# Docker Model Runner vs KoboldCpp

> KoboldCpp scores 60.5 (C) on agent readiness against Docker Model Runner's 57.1 (C), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Docker Model Runner leads on reliability and transparency & trust. Both do local inference. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by side.

- Canonical: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-koboldcpp
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- Updated: 2026-10-09

KoboldCpp scores 60.5 (C) on agent readiness against Docker Model Runner's 57.1 (C), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Docker Model Runner leads on reliability and transparency & trust. Both do local inference.

- Docker Model Runner: grade C, 57.1/100, rank #559 of 842. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/docker-model-runner.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/docker-model-runner.json
- KoboldCpp: grade C, 60.5/100, rank #462 of 842. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/koboldcpp.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/koboldcpp.json

## Which one, for what

### Docker Model Runner (C)

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
- Transparency & trust, 73 against 49

Watch for: No credential on the API. The docs say any client that can reach it, including other containers, can pull, load and run models

### KoboldCpp (C)

Good for: An owner who wants text, image, speech and music models behind one executable with a writing and roleplay interface, and clients that speak the KoboldAI, OpenAI, Ollama or Anthropic formats.

Ahead on:
- Schema & documentation, 68 against 49
- Agent ergonomics, 63 against 58
- Maintenance & community, 82 against 55

Also in its favour:
- No incidents deducted, where Docker Model Runner loses 3 points for them

Watch for: With no `--host` the server accepts connections on all routable interfaces, and no password is set by default


## Score by category

| Category | Weight | Docker Model Runner | KoboldCpp | Edge |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 85 | 68 | Docker Model Runner +17 |
| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Schema & documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 49 | 68 | KoboldCpp +19 |
| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 58 | 63 | KoboldCpp +5 |
| Security & auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 40 | 38 | Docker Model Runner +2 |
| Payments & pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 60 | even |
| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |
| Maintenance & community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 55 | 82 | KoboldCpp +27 |
| Transparency & trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 73 | 49 | Docker Model Runner +24 |
| Negative events | ≤15 | -3 | 0 | |
| **Total** | | **57.1 · C** | **60.5 · C** | |

## Facts side by side

| Fact | Docker Model Runner | KoboldCpp |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Kind | HTTP API | HTTP API |
| Vendor | Docker, Inc. | LostRuins (Concedo) |
| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |
| Transports | HTTP | HTTP |
| Auth | None | None |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| x402 | no | no |
| 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 | AGPL-3.0 for KoboldCpp and KoboldAI Lite. The bundled GGML, llama.cpp and stable-diffusion.cpp code stays under MIT |
| Read-only variant documented | no | no |
| llms.txt | yes | yes |
| Last release | 2026-08-12 | 2026-09-27 |
| Terms last updated | 2026-08-26 | no document linked |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-08-26 | no document linked |
| 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 | 12k stars |

## Verdicts

**Docker Model Runner.** CI passes on the main branch, and Docker has published two security advisories with CVEs and fixed versions for the project. The API takes no credential, so any client or container that reaches it can pull, delete and run models, and the documentation has no OpenAPI file or error reference.

**KoboldCpp.** One file runs text, image, speech and music models behind a published OpenAPI 3.0.3 document, with eight releases in 90 days. The server listens on every interface with no password by default, and `--password` leaves the image routes open.

## Before you call either

### Docker Model Runner

1. Use base URL `http://localhost:12434/engines/v1` for OpenAI clients and `http://localhost:12434` for Anthropic and Ollama clients. Any API key value is accepted
2. In Docker Desktop, run `docker desktop enable model-runner --tcp 12434` first. Host-side TCP is off by default
3. From a container, call `http://model-runner.docker.internal` on Docker Desktop or `http://172.17.0.1:12434` on Docker Engine
4. Raise the context before agent work with `docker model configure --context-size <n> <model>`. The llama.cpp default is 4,096 tokens
5. Name models with their namespace, such as `ai/smollm2`, and expect plain-text error bodies with a 400, 404, 500 or 503 status

### KoboldCpp

1. Start with `--host 127.0.0.1` and `--password`. The default listens on every interface with no key
2. Send the password as `Authorization: Bearer <password>`. It is not read from the query string
3. Treat 503 as both busy and rate limited. The server never sends 429 or `Retry-After`, and the wait in seconds is in `detail.msg`
4. Pass `max_length` or `max_tokens`. The default is 2,048 tokens unless `--defaultgenamt` changes it
5. Send a `genkey` with each generation so `/api/extra/generate/check` and `/api/extra/abort` act on your request and not another caller's

## Questions

### Which is better for AI agents, Docker Model Runner or KoboldCpp?

KoboldCpp scores 60.5 (C) on agent readiness against Docker Model Runner's 57.1 (C), and leads in 3 of 7 scored categories. Docker Model Runner leads on reliability and transparency & trust.

### Do Docker Model Runner and KoboldCpp need an API key?

Neither needs a key.

### Can an agent call Docker Model Runner and KoboldCpp without installing anything?

No hosted endpoint is listed for Docker Model Runner. No hosted endpoint is listed for KoboldCpp.

### Are Docker Model Runner and KoboldCpp open source?

Yes. Docker Model Runner is open source (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). KoboldCpp is open source (AGPL-3.0 for KoboldCpp and KoboldAI Lite. The bundled GGML, llama.cpp and stable-diffusion.cpp code stays under MIT).


## For agents

- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-koboldcpp.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-koboldcpp.min.md
- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {"a": "docker-model-runner", "b": "koboldcpp"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare docker-model-runner koboldcpp`
- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/docker-model-runner.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/koboldcpp.json

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