Side by side
Charmed Kubernetes vs KubeSphere
Both stand on container orchestration software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxSelf-hosted
Choose Charmed Kubernetes if you need an enterprise Kubernetes distribution with automated lifecycle operations across varied infrastructure and workload types. Teams seeking full-stack support should consider the stated Charmed OpenStack subscription arrangement.
Visit Charmed Kubernetes Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted+1
KubeSphere pairs a free self-managed Community Edition with an Enterprise offering that adds security, permissions, and support options. Teams should compare the editions and contact sales for Enterprise pricing.
Visit KubeSphereThe facts
| Charmed Kubernetes | KubeSphere | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | Linux, Self-hosted | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | KubeSphere Backup Basic: $65 a month |
| Plans published | 1 | 7 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | ubuntu.com | kubesphere.io |
| On container orchestration software | #5 of 32 | #1 of 32 |
Charmed Kubernetes: what it does well
- Automates cluster lifecycle management with Juju-powered operators.
- Supports OpenStack, VMware, major clouds, bare metal, VMs and containers.
- High availability is configured by default.
- Core components receive automatic updates and security fixes.
- Supports multiple clusters, autoscaling and rolling updates.
What to know first
- Deployment is self-hosted on Linux.
- Full-stack support is described for use with Charmed OpenStack.
KubeSphere: what it does well
- Community Edition is free forever and self-managed
- Supports multi-tenancy and multi-cluster management
- Includes Jenkins-based CI/CD workflows
- Supports online or offline installation
What to know first
- Enterprise pricing requires contacting sales
- Enterprise extensions are available by subscription
- Community Edition is self-managed
Alternatives to Charmed Kubernetes Alternatives to KubeSphere The whole list

