Alternative guide

An ORAS Pull Alternative for Container Images

ORAS is great for OCI artifacts, but not always installable. ContainerDL gives you a hosted way to export images.

Base URL https://containerdl.com

Why teams pick ContainerDL

No CLI install

Use a browser or API instead of installing ORAS.

Image exports

Download container images as TAR and share them easily.

Secure downloads

Private credentials are temporary and never stored.

How it works

Enter an image reference in ContainerDL.
Export and download the TAR.
Automate with:
Bearer token Authorization: Bearer <key>

Example

Export an image without a local CLI

curl

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

Use ContainerDL when installing ORAS is not possible.
For OCI artifacts beyond images, ORAS is still the right tool.

Common use cases

Locked-down laptops and build environments.
Quick tarball exports without installing tools.
Sharing images with non-technical teams.
API-driven exports in CI.

FAQs

Does this replace oras pull?

For container images, yes. For OCI artifacts and signatures, ORAS is still best.

Do I need docker login?

No for public images. Private access is supported for GHCR and Docker Hub on Light/Pro.

Is there an API?

Yes. API access is available on Light and Pro plans.

Related guides

Docker image downloader

Use a hosted downloader instead of local tooling.

OCI image archive

Download OCI images and convert offline if needed.

Download without Docker

General guide to exporting without Docker installed.

Guides hub

Browse all ContainerDL download guides.

Start exporting now

Create your first export in seconds. Free tier available, then scale with API keys and paid plans.

Create export Compare pricing API docs