Plans, costs, and free options for Podman Desktop
Last updated: February 3, 2026
Pricing Model
100% Free
Starting Price
$0
Free Option
Yes ✓
Podman Desktop is completely free to use. There are no paid tiers, subscription fees, or hidden costs. You get access to all features at no charge.
See how Podman Desktop pricing compares to similar tools in Container Orchestration
| Tool | Free Tier | Starting Price | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Podman DesktopCurrentBest Value Simplify container management and stream... | Yes | Free | —/100 | Details → |
Podman Daemonless container management | Yes | Free | 84/100 | Pricing → |
Kind Run local Kubernetes clusters in Docker | Yes | Free | 80/100 | Pricing → |
k9sTop Rated Terminal UI to manage Kubernetes cluster... | Yes | Free | 88/100 | Pricing → |
OpenShift Enterprise Kubernetes platform by Red Ha... | No | — | 84/100 | Pricing → |
Prices shown are starting prices. Actual pricing may vary based on features and team size.
See all alternatives →Podman Desktop is completely free to use. There are no hidden costs or paid tiers.
Yes, Podman Desktop is entirely free to use with all features included.
Podman Desktop is completely free, so no trial is needed.
Free or freemium alternatives include Podman, Kind, k9s. View our full comparison to find the best value.
Podman Desktop is completely free to use as it is an open-source project.
Yes, Podman Desktop is free and open-source.