Podman and Docker are two popular container platforms that differ in their architectural approaches. Podman is daemonless, which makes it more secure by design, while Docker relies on a central daemon to manage containers. Both use the same OCI-compliant container image formats and provide similar command-line interfaces. Podman offers rootless operation, improved security, and more powerful container management features, making it suitable for secure environments and systemd integration. On the other hand, Docker is optimized for ease of use and is popular in local development environments where its daemon-based architecture is acceptable. Both tools have their strengths and weaknesses, and the choice between them depends on specific needs and use cases. While Podman can run Docker images, it may require some substitution or adaptation for deeper integrations like Docker Compose or volume plugins. Ultimately, both platforms offer advanced container management features and the option to run Kubernetes alongside, but they cater to different needs and ecosystems.