Headlamp
7.5#4 in container management softwareFree planFree planWebAPIExtensionLinux
VisitHeadlamp vs vCluster Platform
vCluster Platform
7.7#1 in local kubernetes toolsFree planFree planWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitWhat both publish
| Fact | Headlamp | vCluster Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Deployment | Headlamp can be deployed in a Kubernetes cluster using Helm or a YAML configuration. | vCluster Cloud hosts the platform while host and virtual clusters remain in the customer's infrastructure; self-hosted deployment runs the entire platform in the customer's infrastructure. |
| Documentation depth | The documentation has separate user, installation, platform, development, architecture, API, plugin, OIDC, testing, release, and learning sections. | The documentation includes installation, cloud-environment guides, API resources, administration, templates, integrations, troubleshooting and security hardening sections. |
| Integrations | Documented CNCF-related integrations include Backstage, Flux, Inspektor Gadget, Kompose, KubeScape, KubeVirt, OpenCost, Prometheus, and Trivy. | The pricing feature list names Cluster API, Terraform, Rancher, Prometheus ServiceMonitor, Metrics Server, Argo CD, Vault, cert-manager, External Secrets Operator, KubeVirt and Istio integrations. |
| Project governance | Headlamp is an official Kubernetes sub-project in SIG UI and was accepted into the CNCF Sandbox on May 17, 2023. | Projects group tenant clusters and users while applying quotas, templates and scoped access policies. |
| Purpose | Headlamp is a graphical user interface tailored to simplify Kubernetes cluster management. | vCluster Platform provides a management plane for deploying, configuring, and operating tenant cluster fleets through a web UI, CLI, and API. |
| Support | The project directs users to its documentation, community Slack, GitHub issues, and monthly community meeting for help. | Enterprise plans include enterprise support, SLAs, and custom terms; the pricing page also lists priority support, private Slack or MS Teams channels, and video support. |
Headlamp plans
- HeadlampFree
- Open-source HeadlampFree
vCluster Platform plans
- FreeFree
- Open SourceFree
- EnterprisePriced on request
Pick Headlamp if…
Headlamp suits Kubernetes users who want a graphical way to manage multiple clusters while seeing actions allowed by their RBAC role. Its deployment and plugin options may also fit teams with specific workflows.
Pick vCluster Platform if…
vCluster Platform suits cloud and infrastructure teams managing tenant cluster fleets across supported environments. Teams considering shared-node tenancy should account for the listed shared components.