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Kube Inspector
What Kube Inspector is
Kube Inspector is a free desktop app for viewing and managing Kubernetes clusters on Linux, macOS, and Windows. It reads existing kubeconfig files and supports conformant local and managed clusters, including kind, minikube, k3s, EKS, GKE, and AKS. Users can inspect and manage Pods, Deployments, StatefulSets, Jobs, and CronJobs, and review or apply changes in a Monaco YAML editor with schema validation. The app shows CPU and memory use over time for clusters, nodes, pods, and workloads when metrics-server is installed. It also includes an interactive RBAC graph and Trivy image scanning. A separate terminal interface, kube-inspector-cli, offers the same features for terminal and SSH use. The project says cluster data travels between the user's machine and the cluster API server, and that the app has no telemetry, analytics, crash reporting, or usage statistics. It describes the release as beta, so bugs are expected. The software is free and open source, with no paid tier, account, or sign-in.
Who it suits
Kube Inspector suits Kubernetes users who want a graphical desktop client or terminal interface for inspecting clusters and managing workloads. It also offers cluster resource readings and security tools, subject to their stated requirements and limits.
What it does well
- Free and open source, with no account or sign-in.
- Supports multiple local and managed Kubernetes clusters.
- YAML editor includes schema validation.
- Includes an interactive RBAC graph and Trivy scanning.
- CLI provides the same features for terminal and SSH use.
What to know first
- CPU and memory readings require metrics-server.
- macOS builds are Apple Silicon only and unsigned.
- Trivy scanning needs first-use network access and skips private registries.
- The project describes the release as beta; bugs are expected.
Limits
The free plan costs nothing and has no paid tier. Monitoring requires metrics-server; vulnerability scanning requires an initial database download and does not cover private registry images or cluster misconfiguration.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free and open source · no paid tier, account, or sign-in | Free |
As kubeinspector.com lists them, read 3 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Open the Kube Inspector website.
- Choose the desktop build for Windows, Linux, or supported Apple Silicon macOS.
- Use an existing kubeconfig file to connect to a cluster.
- Add other clusters as needed; open panels stay pinned to their selected cluster.
- Install the separately packaged kube-inspector-cli for terminal or SSH use.
Verdict
Kube Inspector combines cluster management, YAML editing, resource monitoring, and security features in a free desktop app, with a matching CLI. Check the platform and scanning limitations, and expect a beta release without a support desk or guaranteed response times.
Questions
How much does Kube Inspector cost?
The Free plan costs nothing. It has no paid tier.
Which operating systems does it support?
It supports Windows 10/11, macOS 11+ on Apple Silicon, Ubuntu/Debian, and Fedora/RHEL-compatible Linux. macOS builds are Apple Silicon only.
Does it have a free trial?
No. The plan is free, and no trial is offered.
Does it require an account?
No account or sign-in is required.
What limits apply to monitoring and scanning?
CPU and memory readings require metrics-server. Scanning needs network access for its first Trivy database download and excludes private registry images and cluster misconfiguration.
Who makes Kube Inspector, and what support is available?
The project directs users to its issue tracker and does not guarantee response times; it has no support desk.
Facts from Kube Inspector's own pages
- CLI
- A separately packaged terminal UI, kube-inspector-cli, provides the same features and is intended for terminal and SSH use. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Cluster compatibility
- It reads existing kubeconfig files and supports conformant local and managed Kubernetes clusters, including kind, minikube, k3s, EKS, GKE, and AKS. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Local AI integration
- The optional AI assistant uses Ollama, with prompts and tool results sent to the configured Ollama host rather than a cloud provider by default. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- It displays CPU and memory usage for clusters, nodes, pods, and workloads over time; these readings require metrics-server in the cluster. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Multi-cluster
- Users can add multiple clusters, and each open panel stays pinned to the cluster it was opened with. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Notable limitations
- macOS builds are Apple Silicon only, and builds are not code-signed. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Privacy
- The app states that it has no telemetry, analytics, crash reporting, or usage statistics; cluster data travels between the user's machine and the cluster API server. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Release maturity
- The support page describes the release as beta and says bugs are expected. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Resource management
- It supports inspecting and managing workloads including Pods, Deployments, StatefulSets, Jobs, and CronJobs. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Scanning limits
- Vulnerability scanning needs network access to download Trivy's database on first use, does not scan images in private registries, and does not scan cluster misconfiguration. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Security features
- It includes an interactive RBAC graph and Trivy image vulnerability scanning. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- Support
- There is no support desk; the project directs users to its issue tracker and does not guarantee response times. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- What it does
- Kube Inspector is a visual desktop client for viewing and managing Kubernetes clusters. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
- YAML editor
- The app includes a Monaco YAML editor with schema validation for viewing and applying changes. · kubeinspector.com, 3 Oct 2026
Where Kube Inspector stands on Freedom251
- Local Kubernetes Tools#11 of 23