Top 8 Kubernetes Alternatives & Competitors

Introduction

The way we manage container orchestration has been entirely transformed by Kubernetes, which has made application deployment, scaling, and management much more accessible. It’s not a universally applicable solution, though. Distinct needs and settings necessitate distinct approaches in the vast field of software development. This is where alternatives to Kubernetes come in, with different features and functionalities to meet different needs. The managed Kubernetes services, Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Container as a Service (CaaS) choices that address various facets of container management will be examined in this article.

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What Is Kubernetes?

Kubernetes, sometimes called k8s or “kube,” is an open-source containerization platform. The program was developed by Google and made available as open-source software in 2014. Kubernetes allows applications to be run on physical servers, public or private cloud storage platforms, and hybrid combinations — whatever suits your business needs best. It also allows you to automate many manual processes, such as deploying and scaling containerized applications, allowing your team to use their time and energy more efficiently.

Due to its open-source nature and extensive documentation, Kubernetes has become one of the leaders in containerization platforms. However, the system has a significant learning curve and can be confusing to set up and navigate, leading some to seek an alternative to this complicated platform.

What are some of the problems that push organizations to go elsewhere?

Although extremely strong and appropriate for large-scale deployments, Kubernetes may be excessive for applications that do not necessitate a distributed design or high size.
Kubernetes is complicated; even for DevOps experts and developers, there is a significant learning curve for less technical professions. Learning Kubernetes is mandatory for many technical professions due to its immense popularity.

Transitioning from older applications to Kubernetes can be challenging. Refactoring individual components or the entire architecture is frequently necessary, and cloud-native principles must be recreated when rebuilding applications.

The high total cost of ownership, despite being an open-source project, Kubernetes has several unstated expenses. In addition to being expensive to set up and maintain, Kubernetes needs a huge processing environment. A business will have more accessible, less expensive hosting options if it settles for fewer deployment options.

Alternatives to Kubernetes

As containerization has become more and more common, other alternatives have entered the market. Here are eight Kubernetes competitors you should consider:

1. Amazon ECS

Amazon Elastic Container Service, or Amazon ECS, is one of the best-known Kubernetes alternatives. It is a managed service offered by Amazon Web Services (AWS) designed to integrate seamlessly with other AWS tools — so if you’re already using AWS, it makes sense to use Amazon ECS as well. However, this setup means that you’re essentially locked into Amazon as a vendor, so if you later decide to change up either your containerization or your web hosting, it could be difficult and costly to make the switch.

Furthermore, Amazon ECS does allow you to run containers on Fargate or EC2 instances. It is also serverless, readily available, and provides support via AWS Experts. (Standard Kubernetes doesn’t support serverless computing.)

2. Docker Swarm

Docker is another open-source containerization solution. It is a more lightweight technology, so it is easier to install and has a shorter learning curve than Kubernetes, but the tradeoff is that it has more limited functionality.

Because Docker has been around for so long — it was one of the first containerization technologies on the market — it has extensive documentation and a pretty good-sized open-source community. Users note that larger containerizations can get complicated on Docker, so if you have a lot of clusters, pods, and containers to manage, you might be better off with one of the more robust software options on this list.

3. Nomad

Nomad is a container orchestrator that works with both containers and legacy applications. Thanks to its single binary, installation is simple and does not require external services. Nomad can run several application workloads, including Docker, non-containerized, micro-service, and batch.

HashiCorp developed Nomad, and as a result, it integrates with other company products such as Terraform and Vault. Due to its more straightforward setup, Nomad can only handle cluster management and scheduling, so if you need more capabilities than that, you’ll be better off with some of the other Kubernetes alternatives listed here.

4. RedHat OpenShift

RedHat OpenShift is an alternative to Kubernetes built on top of Kubernetes: OpenShift combines Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) with Google’s Kubernetes orchestration and Linux containers formatted by Docker. OpenShift is known for its built-in monitoring robust security features (which means containers cannot be run as root due to RedShift’s security protocols).

The user experience gets good reviews, and users say that OpenShift is easier to use than Kubernetes. However, they also say that the logs can be hard to understand. The smaller size of the OpenShift community also means that there are gaps in the documentation and that it can be difficult to troubleshoot issues when they arise.

5. Rancher

The rancher was designed to make it easier to deploy Kubernetes clusters on private and public clouds and on-premise servers. Rancher allows developers to focus on shipping and deploying code without worrying about IT infrastructure, making it ideal for smaller teams that may not be large enough for dedicated IT support. Notable Rancher features include container load balancing, multi-cloud management, user management, cross-host networks, and persistent storage services. Users note that documentation can be lacking on certain subjects, and offline installation and management can be complicated.

6. GKE (Google Kubernetes Engine)

Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is a managed service on Google Cloud that simplifies running containerized applications. It automates managing and scaling your containers across virtual machines, freeing you to focus on development. GKE leverages the open-source Kubernetes system for orchestration, while Google handles the underlying infrastructure and maintenance. This lets you enjoy the benefits of containerization without the burden of managing Kubernetes yourself.

7. AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service)

Microsoft’s Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is a managed service for running containerized applications on Azure. It handles the complexities of managing Kubernetes, an open-source system for orchestrating containers, so developers can focus on building and deploying their apps. AKS takes care of infrastructure, upgrades, and cluster health, allowing developers to leverage the benefits of containerization without getting bogged down in Kubernetes management.

8. Container as a Service (CaaS)

Container as a Service (CaaS) is a cloud-based service model that allows users to manage and deploy containers, applications, and clusters through a container-based virtualization layer. CaaS is often used with Kubernetes, which orchestrates and automates these containers’ deployment, scaling, and operation.

Comparatively, managed Kubernetes services are a subset of CaaS where the provider offers Kubernetes as the orchestration layer and manages it. The service provider handles the Kubernetes environment’s setup, scaling, and maintenance in managed Kubernetes. The critical difference lies in the level of management and control. CaaS offers tools and services for container orchestration, but users are still responsible for managing the orchestration layer. Managed Kubernetes services, on the other hand, take over the orchestration layer management, giving users a more hands-off approach to Kubernetes. This makes managed Kubernetes ideal for those who want to leverage Kubernetes’ capabilities without delving into its complexities. At the same time, CaaS is suitable for users who want more control over their container and orchestration environments. Now that we understand the difference, let’s review the leading players in this category.

Use Cases and Suitability

• Use Managed Kubernetes like EKS, GKE, or AKS if you need deep cloud integration and extensive scalability, are comfortable with some complexity, or have already invested in a particular cloud platform.

• Use CaaS like VMWare Tanzu if your enterprise requires robust management tools for Kubernetes and can afford potentially higher costs.

• Use PaaS like Qovery or Rancher if you prefer a more simplified approach to Kubernetes management or need to quickly deploy applications without deep involvement in container orchestration complexities.

Conclusion

Powerful yet complex Kubernetes has spurred the rise of simplified alternatives like PaaS, CaaS, and managed Kubernetes platforms. Each offers unique strengths, from EKS, GKE, and AKS for managed services to VMWare Tanzu for enterprise-level capabilities in CaaS, and user-friendly options like Rancher and Qovery in PaaS. Choose based on organizational needs, technical capabilities, and application demands. Explore these options to find the right container orchestration solution.

FAQs

1. Why should we consider alternatives to Kubernetes?

While Kubernetes is a powerful container orchestration platform, it can be complex to set up and manage, leading some organizations to seek alternatives. Alternatives like Amazon ECS, Docker Swarm, and Nomad offer simplified deployment and management options while still providing robust orchestration capabilities, catering to varying needs and preferences in container management.

2. How do we choose the suitable Kubernetes alternative for my organization?

Choosing the suitable Kubernetes alternative depends on various factors, including your organization’s technical capabilities, specific application requirements, and preferred level of management complexity. Consider factors such as cloud integration, scalability, ease of deployment, management tools, and cost when evaluating alternatives like managed Kubernetes services, CaaS, or PaaS solutions.

3. What are the benefits of managed Kubernetes services compared to CaaS and PaaS?

Managed Kubernetes services, such as GKE, EKS, and AKS, offer deep cloud integration, extensive scalability, and a hands-off approach to Kubernetes management. These make them suitable for organizations comfortable with some complexity or heavily invested in a cloud platform. On the other hand, CaaS solutions provide more control over container orchestration environments but may come with potentially higher costs and management overhead. PaaS offerings like Rancher and Qovery offer simplified Kubernetes management for organizations preferring a user-friendly approach to deployment and management.