Docker is an open platform for developing, shipping, and running applications using containerization technology.
StackStorm (aka "IFTTT for Ops") is an event-driven automation platform designed for auto-remediation, incident responses, troubleshooting, deployments, and more. It includes a rules engine, workflow, 160 integration packs with 6000+ actions, and ChatOps.
Free for personal use and small businesses; paid plans start at $9/user/month.
- Industry-standard containerization technology
- Huge ecosystem and community
- Docker Compose simplifies local multi-service setups
- Consistent behavior across dev/staging/prod
- Highly customizable and extensible
- Scalable and highly available architecture
- Large community and ecosystem of integrations
- Free and open-source
- Resource usage can be heavy on Mac/Windows
- Licensing changes have affected some larger companies
- Learning curve for networking and volumes
- Steep learning curve due to complex features and customization options
- Limited support options for free users
- Requires significant setup and configuration
What reviewers say
Docker Reviews
4.3 (3)Works, with some caveats
Mixed feelings about Docker after using it for a while. On the plus side, industry-standard containerization technology. That said, learning curve for networking and volumes, which held us back from rating it higher.
Highly recommend Docker
Been a daily user of Docker for a while now. Huge ecosystem and community. No major complaints so far. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
Great tool for development
We've been using Docker for a few months now and it's genuinely made a difference for our team. Huge ecosystem and community. No major complaints so far. Would recommend to anyone considering it.
st2 Reviews
No reviews yet.
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataStackStorm (st2) is a free, open‑source, event‑driven automation platform aimed at DevOps/SRE teams, while Docker is a freemium container platform for developers and DevOps engineers.
Key differences
- •StackStorm focuses on event‑driven workflow automation and incident response; Docker focuses on container runtime and image management.
- •StackStorm is self‑hosted and requires significant setup; Docker offers a desktop app with quick install.
- •StackStorm’s ecosystem centers on 160+ packs and 6000+ actions; Docker’s ecosystem centers on millions of container images and Docker Hub.
- •StackStorm provides a visual workflow editor and rules engine; Docker provides Docker Compose and container scanning (Scout).
- •StackStorm is free and open‑source with community support only; Docker adds paid plans for priority support and enterprise features.
Pricing & value
StackStorm is completely free and open‑source; Docker’s advanced features require paid plans starting at $9/user/month.
Ease of use / learning curve
Docker offers a desktop app and familiar CLI; StackStorm has a steep learning curve due to complex workflow customization.
Features & depth
StackStorm provides extensive event‑driven automation, rules engine, and 6000+ actions; Docker focuses mainly on container runtime.
Integrations & ecosystem
Both have strong ecosystems: StackStorm 160+ packs (Slack, GitHub, Kubernetes); Docker millions of images and Kubernetes integration.
Collaboration
Docker includes ChatOps‑like integration via Docker Hub and Docker Scout, but StackStorm’s ChatOps is more specialized for incident response.
Scalability
StackStorm is built for highly available, distributed automation; Docker desktop is single‑node, not designed for large‑scale automation.
Support
Docker offers paid priority support; StackStorm only provides community support and documentation.
Choose Docker if…
Developers or DevOps engineers needing quick container setup, image management, and optional paid support.
Choose st2 if…
Teams needing deep, customizable, event‑driven automation for incident response and willing to manage self‑hosted infrastructure.
Common questions
Is there any cost to start using each tool?
StackStorm is free and open‑source; Docker offers a free tier but charges $9/user/month for paid plans.
Which tool is easier to get up and running?
Docker provides a desktop app with minimal setup; StackStorm requires self‑hosting and significant configuration.
Can either solution scale to handle large, distributed automation workloads?
StackStorm is designed for highly available, distributed automation; Docker desktop is not intended for large‑scale automation.