Containers vs virtual machines: key differences and when to use each (2026)

Containers and virtual machines (VMs) are two primary methods for running isolated workloads on shared hardware, each offering distinct approaches to isolation, resource usage, and deployment. Containers, which operate at the OS level using shared host kernels, are lightweight and start in milliseconds, making them ideal for cloud-native applications and microservices. In contrast, VMs provide strong hardware-level isolation by running complete operating systems with dedicated kernels, which results in slower startup but enhanced security, suitable for legacy applications and compliance requirements. MicroVMs like Firecracker and Kata Containers blend the benefits of both, offering hardware-level isolation with container-like startup speeds for security-sensitive workloads. The Northflank platform simplifies managing these technologies by offering Kubernetes-powered orchestration, microVM isolation, and seamless integration with cloud providers, allowing teams to deploy containerized workloads efficiently without the burden of infrastructure maintenance.

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