ctop vs cruise
Terminal tools for container monitoring and management compared
ctop provides a live terminal dashboard for monitoring containers, with a focused view for inspecting one container. cruise is a keyboard-first Docker TUI for managing containers and related artifacts, with monitoring and image vulnerability scanning; its stated scope is Docker only.
ctop: Monitor Container Metrics in a Terminal
ctop is a terminal dashboard for viewing real-time metrics across multiple containers, with a focused view for inspecting one container. It suits operators and developers who want a quick, interactive overview without opening a web dashboard.
cruise: Manage Docker Containers in a Terminal UI
Cruise is a Go-based terminal interface for managing Docker containers and related artifacts. It suits developers who want interactive lifecycle controls, monitoring, and image vulnerability scanning without relying only on command-line flags.
| ctop | cruise | |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Go | Go |
| License | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Stars | 17.8k | 13 |
| Forks | 589 | 1 |
| Last analyzed | Oct 3, 2026 | Oct 3, 2026 |
Key differences
- ctop monitors containers through Docker and runC connectors, while cruise manages Docker containers, images, volumes, and networks.
- ctop emphasizes live metrics, filtering, sorting, logs, and an exec shell; cruise emphasizes lifecycle controls and detailed inspection of Docker artifacts.
- ctop supports toggling between active and all containers, including non-running ones; cruise lists image vulnerability scanning with Trivy or Grype.
- ctop is MIT-licensed; cruise has conflicting license information, with Apache-2.0 in the metadata and MIT in the README.
- ctop lists packages or installation options for Linux, macOS, and Windows, plus a Docker image; cruise is described as a client that requires Docker.
- ctop has 17.8k stars and 589 forks and is not archived; cruise has 13 stars and 1 fork, and its repository says it is not the main project repository.
Choose ctop if you…
- need a terminal dashboard for real-time metrics across multiple containers.
- want Docker or runC connector support, plus filtering, sorting, logs, or an exec shell.
- prefer an established project with listed installation options across Linux, macOS, and Windows.
Choose cruise if you…
- want interactive controls for managing Docker containers, images, volumes, and networks.
- need a terminal interface that lists image vulnerability scanning with Trivy or Grype.
- prefer a keyboard-first Go TUI and will confirm the canonical repository and license details.
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This comparison is generated with AI from the OSRepos analyses of both projects. Always check each project's repository and documentation before choosing.