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Tech riderRev. 28 Sept 2026

Chaos Toolkit

Ch 027.4of 23 Chaos Engineering Platforms
  1. 1Runs onAPI, Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows
  2. 2CostsFree plan
  3. 3Kubernetes supportYes
  4. 4Cloud fault injectionYes
  5. 5Network fault injectionYes
  6. 6Experiment schedulingYes
  7. 7Deployment modelself hosted
  8. 8Blast-radius controlsYes
8 lines stated Written from the maker's own pages: chaostoolkit.org
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The Chaos Toolkit homepage

Overview

Chaos Toolkit is a free, open-source chaos engineering toolkit for developers exploring systems to uncover weaknesses. Experiments define a steady-state hypothesis and probes to check it, along with a method of actions and probes. If the system does not meet the stated steady state, the method is not applied and the experiment must stop. Experiments can be declared in JSON or YAML files, making them suitable for collaboration and orchestration alongside code. The toolkit extends to systems through its Open API and can be embedded in a CI/CD chain. Listed integrations include AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Kubernetes, Kafka, Slack, Datadog, Grafana, OpenTelemetry, and Prometheus. The standalone CLI is available under Apache License 2.0. It is implemented in Python 3, officially supports Python 3.8 and later, and has only been tested against CPython. Installation instructions cover macOS, Debian or Ubuntu, and Windows; users can install extensions after the CLI and core library. Reliably is a separate platform with SaaS, private SaaS, and on-premises options.

Who it is for

Chaos Toolkit suits developers who want to describe and run system experiments alongside code. Its API, CI/CD embedding, and listed integrations are relevant to teams working with cloud, container, or observability systems.

What is good

  • Free CLI under Apache License 2.0
  • Experiments can be stored as JSON or YAML
  • Can be embedded in a CI/CD chain
  • Includes a safety gate for unmet steady state

What to know first

  • Requires Python 3.8 or later
  • Tested only against CPython
  • Extensions require the CLI and core library

Verdict

Chaos Toolkit gives developers a code-oriented way to define experiments, with a safety condition that prevents the method from running when steady state fails. It is a standalone CLI rather than the separate Reliably platform.

Chaos Toolkit plans and pricing

All plans
Chaos Toolkit Free Open source CLI · free forever · Apache License 2.0 chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026

Compared on chaos engineering platforms

Free plan
Yeschaostoolkit.org
Kubernetes support
Yeschaostoolkit.org
Cloud fault injection
Yeschaostoolkit.org
Network fault injection
Yeschaostoolkit.org
Experiment scheduling
Yeschaostoolkit.org
Deployment model
self_hostedchaostoolkit.org
Blast-radius controls
Yeschaostoolkit.org

Facts

Purpose
Chaos Toolkit is a chaos engineering toolkit for developers to explore and test systems to discover weaknesses.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Experiment format
Experiments can be declared and stored as JSON or YAML files for collaboration and orchestration like other code.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Open API
The toolkit is extensible for systems through its Open API.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Automation
The toolkit can be embedded in a CI/CD chain.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
License
The toolkit is open source under the Apache 2 license.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Experiments
An experiment declares a steady-state hypothesis and probes to validate it, plus a method made up of actions and probes.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Safety gate
If the steady state is not met, the method is not applied and the experiment must bail out.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Integrations
The extension directory lists integrations including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Kubernetes, Kafka, Slack, Datadog, Grafana, OpenTelemetry and Prometheus.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Supported runtime
The CLI is implemented in Python 3, officially supports Python 3.8+, and has only been tested against CPython.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Installation
The installation guide provides Python setup instructions for macOS, Debian or Ubuntu, and Windows, and installs the CLI using pip.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Extensions
After installing the CLI and core library, users can install extensions for different facets of chaos engineering.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Deployment options
The offering page describes a standalone open source CLI; it distinguishes Reliably as a separate platform with SaaS, private SaaS and on-premises options.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Community
The project invites contributions through issue reports, issue voting, project stars, community Slack, pull requests and extension proposals.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026
Security practice
The contribution guide suggests contributor accounts enable 2FA to reduce security risks if an account is breached.chaostoolkit.org · 28 Sept 2026

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