Open Source

Rancher Desktop

by rancher-sandbox

Container Management and Kubernetes on the Desktop

Our verdict

Not reviewed yet

We have not reviewed Rancher Desktop yet

No one at Enterprise DNA has checked this listing against its sources. The description comes from public listings gathered automatically. Any fact below shows where it came from and when it was last checked.

How we review records

From the listing

About Rancher Desktop

Rancher Desktop is an open-source desktop application for container management and Kubernetes, built with TypeScript. It provides a local environment for building, pushing, and testing containers, and includes a built-in Kubernetes cluster for development workflows.

Best for

Developers who need a local Kubernetes and container environment for daily development.

Use cases

Run a local Kubernetes cluster for development and testing
Manage containers and images through a GUI or CLI
Build and test containerized applications on a desktop

Notes

7,402 stars on GitHub. Last updated 2026-10-29. Licensed Apache-2.0.

Pros

Open-source and free to use
Integrates container management with Kubernetes in one tool
Cross-platform desktop support

Cons

Requires virtualization resources, which can be heavy on older hardware
May have a learning curve for users new to Kubernetes
Limited to desktop environments, not suitable for production

Key facts

What we have checked

Latest version: 1.25.0 (released 5 Nov 2026); Checked 10 Nov 2026GitHub
Days since the last commit: 0; Checked 7 Nov 2026GitHub
GitHub forks: 392; Checked 7 Nov 2026GitHub
GitHub stars: 7,406; Checked 7 Nov 2026GitHub
Days to a first reply on issues: 15.1; Checked 7 Nov 2026GitHub
Open issues: 1,109; Checked 7 Nov 2026GitHub
Releases in the last 90 days: 1; Checked 7 Nov 2026GitHub

Each value shows when we last confirmed it and where it came from. Values we have not confirmed are left out, never guessed.

Stars and usage

How Rancher Desktop is growing

GitHub stars

7,401 to 7,406

stars. 31 Oct 2026 to 7 Nov 2026, 2 readings.

Source: GitHub. Checked 7 Nov 2026.

Health and security

Is Rancher Desktop looked after, and what do its setup files show

Health score

79 out of 100

Does someone look after this repository? It does not say the code is good or safe. Worked out from GitHub signals checked 7 Nov 2026. How it is worked out

Part	Points	What we saw
Recent activity	30 of 30	Last push 0 days ago
Releases	7.5 of 15	1 release in 90 days
Issue replies	11 of 20	First reply in 15.1 days (median)
Maintainer	15 of 15	Owned by an organisation
Official source	Not counted	MCP servers only

Alternatives

Alternatives to Rancher Desktop

Record	Type	How we know	Checked
DockerThis is an alternative to it	Product	Linked recordGitHub	22 Oct 2026
Docker DesktopThis is an alternative to it	Product	Linked recordGitHub	22 Oct 2026

Compare

Compare Rancher Desktop side by side

Sources

Where this comes from

GitHubOfficial
Checked 10 Nov 2026 · Latest version
GitHubRegistry
Checked 7 Nov 2026 · Days since the last commit, GitHub forks, GitHub stars, Days to a first reply on issues, Open issues, Releases in the last 90 days

A source shows what was published when we checked it. It does not certify security, performance or a working installation. Read our method.

Changelog