Licobox
Docker Engine · macOS · Homebrew install

Docker containers for macOS.

Run Docker containers on macOS with direct IP access, volume mounts on macOS, lightweight performance, and container debugging.

Get Started → View features Docs

Install Licobox with Homebrew

brew install licobox/licobox-tap/licobox
Licobox containers desktop app

Install

Install in minutes.

Install Licobox, start the runtime, then run your first container.

1Install Licobox
brew install licobox/licobox-tap/licobox
2Start the runtime
licobox start
3Run a test container
docker run -d -it -p 3000:3000 ghcr.io/licobox/getting-started:latest

Need the Docker CLI? Install it with brew install docker. This installs the CLI only, not Docker Desktop.

More installation details →

Features

See each feature in context.

Docker Engine on macOS

Run and manage containers with Docker Engine seamlessly on macOS.

Docker Engine status
Active
Engine running ✓
Docker socket connected ✓
CLI ready ✓

Fast startup

Up and running Docker Engine in seconds.

Startup timeline
Active
VM initialized ✓
Network ready ✓
Docker daemon started ✓

Container access via IP

Access containers directly through IP addresses and reduce host port mapping clutter. Learn More

Container networking
Active
nginx · 192.168.127.12 ✓
postgres · 192.168.127.18 ✓
redis · 192.168.127.21 ✓

Lightweight

Minimal idle CPU usage with dynamic memory and disk usage. Running around 0.2-0.5% on idle (on M3 Air).

Resource usage
Active
CPU idle: 0.0% ✓
Memory: dynamic ✓
Disk: dynamic ✓

Container debugging

Inspect and troubleshoot containers with built-in utilities for slim or distroless images.

Debug container
Active
coreutils available ✓
htop available ✓
curl available ✓

Volume Mounts on macOS

View and manage container volumes directly from macOS Finder without digging through container internals. Learn More

Finder volume access
Active
Open volume in Finder ✓
Browse mounted files ✓
Edit from macOS ✓

Desktop app management

Manage containers, images, volumes, logs, and stats from a simple desktop interface.

Desktop dashboard
Active
View container logs ✓
Inspect images ✓
Monitor CPU & memory ✓

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Licobox?

Licobox is a Linux container runtime with Docker Engine for macOS, designed to run and manage containers locally.

How do I install Licobox?

Install it with Homebrew using: brew install licobox/licobox-tap/licobox.

How is it different from Docker Desktop?

Licobox is an alternative to Docker Desktop for running Docker Engine and Linux containers on macOS.

Is the free plan free?

Yes. The Free plan is free and includes the core Licobox runtime for running Docker Engine and Linux containers on macOS.