Download guide

Download Docker Images Without Docker

Get a ready-to-load TAR or ZIP from any OS in the browser (Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, mobile), then move it to USB or offline hosts.

Base URL https://containerdl.com

Why teams choose this approach

No Docker daemon

Export images without Docker Desktop, WSL, or a privileged socket.

Portable outputs

Download .tar files or ZIP bundles for USB transfer, offline deploys, and CI.

Registry ready

Public registries work out of the box; private pulls for GHCR and Docker Hub on Light/Pro.

How it works

Sign in to ContainerDL to access export credits.
Paste an image reference or stack file and start the export.
Automate with the API using:
Bearer token Authorization: Bearer <key>

Example

Export a public image

curl

curl -X POST https://containerdl.com/v1/exports \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer cdl_live_xxx" \
  -d '{"image":"nginx:latest"}'

Replace the image reference with your registry path.
Use Light/Pro API keys for automation.

Common use cases

Company laptops where Docker Desktop cannot be installed.
Air-gapped or restricted networks.
Sharing images with teammates as TAR files.
USB delivery to offline servers.
Quick size checks before transfer.

FAQs

Do I need Docker installed?

No. ContainerDL pulls the image on the server and returns a tarball.

Can I export private images?

Yes. Private access is available for GHCR and Docker Hub on Light/Pro plans.

Does this work on any OS?

Yes. ContainerDL runs in the browser on Windows, macOS, Linux, ChromeOS, and mobile devices.

What formats are supported?

Single images export to TAR; stacks export to ZIP bundles.

Related guides

Windows without Docker Desktop

Download images on Windows without WSL or Docker Desktop.

Offline image downloads

Prepare tarballs and bundles for air-gapped environments.

USB image transfer

Move TAR files to USB for offline installs.

Download with curl

Automate downloads with API keys.

Docker save without Docker

Export docker-archive TAR files online.

TAR download guide

Export images to TAR and load them anywhere.

Docker Hub downloads

Export Docker Hub images without a local daemon.