# CRI-O vs Rancher

**Leader by Vioscale score:** CRI-O

| Attribute | CRI-O | Rancher |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 55.5 (48% (low)) | 44.6 (51% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 43 | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 61 | 96 |
| adoption.github_stars | 5,654 | 25,872 |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"on_prem":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | A runtime implementation that enables Kubernetes to execute and manage containers, supporting OCI-compliant container images from any registry. | A management platform that helps teams deploy and operate Kubernetes instances across diverse infrastructure—from on-premises data centers to public clouds and edge environments. It centralizes administrative controls and operational tools. |
| features.capabilities | `{"hosting":"self","oci_compliant":true,"orchestration":"kubernetes","k8s_conformant":true,"built_in_networking_cni":false}` | `{"hosting":"both","gui_dashboard":true,"orchestration":"kubernetes"}` |
| language.primary | Go | Go |
| license.spdx | Apache-2.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| market.availability | - | `{"hqCountry":"DE","primaryMarkets":["US"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"linux":true}` | `{"cli":true,"web":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","sourceUrl":"https://cri-o.io","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T22:25:33.464Z"}` | `{"type":"quote","sourceUrl":"https://rancher.com/pricing","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T13:44:48.664Z"}` |
| pricing.model | commercial | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | free | unknown |
| pricing.transparent | - | no |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.36.4","date":"2026-08-24T16:56:10Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.35.7","date":"2026-08-24T17:02:07Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.34.12","date":"2026-08-24T17:05:37Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.36.3","date":"2026-08-04T00:43:08Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.35.6","date":"2026-08-04T00:46:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.34.11","date":"2026-08-04T00:45:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.11"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.36.2","date":"2026-07-02T00:58:30Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.35.5","date":"2026-07-02T12:07:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.34.10","date":"2026-07-02T00:57:56Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.10"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.36.1","date":"2026-06-03T01:09:37Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.35.4","date":"2026-06-03T01:09:44Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.34.9","date":"2026-06-03T01:09:17Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.9"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.33.13","date":"2026-06-03T01:09:03Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.33.13"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.35.3","date":"2026-05-05T00:48:17Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.34.8","date":"2026-05-05T00:47:44Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.33.12","date":"2026-05-05T00:47:25Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.33.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.36.0","date":"2026-05-05T18:29:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.35.2","date":"2026-04-02T00:36:52Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.34.7","date":"2026-04-02T00:36:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/cri-o/cri-o/releases/tag/v1.33.11","date":"2026-04-02T00:36:57Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.33.11"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.14.5-rc1","date":"2026-08-25T22:54:12Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.14.5-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.13.9-rc1","date":"2026-08-25T22:22:07Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.13.9-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.12.13-rc1","date":"2026-08-25T20:28:06Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.12.13-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.11.17-rc1","date":"2026-08-25T20:27:57Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.11.17-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.15.1-rc1","date":"2026-08-25T21:41:26Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.15.1-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.14.5-alpha1","date":"2026-08-19T14:30:23Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.14.5-alpha1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.13.9-alpha1","date":"2026-08-19T14:38:34Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.13.9-alpha1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.12.13-alpha1","date":"2026-08-19T14:38:30Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.12.13-alpha1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.11.17-alpha1","date":"2026-08-19T14:38:27Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.11.17-alpha1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.15.1-alpha1","date":"2026-08-18T23:32:09Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.15.1-alpha1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.15.0","date":"2026-07-30T21:51:19Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.15.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.15.0-rc5","date":"2026-07-30T17:47:39Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.15.0-rc5"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.14.4","date":"2026-07-30T20:38:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.14.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.14.4-rc1","date":"2026-07-30T16:16:04Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.14.4-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.13.8","date":"2026-07-30T22:37:16Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.13.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.13.8-rc1","date":"2026-07-30T17:47:27Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.13.8-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.12.12","date":"2026-07-30T22:37:06Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.12.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.12.12-rc1","date":"2026-07-30T17:47:30Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.12.12-rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.11.16","date":"2026-07-30T22:37:11Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.11.16"},{"url":"https://github.com/rancher/rancher/releases/tag/v2.11.16-rc1","date":"2026-07-30T17:47:34Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.11.16-rc1"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | yes | yes |
| security.gdpr | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 8.4 | 6.7 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":13,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fcri-o%2Fcri-o&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":"HIGH"}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Francher%2Francher%2Fpkg%2Fapis&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (Container Orchestration Tools)

| Capability | CRI-O | Rancher |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Orchestration scope | Kubernetes | Kubernetes |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Hosting | Self-hosted only | Cloud + self-hosted |
| **Standards** |  |  |
| OCI / CRI compliant | ✓ | - |
| CNCF Certified Kubernetes conformant | ✓ | - |
| **Security** |  |  |
| Rootless operation | - | - |
| **Architecture** |  |  |
| Daemonless architecture | - | - |
| **Platform** |  |  |
| Windows containers | - | - |
| ARM architecture support | - | - |
| **Workloads** |  |  |
| GPU scheduling | - | - |
| Stateful workloads | - | - |
| **Networking** |  |  |
| Built-in networking / CNI | ✗ | - |
| **Ops** |  |  |
| Vendor-managed control plane | - | - |
| **Ecosystem** |  |  |
| CNCF maturity | - | - |
| **UX** |  |  |
| GUI dashboard | - | ✓ |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T17:00:33.875Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*