Side by side
Progress Kemp LoadMaster vs PureLB
Both stand on load balancing software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+2
Choose LoadMaster if you need Layer 4 and Layer 7 traffic management alongside WAF and access protections. Its trial provides a defined 30-day evaluation, but the license stops functioning at expiry, and permanent licensing requires contacting Progress or a partner.
Visit Progress Kemp LoadMaster
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted
PureLB provides address allocation and announcement for bare-metal Kubernetes, with local and BGP-based options. Note the Linux and CNI requirements, and treat Netbox support as limited.
Visit PureLBThe facts
| Progress Kemp LoadMaster | PureLB | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | A free trial | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Self-hosted, Web, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Not published |
| Plans published | 2 | None |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | progress.com | purelb.io |
| On load balancing software | #10 of 32 | #6 of 32 |
Progress Kemp LoadMaster: what it does well
- Supports both Layer 4 and Layer 7 routing.
- WAF includes OWASP Top Ten, SQL injection, and cross-site scripting protections.
- GEO can direct clients by location or proximity, with failover and failback.
- Available in hardware, virtual, and cloud forms.
- Cloud pay-per-use charges apply only to usage consumed.
What to know first
- The temporary license expires after 30 days, then LoadMaster ceases to function.
- Some features may be lost when switching to a permanent license with a different support tier.
PureLB: what it does well
- Free under the Apache License, Version 2.0
- Supports IPv4 and IPv6 pools
- Optional BGP announcements
- Can be installed with Helm or kubectl manifests
- Exposes Prometheus metrics
What to know first
- Requires a Kubernetes cluster with an operational CNI
- Requires Linux nodes
- Netbox integration is unsupported
- Netbox integration may fail with recent versions
Alternatives to Progress Kemp LoadMaster Alternatives to PureLB The whole list