Overview

LXD combines LXC-based system containers with KVM-based virtual machines in a single management platform. That lets operators choose between workload types without splitting administration across separate systems. Images are supported for many Linux distributions and for Windows virtual machines; Windows containers are not supported.

Management is available through a CLI, REST API, web UI, and third-party tools. The single RESTful API uses HTTP for local and remote access, while an official web UI is available by default starting with LXD 5.21.0 LTS. This flexibility suits both direct administration and automation, though users seeking a conventional desktop application will not find one.

Key features

Operational controls: Resource limits, projects, scheduled and expiring snapshots, hardware passthrough, live migration, and advanced networking cover a wide range of infrastructure work. That makes LXD more compelling for operators managing varied workloads than for users who only need a basic container runtime.
Security: Containers run unprivileged by default, and virtual machines support UEFI Secure Boot and vTPM. These defaults and VM options help address isolation and security requirements without making LXD a Windows-container platform.
Scale and integrations: LXD can grow from a laptop deployment to thousands of instances in a data center; documented clusters support up to 50 servers with thousands of instances. Integrations with Juju, MAAS, Ansible, Terraform, Puppet Bolt, and Packer make it easier to fit into established management and provisioning workflows.
Lifecycle and support: LTS releases arrive every two years and receive five years of standard support. Community documentation, a discussion forum, tutorials, and GitHub contribution channels provide routes for self-service help; commercial support is available through Ubuntu Pro.

Pricing

LXD open source costs 0.00 USD per free and includes KVM-based virtual machines, system containers, and self-hosted deployment. It is the natural choice for individuals and teams comfortable operating open-source infrastructure without a paid support subscription.

Ubuntu Pro Personal costs 0.00 USD per free and covers up to 5 physical Ubuntu systems, with unlimited VMs or containers. It suits personal use within that host cap; it does not provide room for more than five physical Ubuntu systems under this plan.

For organizations, Ubuntu Pro Enterprise workstation costs 25.00 USD per year, billed per workstation, and provides a security and compliance subscription with optional support. Ubuntu Pro Enterprise server costs 500.00 USD per year, billed per server, with the same subscription scope and optional support. These plans are relevant when security and compliance coverage or optional commercial support matters; the per-system billing means costs rise with each covered workstation or server.

A free trial is available. The facts do not establish its length or renewal terms, so the review cannot assess those conditions.

Platforms

LXD's supported host OS is Linux, and its deployment model is self-hosted. It also exposes an API and web interface, but has no desktop GUI. Rootless mode and image building are supported. The Linux host requirement is a clear boundary for teams operating primarily on other host platforms, even though Windows VM images are supported.

Who it's for

LXD is a good fit for Linux administrators, infrastructure teams, and technically capable individuals who want one system for container and VM workloads, with controls that can scale to clustered deployments. Its API, CLI, web UI, and automation integrations support different operating styles, while the free open-source plan makes it possible to start without a subscription.

It is a poor fit for teams that need Windows containers, a desktop GUI, or a host platform other than Linux. Organizations that need commercial support should also account for Ubuntu Pro's per-workstation or per-server pricing rather than treating the open-source plan as equivalent support coverage.

Pros and cons

Pro: Containers and KVM virtual machines share one management layer, reducing the need to administer those workload types separately.
Pro: A single local-and-remote REST API plus CLI, web UI, and third-party tools gives operators and automation workflows multiple ways to manage deployments.
Pro: Resource controls, snapshots, migration, networking, hardware passthrough, and security options support more demanding infrastructure use than basic container handling.
Pro: The free open-source plan and Ubuntu Pro Personal plan provide no-cost entry points, with the latter covering up to five physical Ubuntu systems and unlimited VMs or containers.
Con: Linux is the supported host OS, so teams seeking a cross-platform host solution should look elsewhere.
Con: There is no desktop GUI, and Windows containers are unsupported; the web UI and Windows VM support do not remove those limitations.
Con: Enterprise Pro is billed per workstation or server, which can make the support and security subscription a material recurring cost as coverage expands.

Alternatives

Docker Desktop is worth considering when cross-platform availability across Linux, macOS, and Windows matters, or when its Docker Engine, Kubernetes, Docker Hub, Docker Scout, and Docker Debug bundle fits the workflow. It has a free Personal plan and a Pro plan at 9.00 USD per month.

BuildKit is a free alternative for readers seeking a build-focused tool with Linux, macOS, Windows, API, and self-hosted platform support rather than LXD's combined VM and system-container management.

Incus is another free option for readers comparing open-source platforms with API and self-hosted support across Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Apptainer may suit readers seeking a free open-source container platform with commercial support available through partners.

gVisor is a free Linux self-hosted option for readers looking for a Linux-compatible sandbox; it requires Linux 5.6 or later and x86_64 or ARM64.

youki is a free Linux option for readers who prefer software under an Apache-2.0 license.

SingularityCE is a free, open-source BSD-licensed option for Linux and self-hosted use.

Buildah is a free, open-source command-line tool with API, Linux, and self-hosted support, and no paid tiers or stated usage limits.

Browse Container Engines, Container Runtime Software, and Virtualization Management Software for more options by category.

Verdict

Choose LXD if you run Linux infrastructure and want containers and KVM virtual machines managed through one capable platform, with a free starting point and room to scale. Look elsewhere if your hosts are not Linux, you need Windows containers or a desktop GUI, or your workload calls for a narrower tool; for commercial support, weigh Ubuntu Pro's per-system subscription costs.

	AppJail	LXD
Free plan	No	Yes
Free trial	No	Yes
Paid from	—	$2.08/mo
Open source	No	No
Platforms	self-hosted	api, Linux, self-hosted, Web
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Rootless mode	No	Yes
Image building	Yes	Yes
Image format	both	—
Runtime interface	other	other
Supported host OS	FreeBSD	Linux

AppJail vs LXD

AppJail

LXD