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SPECIFICTION
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KubeVela

kubevela.io

Free plan WebWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted
Visit kubevela.io
Spec score 7.9 #10 of 28 in DevOps Platforms

What it is

KubeVela is a free, open-source software delivery platform for deploying and operating applications across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. It describes deployment plans as workflows that can run with CI/CD or GitOps and be extended with CUE. Across clusters and clouds, it supports progressive rollout, canary and blue-green strategies, continuous verification, and placement strategies. Security controls include LDAP integrations, multi-cluster authentication and authorization, fine-grained RBAC modules, and automated observability. Application access control uses native Kubernetes authentication and RBAC objects. The project lists integrations including Kubernetes, Helm, FluxCD, ArgoCD, Git, Harbor, JFrog, Dex, Prometheus, Loki, Grafana, Vector, Terraform, Crossplane, Istio, and ClickHouse. Cloud resources can be used as built-in components or integrated through Terraform and Crossplane. Install it on Linux, macOS, or Windows, or host it on an existing Kubernetes cluster. Standalone VelaD is intended for local development and demos; managed Kubernetes is recommended for production. Its CLI installs the control plane on the Kubernetes derivative targeted by the user's kubeconfig.

Spec sheet

Purpose
KubeVela is a modern software delivery platform for deploying and operating applications across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Integrations
The official site lists Kubernetes, Helm, FluxCD, ArgoCD, Git, Harbor, JFrog, Dex, Prometheus, Loki, Grafana, Vector, Terraform, Crossplane, Istio and ClickHouse integrations.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Access-control model
KubeVela's application access control is based on native Kubernetes authentication and RBAC objects.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Architecture
KubeVela says its control plane can run in one pod with 0.5c1g resources and handle thousands of application deliveries.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Cloud resources
Cloud resources can be used as built-in components or integrated through Terraform and Crossplane.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Community support
The project provides community channels through CNCF Slack, DingTalk and WeChat groups.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Deployment as code
Deployment plans are declared as workflows that can run with CI/CD or GitOps systems and be extended with CUE.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Installation platforms
Standalone installation is available on Linux, macOS or Windows, while existing Kubernetes clusters can host KubeVela.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Kubernetes compatibility
The KubeVela CLI installs the control plane on any Kubernetes derivative targeted by the user's kubeconfig.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Multi-cloud delivery
KubeVela supports progressive rollout, canary, blue-green, continuous verification and placement strategies across clusters and clouds.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Project status
KubeVela is a CNCF incubation project.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Security controls
The platform provides LDAP integrations, multi-cluster authentication and authorization, fine-grained RBAC modules and automated observability.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io
Security reporting
The project directs vulnerability reports to its SECURITY.md process or [email protected].Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com
Standalone limitation
VelaD is intended for local development and quick demos, and the documentation recommends managed Kubernetes services for production.Read 1 Oct 2026 · kubevela.io

Plans and prices

KubeVela (Apache-2.0 open-source) Free self-hosted Kubernetes control plane · Apache-2.0 license Read 1 Oct 2026 · github.com

Every KubeVela plan and price →

Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Free, open-source Apache-2.0 plan.
  • Supports canary and blue-green rollout strategies.
  • Integrates with CI/CD or GitOps workflows.
  • Cloud resources can be added through Terraform or Crossplane.

Limits

  • Standalone VelaD is intended for development and demos.
  • Automatic rollback is not supported.
  • Production guidance recommends managed Kubernetes services.

Who it suits

KubeVela suits teams deploying applications across clusters or clouds that want workflow-based delivery and Kubernetes access controls. Its standalone option is intended for local development and quick demos, while production use is directed toward managed Kubernetes services.

Verdict

KubeVela combines multi-cluster delivery strategies, workflow-based deployments, and Kubernetes-native access control in a free open-source platform. Consider its production guidance and lack of automatic rollback when evaluating it.

Where Specifiction places it

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