Antrea

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Score6.7

Rank#3 of 27

PriceFree

Free planYes

Runs onAPI, Linux, Self-hosted, Windows

Summary

Antrea is an open-source networking and security project for Kubernetes workloads. It implements the Container Network Interface and Kubernetes NetworkPolicy to provide pod networking, using Open vSwitch as its data plane, including for Kubernetes Service load balancing. It supports overlay networking with VXLAN or Geneve, and can also run without an overlay depending on infrastructure and use case. Antrea extends Kubernetes policy controls with tiers, rule priorities, cluster-level policies and Node policies. It can federate clusters using a unified data plane, multi-cluster Services and security posture. Diagnostics include command-line and UI tools for packet tracing, policy analysis and flow inspection, with metrics export to Prometheus. Linux nodes can use IPsec or WireGuard encryption for pod traffic between nodes; traffic encryption is not supported on Windows nodes. The project is free under Apache License 2.0. It requires a Kubernetes cluster and the Open vSwitch kernel module on every node; the overview says it has been tested with Kubernetes 1.23 or later.

Who it is for

Antrea suits Kubernetes operators who need pod networking, network policy controls or multi-cluster capabilities. It requires Open vSwitch on every node, and its traffic encryption feature applies to Linux nodes rather than Windows nodes.

What is good

Extends Kubernetes policies with tiers and priorities
Supports VXLAN and Geneve overlay networking
Federates clusters with multi-cluster Services
Diagnostics include tracing, policy analysis and flow inspection
Free under Apache License 2.0

What to know first

Requires a Kubernetes cluster and Open vSwitch on every node
Traffic encryption is unsupported on Windows nodes
Azure support is no longer tested from Antrea 2.5

Verdict

Antrea brings networking, policy controls and diagnostics to Kubernetes environments, with multi-cluster support also available. Its node requirements and Windows encryption limitation are important deployment considerations.

Antrea plans and pricing

All plans

Antrea Free Apache License 2.0 · requires a Kubernetes cluster and Open vSwitch kernel module on every Kubernetes node antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026

Compared on microsegmentation software

Deployment model: hybridantrea.io

Facts

Purpose: Antrea implements the Container Network Interface and Kubernetes NetworkPolicy to provide pod networking and security for Kubernetes workloads.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Data plane: Antrea uses Open vSwitch as its networking data plane, including for Kubernetes Service load balancing.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Network modes: It supports overlay networking with VXLAN or Geneve and can also run without an overlay, depending on the infrastructure and use case.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Policy features: Its policy model adds policy tiering, rule priorities, cluster-level policies, and Node policies to Kubernetes NetworkPolicy.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Multi-cluster: Antrea can federate Kubernetes clusters with a unified data plane, multi-cluster Services, and security posture.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Encryption: Antrea supports IPsec or WireGuard encryption of pod traffic between Linux nodes; traffic encryption is not supported on Windows nodes.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Observability: Antrea provides CLI and UI diagnostics such as packet tracing, policy analysis, and flow inspection, and exports metrics to Prometheus.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Integrations: The documentation lists integrations and guides for Prometheus, Octant, Multus, and Fluentd.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Cloud deployment: The documentation provides deployment guides for Amazon EKS, Azure AKS, and Google GKE, with GKE marked Alpha.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Azure support: The AKS guide says Azure support is no longer tested starting with Antrea 2.5 and Azure-related issues are handled on a best-effort basis.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Requirements: The overview says Antrea has been tested with Kubernetes 1.23 or later and requires the Open vSwitch kernel module on every Kubernetes node.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Support: The project directs users to its Kubernetes Slack channel, mailing lists, community meetings, and office hours.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026
Project status: Antrea identifies itself as a Cloud Native Computing Foundation sandbox project.antrea.io · 3 Oct 2026