MicroK8s

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Score7.3

Rank#2 of 24

From$2.08/mo

Free planYes

Free trialYes

Runs onLinux, macOS, Self-hosted, Windows

Summary

MicroK8s is a lightweight Kubernetes distribution that can run from a single node to a high-availability production cluster. It is positioned for developer workstations, production, public clouds, edge deployments, IoT and software-vendor embedded platforms. The self-hosted distribution is available for Linux, macOS and Windows, and packages upstream Kubernetes services in a minimal CNCF-certified distribution. Three or more nodes enable Dqlite-backed high availability and automatic recovery after a node failure. Strict confinement limits workloads to explicitly granted files, system resources and hardware. Cluster API supports cluster creation and lifecycle management through YAML manifests, including rolling HA upgrades. GPU workloads can use the NVIDIA GPU Operator, including NVIDIA Multi-Instance GPU. Official and community addons provide services such as DNS, certificate management, Prometheus, Istio and dashboards. Security updates are applied automatically by default, with rollback on failure, and Kubernetes upgrades can be done with one command. MicroK8s has no license fees; Ubuntu Pro subscriptions with support are also available at listed annual prices.

Who it is for

It suits developers and teams running Kubernetes on workstations, in production, in public clouds or at the edge. IoT projects and software vendors embedding platforms are also among its stated use cases.

What is good

Scales from one node to high availability
Three or more nodes enable automatic recovery
Strict confinement limits workload access
Automatic security updates can roll back on failure
No license fees for MicroK8s

What to know first

Windows installer recommends Professional or Enterprise editions
Windows requires at least 4GB available RAM and 40GB storage
Recommended workload resources include 4GB memory and 20GB disk

Verdict

MicroK8s offers a self-hosted Kubernetes distribution with addons, cluster automation and security controls. Ubuntu Pro subscriptions are separately available for maintenance and support.

MicroK8s plans and pricing

All plans

Ubuntu Pro Personal Free up to 5 machines ubuntu.com · 30 Sept 2026

MicroK8s Free no license fees canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026

Ubuntu Pro Workstation $25/yr per machine per year workstation subscription ubuntu.com · 30 Sept 2026

Ubuntu Pro with 24/7 Enterprise support — Workstation $300/yr full support per machine per year 24/7 full support ubuntu.com · 30 Sept 2026

Ubuntu Pro Server with unlimited VMs $500/yr per machine per year unlimited VMs ubuntu.com · 30 Sept 2026

Ubuntu Pro with 24/7 Enterprise support — Server $1,775/yr infra support per machine per year 24/7 infra support · unlimited VMs ubuntu.com · 30 Sept 2026

Compared on container management software

Free plan: Yescanonical.com
Deployment model: self-hostedcanonical.com

Facts

What it is: MicroK8s is a lightweight, low-ops Kubernetes distribution that scales from a single node to a high-availability production cluster.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Use cases: Canonical positions MicroK8s for developer workstations, production, public clouds, edge deployments, IoT and software-vendor embedded platforms.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
High availability: Adding three or more MicroK8s nodes enables resilient Dqlite-backed high availability and automatic recovery after a node failure.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Security isolation: Strict confinement limits MicroK8s and container workloads to explicitly granted files, system resources and hardware.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Cluster automation: MicroK8s supports Cluster API for automated cluster creation and lifecycle management through YAML manifests, including rolling HA upgrades and in-place non-HA control-plane upgrades.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
GPU support: The GPU addon uses the NVIDIA GPU Operator and supports NVIDIA Multi-Instance GPU for AI, machine-learning and HPC workloads.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Addons: Canonical maintains officially supported core addons, while community addons provide additional services such as certificate management and DNS.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Integrations: Built-in examples include Prometheus, Jaeger, Istio, LinkerD, Knative, DNS, registry and dashboard services enabled through addons.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Security updates: MicroK8s applies security updates automatically by default, rolls back on failure and supports one-command Kubernetes upgrades.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Certification: Canonical describes MicroK8s as a minimal CNCF-certified distribution containing upstream Kubernetes services in a single contained package.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Support: Canonical advertises a 99.9% uptime SLA and up to 15 years of security maintenance through Ubuntu Pro coverage for MicroK8s and related infrastructure.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Minimum resources: The getting-started documentation says MicroK8s can run with as little as 540MB memory, while recommending at least 4GB memory and 20GB disk for workloads.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Windows requirements: The Windows installer documentation recommends Windows 10 Professional or Enterprise and requires at least 4GB available RAM and 40GB storage.canonical.com · 30 Sept 2026
Free trial: Ubuntu Pro offers a 30-day enterprise and commercial trial, supports up to 50 attached machines during the trial and excludes support and Knowledge Base access.ubuntu.com · 30 Sept 2026