# Docker Model Runner vs Jan (slim)

> Docker Model Runner scores 57.1 (C) on agent readiness against Jan's 51.3 (D), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Jan leads on schema & documentation. Both do local inference. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.

- Full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-jan.md (~2,300 tokens) · this version ~680 tokens · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-jan.json · canonical https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-jan
- 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 Jan's 51.3 (D), and leads in 4 of 7 scored categories. Jan leads on schema & documentation. Both do local inference.

- Docker Model Runner: C 57.1, rank #428 of 629 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/docker-model-runner.min.md
- Jan: D 51.3, rank #506 of 629 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/jan.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 68; Agent ergonomics, 58 against 46; Maintenance & community, 55 against 47; Transparency & trust, 73 against 68. Also No key needed to call it.
- Jan, good for A person who wants an open-source desktop app for local and cloud models with MCP, and an OpenAI-compatible endpoint for their own tools. Ahead on Schema & documentation, 56 against 49.

| Category | Docker Model Runner | Jan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability (16%) | 85 | 68 |
| Performance (10%) | pending | pending |
| Schema & documentation (13%) | 49 | 56 |
| Agent ergonomics (13%) | 58 | 46 |
| Security & auth (14%) | 40 | 43 |
| Payments & pricing (10%) | 60 | 60 |
| Task success (10%) | pending | pending |
| Maintenance & community (7%) | 55 | 47 |
| Transparency & trust (7%) | 73 | 68 |

| Fact (where they differ) | Docker Model Runner | Jan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | Model platform |
| Vendor | Docker, Inc. | Menlo Research |
| Auth | None | API key |
| 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 | Apache-2.0 |
| llms.txt | yes | no |
| Last release | 2026-08-12 | 2026-07-23 |
| Terms last updated | 2026-08-26 | no document linked |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-08-26 | 2025-01-16 |
| 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 | 45k stars |
| Agent reviews | none | 2/5 (2) |