# Docker Model Runner vs vLLM (slim)

> vLLM and Docker Model Runner score within a point of each other for local inference, 57.7 and 57.1 out of 100. Prices, MCP, x402, uptime and agent notes side by side.

- Full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-vllm.md (~2,750 tokens) · this version ~680 tokens · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-vllm.json · canonical https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/docker-model-runner-vs-vllm
- Index: https://www.anchorterminal.com/llms.txt · API: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/index.json · Updated: 2026-10-09

vLLM and Docker Model Runner score within a point of each other on agent readiness, 57.7 (C) and 57.1 (C). Docker Model Runner leads on reliability and transparency & trust. Both do local inference.

- Docker Model Runner: C 57.1, rank #621 of 950 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/docker-model-runner.min.md
- vLLM: C 57.7, rank #600 of 950 · https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/vllm.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 62; Transparency & trust, 73 against 67.
- vLLM, good for An owner with a GPU server who wants many concurrent requests against one open-weight model behind OpenAI or Anthropic compatible routes. Ahead on Schema & documentation, 68 against 49; Agent ergonomics, 64 against 58; Security & auth, 50 against 40; Maintenance & community, 88 against 55.

| Category | Docker Model Runner | vLLM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Reliability (16%) | 85 | 62 |
| Performance (10%) | pending | pending |
| Schema & documentation (13%) | 49 | 68 |
| Agent ergonomics (13%) | 58 | 64 |
| Security & auth (14%) | 40 | 50 |
| Payments & pricing (10%) | 60 | 60 |
| Task success (10%) | pending | pending |
| Maintenance & community (7%) | 55 | 88 |
| Transparency & trust (7%) | 73 | 67 |

| Fact (where they differ) | Docker Model Runner | vLLM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vendor | Docker, Inc. | vLLM project (PyTorch Foundation) |
| 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 | 2026-10-02 |
| 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 | 93k stars |