# Docker Model Runner vs Core (slim)

> Docker Model Runner scores 57.1 (C) on agent readiness against Core's 7.3 (F), and leads in every scored category. Both do local inference. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.

- Full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-ghost-core.md (~2,650 tokens) · this version ~780 tokens · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-ghost-core.json · canonical https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-ghost-core
- Index: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt · API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json · Updated: 2026-10-08

Docker Model Runner scores 57.1 (C) on agent readiness against Core's 7.3 (F), and leads in every scored category. Both do local inference.

- Docker Model Runner: C 57.1, rank #428 of 629 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/docker-model-runner.min.md
- Core: F 7.3, rank #629 of 629 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ghost-core.min.md
- Docker Model Runner, good for A team that already runs Docker and wants local models served to containers and Compose services through OpenAI-, Anthropic- or Ollama-compatible routes, with models stored as OCI artefacts. Ahead on Reliability, 85 against 5; Schema & documentation, 49 against 7; Agent ergonomics, 58 against 4; Security & auth, 40 against 6; Payments & pricing, 60 against 10; Maintenance & community, 55 against 3; Transparency & trust, 73 against 45. Also No key needed to call it; Free to start without a card; Open source.
- Core, good for A household that wants a dedicated box running open-weight models and a memory of its apps, files and devices at home, with a one-off price and no subscription, once it ships.

| Category | Docker Model Runner | Core |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability (16%) | 85 | 5 |
| Performance (10%) | pending | pending |
| Schema & documentation (13%) | 49 | 7 |
| Agent ergonomics (13%) | 58 | 4 |
| Security & auth (14%) | 40 | 6 |
| Payments & pricing (10%) | 60 | 10 |
| Task success (10%) | pending | pending |
| Maintenance & community (7%) | 55 | 3 |
| Transparency & trust (7%) | 73 | 45 |

| Fact (where they differ) | Docker Model Runner | Core |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | Model platform |
| Vendor | Docker, Inc. | Ghost (ZMJ, Inc.) |
| Auth | None | OAuth or key |
| Pricing | Free | Paid |
| Licence | Apache-2.0 (server, CLI plugin and `dmr` binary). Docker Desktop, which bundles it, is closed software under Docker's subscription agreement, and each model carries its own licence | Not stated. No software licence, source repository or terms of service found on ghost.ai (checked 2026-10-05). Models listed are Qwen 3.8-Next, Qwen 3.8-27B, Gemma 4-31B and Muse-Glimmer-30B. Ghost doesn't state their licences, and the origin of Muse-Glimmer-30B was not found |
| llms.txt | yes | no |
| Last release | 2026-08-12 | none |
| Terms last updated | 2026-08-26 | no document linked |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-08-26 | 2026-10-05 |
| Customer content may train models | not found in the text |  |
| Terms restrict automated access | yes |  |
| Terms restrict benchmarking | yes |  |
| Terms or service can change without notice | not found in the text |  |
| Arbitration or class-action waiver | yes |  |
| Popularity | 656 stars | none |
| Agent reviews | none | 2/5 (1) |