. When I close the laptop and open it in a different place, the state of the environment disappears, and I need to rerun several co...
What do you like most about Docker?
We are using Docker to host applications.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Docker?
Our customers buy the software and the prices are available on Docker Hub. The subscription is typically yearly, and customers will need to buy the subscription directly. They can purchase it thems...
What needs improvement with Docker?
Docker is a time-tested, proven solution with industry-wide applications. There can be challenges with port mapping, however, that's not related to Docker itself.
 

Comparisons

 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Codespaces vs. Docker and other solutions. Updated: January 2025.
838,640 professionals have used our research since 2012.