Freedom251 › Kubernetes Management Platforms
KubeClipper
What KubeClipper is
KubeClipper is a free, open-source service for managing Kubernetes clusters in an organization’s own infrastructure. It provides a web GUI, APIs, and the kcctl command-line tool for provisioning and operating clusters across cloud, hypervisor, and bare-metal environments. A graphical wizard guides cluster setup and plugin selection, and deployments can run online, offline, or through a proxy. The service can also register clusters created outside KubeClipper for ongoing management.
Cluster operations cover creation, deletion, upgrades, backups, restoration, scaling, and remote access. Node tools provide automatic registration, information collection, and a terminal; the current node-management capability supports adding and removing worker nodes. Access control includes role-based permissions, custom roles, and external sign-in through OIDC. Backups include etcd data and Kubernetes resource objects, with filesystem or S3 storage options such as NFS and MinIO. They do not include files created by resources or files in persistent volumes. KubeClipper supports x86/64 and arm64, and offers extensible management for CRI, CNI, CSI, and CRD components.
Who it suits
KubeClipper suits teams managing Kubernetes on infrastructure they control, including cloud, hypervisor, and bare-metal environments. Its GUI, APIs, CLI, cluster provisioning, and multi-cluster management fit operators who need cluster lifecycle tools and external cluster registration.
What it does well
- Free and open source.
- Deploys Kubernetes on cloud, hypervisor, and bare-metal infrastructure.
- Manages cluster creation, upgrades, backups, restoration, and scaling.
- Offers GUI, APIs, and the kcctl CLI.
- Supports OIDC and custom role-based permissions.
- Supports x86/64 and arm64.
What to know first
- Backups exclude resource-generated files and persistent-volume files.
- Node changes currently support adding and removing worker nodes only.
- All-in-One setup lists specific Linux distributions and minimum host resources.
Limits
Backups cover etcd data and Kubernetes resource objects, but exclude files generated by resources and files stored in persistent volumes. The current node-management capability supports adding and removing worker nodes only.
Getting started
- Open the KubeClipper website.
- Choose a Linux host for the All-in-One setup; the guide lists CentOS 7.x, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 20.04.
- Provide at least 2 CPU cores and 2 GB RAM for the recommended All-in-One host.
- Follow the graphical setup wizard to deploy a cluster and select required plugins.
- Use the web GUI, APIs, or kcctl to manage clusters.
Verdict
Choose KubeClipper if you need a free, open-source way to provision and manage Kubernetes clusters across infrastructure you control. Its lifecycle tools, cluster registration, and multiple interfaces cover a broad set of operational tasks. Look elsewhere if you need backups to include persistent-volume files or node-management operations beyond adding and removing worker nodes.
Questions
How much does KubeClipper cost?
KubeClipper is free and open source.
Where can KubeClipper deploy Kubernetes?
It supports cloud, hypervisor, and bare-metal infrastructure.
What interfaces does it provide?
KubeClipper provides a web GUI, APIs, and the kcctl command-line tool.
Can it manage clusters created elsewhere?
Yes. KubeClipper can register and manage externally created clusters.
What do cluster backups include?
Backups cover etcd data and Kubernetes resource objects, using filesystem or S3 storage. They exclude resource-generated files and files in persistent volumes.
Which Linux systems are listed for All-in-One setup?
The setup guide lists CentOS 7.x, Ubuntu 18.04, and Ubuntu 20.04, with a recommendation of at least 2 CPU cores and 2 GB RAM.
Facts from KubeClipper's own pages
- Access control
- The platform includes four initial roles and supports custom roles with configurable permissions. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Architecture support
- The feature page lists x86/64 and arm64 support. · kubeclipper.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Availability
- The maker’s Chinese homepage labels the download as free. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Backup limit
- Cluster backups cover etcd data and Kubernetes resource objects, but not files or data generated by resources or files under persistent volumes. · kubeclipper.io, 5 Oct 2026
- CLI
- The kcctl command-line tool can deploy and manage KubeClipper clusters and perform most page operations. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Cluster backups
- Cluster backup covers etcd data and Kubernetes resource objects, and the guide describes using NFS or MinIO for backup storage. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Cluster import
- It can register and manage externally created clusters. · kubeclipper.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Cluster setup
- A wizard-style graphical interface helps users deploy clusters and required plugins. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Component management
- The documentation describes extensible management for CRI, CNI, CSI, and CRD components. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Component support
- The overview says KubeClipper provides scalable management services for CRI, CNI, CSI, and CRD components. · kubeclipper.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Container registry
- Docker and Containerd use Docker Hub by default, and the guide explains configuring private registries, including self-signed HTTPS or HTTP registries. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment environments
- It can deploy Kubernetes clusters on cloud, hypervisor, and bare-metal infrastructure. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment modes
- KubeClipper supports online, proxy, and offline deployment methods. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Deployment targets
- It can deploy Kubernetes clusters on cloud, hypervisors, or bare metal. · kubeclipper.io, 5 Oct 2026
- External identity
- External users can log in through OIDC, with OAuth2 login described in the access-control guide. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Getting started
- The documented All-in-One setup recommends a host with at least 2 CPU cores and 2 GB RAM and lists CentOS 7.x, Ubuntu 18.04, or Ubuntu 20.04. · github.com, 5 Oct 2026
- High availability
- The HA deployment guide recommends at least three server nodes for availability and etcd quorum. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Intended users
- The overview describes KubeClipper as a tool intended to help operations engineers manage multiple Kubernetes clusters across regions and infrastructure. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Lifecycle features
- Cluster operations include creation, deletion, backup, restoration, upgrades, scaling, and node management. · kubeclipper.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Lifecycle management
- Its listed lifecycle capabilities include installation, deletion, upgrades, backup and restoration, scaling, and remote access. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Node tools
- Node management includes automatic registration, information collection, and a node terminal. · kubeclipper.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Notable limitation
- The cluster-management guide says the current version supports adding and removing worker nodes only. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- KubeClipper is a lightweight web service for Kubernetes cluster lifecycle management, with a web console, APIs, and a CLI tool. · kubeclipper.io, 7 Oct 2026
- Roadmap integrations
- The roadmap lists load balancing and ingress, monitoring, Kubernetes Dashboard, and KubeEdge under common application and plugin integrations. · kubeclipper.io, 5 Oct 2026
Where KubeClipper stands on Freedom251
- Kubernetes Management Platforms#11 of 29