LinuxCNC
Linux based CNC machine controller. It can drive milling machines, lathes, 3D printers, laser cutters, plasma cutters, robot arms, hexapods, and more.
LinuxCNC vs Octoprint
Two self-hosted Manufacturing apps, compared on the facts we track: GitHub popularity and activity, license, language, Docker images and a rough hosting estimate.
Side by side
| LinuxCNC | Octoprint | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Linux based CNC machine controller. It can drive milling machines, lathes, 3D printers, laser cutters, plasma cutters, robot arms, hexapods, and more. | Snappy web interface for controlling consumer 3D printers. |
| GitHub stars | 2,524 | 9,186 |
| Forks | – | – |
| Open issues | – | – |
| Commits (12 months) | 1.7k | 681 |
| Last activity | 2026-11-05 | 2026-10-27 |
| Latest release | v2.10.0-pre2 (2026-09-28) | 2.0.0rc7 (2026-10-20) |
| Maintenance health | Active | Active |
| License | GPL-2.0, LGPL-3.0 | AGPL-3.0 |
| Language / platform | C, deb | Docker, Python |
| Docker Hub image | – | – |
| Docker pulls | – | – |
| Est. server size | ~512 MB, 1 vCPU | ~1 GB, 1 vCPU |
| Est. hosting from | $3.5/mo | $5/mo |
| Categories | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
| Links | Website · Source | Website · Source |
What the numbers say
- Octoprint is more popular on GitHub: 9.2k stars vs 2.5k for LinuxCNC.
- LinuxCNC had more commits in the last 12 months (1,747 vs 681).
- Octoprint published a release more recently (2.0.0rc7 on 2026-10-20; LinuxCNC's latest is v2.10.0-pre2 on 2026-09-28).
- LinuxCNC is licensed under GPL-2.0, LGPL-3.0, Octoprint under AGPL-3.0.
- LinuxCNC is written in C; Octoprint in Python.
- Deployment options listed upstream: LinuxCNC: deb; Octoprint: Docker.
- Our rough hardware estimate is lighter for LinuxCNC (~512 MB server) than Octoprint (~1 GB); this is an estimate from the stack and category, not a benchmark.
Summary: LinuxCNC leads on commit activity; Octoprint leads on GitHub popularity. The right choice depends on the features you need — read both project descriptions and docs.
This summary is generated from GitHub, Docker Hub and awesome-selfhosted data as of 2026-11-05. It does not rate features or quality.
Frequently asked questions
Is LinuxCNC or Octoprint more popular?
Octoprint has more GitHub stars (9,186 vs 2,524 for LinuxCNC, as of 2026-11-05). Stars measure interest, not quality.
Which is more actively maintained, LinuxCNC or Octoprint?
LinuxCNC had more commits over the last 12 months (1,747 vs 681). The last recorded activity was 2026-11-05 for LinuxCNC and 2026-10-27 for Octoprint. Our health labels: LinuxCNC is “Active”, Octoprint is “Active”.
What licenses do LinuxCNC and Octoprint use?
LinuxCNC: GPL-2.0, LGPL-3.0. Octoprint: AGPL-3.0.
Can I run LinuxCNC and Octoprint with Docker?
We did not detect a Docker Hub image for either app. The upstream listing mentions Docker as a deployment option for Octoprint. Check each project's documentation for install options.
Read more
Octoprint
Snappy web interface for controlling consumer 3D printers.
Browse all self-hosted Manufacturing apps.