# k0s vs Lens

**Leader by Vioscale score:** k0s

| Attribute | k0s | Lens |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 52.9 (45% (low)) | 39.7 (62% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 100 | 0 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 1 | 2 |
| adoption.github_stars | 6,452 | 23,228 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | - | 12 |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true,"hybrid":true,"on_prem":true,"air_gapped":true,"self_hosted":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"on_prem":true,"air_gapped":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | An open-source Kubernetes distribution packaged as a single binary with minimal dependencies, designed to run on any infrastructure including bare metal, cloud platforms, and edge environments with simple configuration. | Lens is a desktop application that provides a graphical interface for developers and operators to manage multiple Kubernetes clusters, visualize metrics and logs, and troubleshoot cloud-native workloads. It integrates with AI coding assistants and cloud platforms, designed to reduce the complexity of working with Kubernetes. |
| features.capabilities | `{"hosting":"both","arm_support":true,"cncf_maturity":"graduated","gui_dashboard":false,"orchestration":"kubernetes","k8s_conformant":true,"stateful_workloads":true,"managed_control_plane":false,"built_in_networking_cni":true}` | `{"gui_dashboard":true}` |
| integrations.count | 2 | 6 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Kube-Router"},{"name":"Calico"}]` | `[{"name":"AWS EKS"},{"name":"Helm"},{"name":"Claude (Anthropic)"},{"name":"GitHub Copilot"},{"name":"Codex"},{"name":"kubectl"}]` |
| language.primary | Go | - |
| license.spdx | - | MIT |
| market.availability | - | `{"primaryMarkets":["US","EU"],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"web":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"k0s","description":"100% open source & free for personal or commercial use"}],"summary":"100% open source & free","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://k0sproject.io","retrievedAt":"2026-08-03T14:26:13.706Z"}` | `{"type":"subscription","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Personal","summary":"Free for personal use","features":["Multiple cluster management","Metrics and logs visualization","Helm chart support","Smart terminal","Port forwarding","Community support"],"description":"Individual use, free for personal projects","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Plus","summary":"$25/month","features":["Everything in Personal","AWS EKS integration","CVE reporting","Hotbar for cluster switching","Commercial support"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"fixed","amount":25,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For individual professionals using Lens in production","contactSales":false},{"free":true,"name":"Team","summary":"Free for small teams","features":["Full Lens Desktop functionality","Community support","Team collaboration"],"description":"For small teams getting started with Kubernetes","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Pro","summary":"$25/user/month","features":["Everything in Team","AWS EKS integration","CVE reporting","Hotbar","Secure cluster discovery and remote access","Commercial support"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"user","amount":25,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For production teams needing secure remote access and collaboration","contactSales":false},{"free":false,"name":"Enterprise","summary":"$50/user/month","features":["Everything in Pro","Offline/air-gapped mode","VDI support","Central configuration management","Single Sign-On (SSO)","SCIM provisioning","Priority enterprise support","Security compliance assistance"],"commitment":"monthly","components":[{"kind":"per_unit","unit":"user","amount":50,"period":"month","currency":"USD"}],"description":"For enterprises with strict compliance and operational requirements","contactSales":false}],"summary":"Free for individuals and small teams. From $25/user/month for production use.","currency":"USD","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://lenshq.io/blog/lens-plans-and-pricing-update/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-14T08:38:14.422Z","startingPrice":{"amount":25,"period":"month","currency":"USD"},"billingPeriods":["month"]}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | commercial | commercial |
| pricing.price_level | free | mid |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.36.3%2Bk0s.2","date":"2026-08-12T10:59:02Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.3+k0s.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.36.3%2Bk0s.1","date":"2026-08-07T13:05:33Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.3+k0s.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.36.3%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-07-27T14:22:28Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.3+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.35.7%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-07-27T14:15:43Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.7+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.34.10%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-07-27T14:11:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.10+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.33.13%2Bk0s.1","date":"2026-07-27T08:36:02Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.33.13+k0s.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.37.0-alpha.1%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-06-30T14:23:55Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v1.37.0-alpha.1+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.36.2%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-06-30T11:27:36Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.2+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.35.6%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-06-29T13:32:25Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.6+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.34.9%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-06-29T13:30:19Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.9+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.33.13%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-06-29T13:26:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.33.13+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.35.5%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-06-16T13:06:34Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.5+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.34.8%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-06-16T09:43:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.8+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.33.12%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-06-16T07:11:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.33.12+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.36.1%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-06-14T13:05:34Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.36.1+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.33.11%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-05-13T13:31:43Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.33.11+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.35.4%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-05-13T14:36:10Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.4+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.34.7%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-05-13T13:34:38Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.7+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.35.3%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-04-08T14:03:32Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.35.3+k0s.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/k0sproject/k0s/releases/tag/v1.34.6%2Bk0s.0","date":"2026-04-08T13:59:56Z","type":"stable","version":"v1.34.6+k0s.0"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2024.1.300751-latest","date":"2024-01-31T07:25:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v2024.1.300751-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2024.1.170738-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:52:50Z","type":"stable","version":"v2024.1.170738-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.12.281947-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:51:30Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.12.281947-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.12.80831-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:49:53Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.12.80831-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.11.241450-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:48:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.11.241450-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.11.131420-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:47:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.11.131420-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.11.81519-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:46:17Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.11.81519-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.10.181418-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:45:11Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.10.181418-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.10.122002-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:44:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.10.122002-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.9.290703-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:43:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.9.290703-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.9.190000-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:41:04Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.9.190000-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.8.231521-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:34:51Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.8.231521-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.8.31525-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:34:15Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.8.31525-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v2023.5.310801-latest","date":"2024-01-25T15:22:30Z","type":"stable","version":"v2023.5.310801-latest"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v6.5.2","date":"2023-05-30T15:40:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.5.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v6.5.1","date":"2023-05-29T12:59:30Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.5.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v6.5.0","date":"2023-05-26T18:02:20Z","type":"stable","version":"v6.5.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v6.5.0-alpha.16","date":"2023-05-25T13:59:25Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v6.5.0-alpha.16"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v6.5.0-alpha.15","date":"2023-05-23T19:35:19Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v6.5.0-alpha.15"},{"url":"https://github.com/lensapp/lens/releases/tag/v6.5.0-alpha.14","date":"2023-05-23T15:36:33Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v6.5.0-alpha.14"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | - | yes |
| security.disclosure_policy | - | yes |
| security.gdpr | - | yes |
| security.iso27001 | - | yes |
| security.scorecard | 5.9 | 4.2 |
| security.soc2 | - | yes |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fk0sproject%2Fk0s&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=npm&package_name=%40k8slens%2Flegacy-global-di&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (Container Orchestration Tools)

| Capability | k0s | Lens |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Orchestration scope | Kubernetes | - |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Hosting | 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 | Graduated | - |
| **UX** |  |  |
| GUI dashboard | ✗ | ✓ |

*Source: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T15:00:01.992Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*