Side by side
Firecracker vs KVM
Both stand on server virtualization software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted
Firecracker combines microVM isolation with an API, resource controls, and a companion jailer. Check the supported host requirements and the aarch64 RTC limitation for your workload.
Visit Firecracker Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted
KVM offers Linux-hosted virtualization with a broad set of documented VM features and integration options. Check that the host has the required processor extensions before choosing it.
Visit KVMThe facts
| Firecracker | KVM | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Yes |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted | API, Linux, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 2 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | firecracker-microvm.github.io | linux-kvm.org |
| On server virtualization software | #5 of 22 | #1 of 22 |
Firecracker: what it does well
- Free and licensed under Apache 2.0.
- Uses Linux KVM hardware virtualization for isolation.
- Supports VM snapshots.
- Built-in rate limiters control network and storage use.
What to know first
- No GPU acceleration.
- aarch64 RTC alarms do not work in guest programs.
- Requires hardware virtualization support on listed CPUs.
KVM: what it does well
- Free and open-source software.
- Runs unmodified Linux and Windows guest images.
- Supports live migration between hosts.
- Includes snapshots, nested virtualization and GPU acceleration.
- Available through major community and enterprise Linux distributions.
What to know first
- Linux host requires Intel VT or AMD-V extensions.
- Windows guest drivers are available separately.
Alternatives to Firecracker Alternatives to KVM The whole list