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kOps

kops.sigs.k8s.io

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Spec score 7.8 #12 of 29 in Kubernetes Management Platforms

What it is

kOps is a free, open-source tool for creating, upgrading, maintaining, and destroying production-grade, highly available Kubernetes clusters. It also provisions the cloud infrastructure those clusters require, with the control plane managed by the customer. AWS and Google Cloud are officially supported; DigitalOcean, Hetzner, and OpenStack are in beta, while Azure is in alpha.

Configuration uses a YAML manifest-based API with templating and dry-run modes. State synchronization supports dry runs and automatic idempotency, and kOps can generate Terraform. It offers popular CNI networking providers out of the box and supports ARM64 architectures. kOps runs on Linux, macOS, and Windows; kubectl is required to install and use it. SSH access to masters and nodes is allowed from any address by default, although no public key is installed by default. SSH sources can be restricted in cluster configuration or with a command option. The security documentation says Pods can access the underlying instance IAM role and describes its permission scope as broad. The project points users to public office hours and Kubernetes Slack channels for support.

Spec sheet

Purpose
kOps creates, destroys, upgrades, and maintains production grade, highly available Kubernetes clusters and provisions the required cloud infrastructure.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
Support
kOps maintainers hold public office hours for developers and users, and the project points users to Kubernetes Slack channels for help.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
License
The kubernetes/kops repository lists the Apache-2.0 license.Read 8 Oct 2026 · github.com
Architecture
kOps supports ARM64 architectures.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
Cloud providers
AWS and Google Cloud are officially supported; DigitalOcean, Hetzner, and OpenStack are in beta, and Azure is in alpha.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
Cluster provisioning
kOps automates provisioning of highly available Kubernetes clusters.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
Configuration
It provides a YAML manifest based API, templating, and dry run modes for creating manifests.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
Infrastructure output
kOps can generate Terraform.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
Installation requirement
kubectl is required to install and use kOps.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
Networking
It offers popular CNI networking providers out of the box.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
Security: IAM
The security documentation says all Pods running on a cluster have access to the underlying instance IAM role and that the permission scope is currently quite broad.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
Security: SSH
SSH access to masters and nodes is allowed from any address by default, though no public key is installed by default; SSH sources can be restricted in cluster configuration or with a command option.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io
State management
Its state sync model supports dry runs and automatic idempotency.Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io

Plans and prices

kOps Free No paid plans or price listed on the official pages reviewed Read 8 Oct 2026 · kops.sigs.k8s.io

Every kOps plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Automates highly available cluster provisioning
  • Supports dry runs and automatic idempotency
  • Can generate Terraform
  • Supports ARM64 architectures
  • Free and open source

Limits

  • kubectl is required to install and use it
  • SSH is allowed from any address by default
  • Pod access to instance IAM roles has broad scope
  • Azure support is in alpha

Who it suits

kOps suits teams that want to provision and manage Kubernetes clusters and their cloud infrastructure themselves. Users should be prepared to use kubectl and configure access controls where needed.

Verdict

kOps provides cluster lifecycle and infrastructure provisioning for teams managing their own control plane. Its cloud-provider support has different maturity levels, and its default SSH and IAM conditions deserve attention during configuration.

Where Specifiction places it

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