# Google Kubernetes Engine

- **Canonical URI:** https://www.vioscale.ai/software/google-kubernetes-engine
- **Category:** Container Orchestration Tools
- **Homepage:** https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine
- **Also known as:** google-kubernetes-engine
- **Profile claimed by vendor:** no
- **Last updated:** 2026-08-05T14:16:56.709Z

## Vioscale score

**89.8 / 100**, confidence 31% (low).

Composite of weighted, independently-sourced signals (no user reviews, no vendor payment).

| Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence present |
|---|--:|--:|--:|:--:|
| price_level | 80 | 0.047 | 3.8 | ✓ |
| reliability | 97.5 | 0.175 | 17.1 | ✓ |
| capabilities | 67.1 | 0.07 | 4.7 | ✓ |
| integrations | 0 | 0.094 | 0 | - |
| security_posture | 5 | 0.129 | 0 | - |
| pricing_transparency | 100 | 0.07 | 7 | ✓ |

## Pricing

_As of 2026-08-05, [verify at source](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine). Independently observed._

from $0.10/mo · Usage-based · Free tier

> Free tier provides $74.40/month credit. Cluster management fee: $0.10/cluster/hour. New customers receive $300 in free credits. Compute costs based on Autopilot per-pod or Standard per-node pricing.

| Plan | Price | Free | Commitment |
|---|---|:--:|---|
| Autopilot | $0.10/cluster/hour cluster management fee plus per-pod compute costs | - | - |
| Standard | $0.10/cluster/hour cluster management fee plus Compute Engine instance pricing | - | - |

### Autopilot

Google manages node infrastructure, scaling, security, and pre-configured features with automatic capacity right-sizing and per-pod pricing

- Automated cluster lifecycle management
- Pod and cluster autoscaling
- Cost visibility
- Automated infrastructure cost optimization
- Multi-cluster management
- Per-pod billing model
- Container-optimized compute
- Fleet dashboard

### Standard

Standard node pools with per-node billing based on underlying Compute Engine instances

- Flexible cluster management
- Node-based billing
- Compute Engine pricing applies
- Committed use discounts available

## About

Google-managed Kubernetes service with automated cluster lifecycle management, autoscaling, and optional Autopilot mode for fully managed nodes. Supports enterprise workloads, AI/ML, and multi-cluster management.

_Independently observed._

## Platform & deployment

- **Platforms:** CLI, Web
- **Deployment:** Cloud / SaaS

## Capabilities

_The capabilities that matter for Container Orchestration Tools. "-" = undocumented, not absent._

| Capability | Supported |
|---|:--:|
| **Core** | |
| Orchestration scope | Kubernetes |
| **Deployment** | |
| Hosting | Cloud only |
| **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 | ✓ |

## Facts

Every value below carries its source and our confidence. Facts are re-crawled on a freshness schedule.

### pricing

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| pricing.free_tier | yes | [link](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine) | 2026-08-05 | 48% (low) |
| pricing.model | freemium | [link](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine) | 2026-08-05 | 80% (high) |
| pricing.price_level | low | [link](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) |
| pricing.starting_gbp | 0.1 | [link](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) |
| pricing.transparent | yes | [link](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) |

### reliability

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| reliability.sla_pct | 99.95 | [link](https://cloud.google.com/sla) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) |
| reliability.status_page | yes | [link](https://status.cloud.google.com) | 2026-08-05 | 60% (medium) |

### market

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| market.availability | `{"hqCountry":"US","primaryMarkets":[],"availabilityScope":"global","availableCountries":[],"notAvailableCountries":[]}` | [link](https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-engine) | 2026-08-05 | 75% (high) |

### security

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| security.gdpr | yes | [link](https://cloud.google.com/security) | 2026-08-05 | 75% (high) |

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*Source: Vioscale (https://www.vioscale.ai/software/google-kubernetes-engine). Independent, evidence-based software intelligence. Cite the canonical URI.*