IBM Kubecost is a web-based Kubernetes cost monitoring service with a free plan and pricing available on request for other plans. Its OpenCost plan provides open-source Kubernetes cost monitoring with unlimited clusters and unlimited cores. Kubecost Free is listed at 0.00 USD per free and covers 250 cores and $100K in spend over 30 days, with 15 days of metric retention. For organizations needing broader capacity and retention, Kubecost Enterprise offers a unified multi-cluster view, unlimited cores, unlimited metric retention and SSO/SAML access control. IBM provides Enterprise pricing on request. Budget alerts are available. The listed plans set different boundaries: OpenCost has no stated cluster or core limit, Kubecost Free has defined core, spend and retention allowances, and Enterprise adds expanded capacity, retention and access controls. The service is accessed through the web, and the pricing model includes both a free option and plans priced on request.
Who it is for
IBM Kubecost suits teams monitoring Kubernetes costs through a web service, with options ranging from open-source monitoring to enterprise multi-cluster access controls. The free plan may fit deployments within its 250-core, $100K over 30 days and 15-day retention allowances.
What is good
- OpenCost includes unlimited clusters and unlimited cores.
- Kubecost Free is listed at 0.00 USD per free.
- Enterprise includes a unified multi-cluster view.
- Enterprise includes unlimited metric retention and cores.
- Budget alerts are available.
What to know first
- Kubecost Free is limited to 250 cores.
- Free plan metrics are retained for 15 days.
- Enterprise pricing is available on request.
Verdict
Choose IBM Kubecost if you need Kubernetes cost monitoring and its listed plan limits fit your usage, or if you need Enterprise multi-cluster visibility and access control. Look elsewhere if the Free plan’s core, spend or retention boundaries are too restrictive, or if you need Enterprise pricing upfront.
Get started with IBM Kubecost
- Visit IBM's Kubecost website.
- Choose the OpenCost option for open-source Kubernetes cost monitoring with unlimited clusters and cores.
- Choose Kubecost Free for the listed 250-core allowance, or contact IBM about Enterprise pricing.
- Access the service on the web.
What the free plan stops at
Kubecost Free covers 250 cores and $100K in spend over 30 days, and retains metrics for 15 days. OpenCost has unlimited clusters and cores; Enterprise has unlimited cores and metric retention, with pricing available on request.
Questions about IBM Kubecost
Does IBM Kubecost have a free plan?
Yes. Kubecost Free is listed at 0.00 USD per free. OpenCost is also described as open-source Kubernetes cost monitoring.
What are the Kubecost Free plan limits?
It covers 250 cores and $100K in spend over 30 days, with 15 days of metric retention.
What does OpenCost include?
The OpenCost plan offers open-source Kubernetes cost monitoring with unlimited clusters and unlimited cores.
What does Kubecost Enterprise include?
It includes a unified multi-cluster view, unlimited cores, unlimited metric retention and SSO/SAML access control.
How much does Enterprise cost?
IBM provides Enterprise pricing on request.
Which platform does IBM Kubecost support?
IBM Kubecost is available on the web.
IBM Kubecost plans and pricing
All plansCompared on Kubernetes cost management software
- Free plan
- Yes
- Budget alerts
- Yes
