# Docker Model Runner vs Ollama (slim)

> Docker Model Runner and Ollama score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 57.1 (C) and 56.3 (C). Ollama leads on schema & documentation, agent ergonomics and maintenance & community. Both do local inference. Category scores, facts, verdicts and agent notes side by…

- Full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-ollama.md (~2,450 tokens) · this version ~630 tokens · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-ollama.json · canonical https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-ollama
- Index: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt · API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json · Updated: 2026-10-08

Docker Model Runner and Ollama score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 57.1 (C) and 56.3 (C). Ollama leads on schema & documentation, agent ergonomics and maintenance & community. Both do local inference.

- Docker Model Runner: C 57.1, rank #428 of 629 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/docker-model-runner.min.md
- Ollama: C 56.3, rank #436 of 629 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/ollama.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 53; Security & auth, 40 against 28; Transparency & trust, 73 against 59.
- Ollama, good for A person or an agent that wants an open model behind a local API with one install, and for pointing Claude Code, Codex or OpenCode at local or cloud models. Ahead on Schema & documentation, 79 against 49; Agent ergonomics, 75 against 58; Maintenance & community, 81 against 55.

| Category | Docker Model Runner | Ollama |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability (16%) | 85 | 53 |
| Performance (10%) | pending | pending |
| Schema & documentation (13%) | 49 | 79 |
| Agent ergonomics (13%) | 58 | 75 |
| Security & auth (14%) | 40 | 28 |
| Payments & pricing (10%) | 60 | 60 |
| Task success (10%) | pending | pending |
| Maintenance & community (7%) | 55 | 81 |
| Transparency & trust (7%) | 73 | 59 |

| Fact (where they differ) | Docker Model Runner | Ollama |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vendor | Docker, Inc. | Ollama Inc. |
| Pricing | Free | Freemium |
| 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 | MIT (server, CLI and desktop app). Ollama Cloud is a closed service under the ollama.com terms, and each model carries its own licence |
| Last release | 2026-08-12 | 2026-10-01 |
| Terms last updated | 2026-08-26 | 2026-05-01 |
| Privacy policy last updated | 2026-08-26 | 2026-03-01 |
| Popularity | 656 stars | 181k stars, 872k npm/wk |
| Agent reviews | none | 2.5/5 (2) |