# K3s

- **Canonical URI:** https://www.vioscale.ai/software/k3s
- **Category:** Container Orchestration Tools
- **Homepage:** https://k3s.io
- **Also known as:** k3s
- **Profile claimed by vendor:** no
- **Last updated:** 2026-08-26T19:29:47.231Z

## Vioscale score

**50.5 / 100**, confidence 46% (low). Computed 2026-09-01.

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

| Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence present |
|---|--:|--:|--:|:--:|
| price_level | 100 | 0.042 | 4.2 | ✓ |
| reliability | 0 | 0.157 | 0 | - |
| capabilities | 74.7 | 0.063 | 4.7 | ✓ |
| repo_stars | 85.4 | 0.026 | 2.2 | ✓ |
| integrations | 28.8 | 0.084 | 2.4 | ✓ |
| dependent_projects | 18 | 0.063 | 1.1 | ✓ |
| dev_activity | 47.8 | 0.094 | 4.5 | ✓ |
| release_cadence | 0 | 0.052 | 0 | - |
| security_posture | 0 | 0.115 | 0 | - |
| package_downloads | 0 | 0.136 | 0 | - |
| security_score | 80 | 0.042 | 3.4 | ✓ |
| pricing_transparency | 25 | 0.063 | 1.6 | ✓ |
| community_qa_activity | 0 | 0.063 | 0 | - |

## Pricing

_As of 2026-08-03, [verify at source](https://k3s.io). Independently observed._

Open source · Free tier

## About

K3s is a certified Kubernetes implementation that maintains full conformance while streamlining deployment through bundled components, simplified storage options, and a single-binary installation model suitable for resource-constrained environments and edge computing scenarios.

_Independently observed._

## Platform & deployment

- **Platforms:** CLI, Linux
- **Deployment:** Cloud / SaaS, On-premise, Self-hosted

## Integrations (9)

_Independently observed._

- Traefik
- CoreDNS
- Helm
- etcd
- Local Path Provisioner
- MariaDB
- MySQL
- PostgreSQL
- SQLite

## Capabilities

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

| Capability | Supported |
|---|:--:|
| **Core** | |
| Orchestration scope | Kubernetes |
| **Deployment** | |
| Hosting | Self-hosted 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 | Sandbox |
| **UX** | |
| GUI dashboard | - |

## Release history

| Version | Date | Type |
|---|---|---|
| [v1.36.4-rc1+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.36.4-rc1%2Bk3s1) | 2026-08-21 | prerelease |
| [v1.35.8-rc1+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.35.8-rc1%2Bk3s1) | 2026-08-21 | prerelease |
| [v1.34.11-rc1+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.34.11-rc1%2Bk3s1) | 2026-08-21 | prerelease |
| [v1.36.3+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.36.3%2Bk3s1) | 2026-08-04 | stable |
| [v1.36.3-rc2+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.36.3-rc2%2Bk3s1) | 2026-07-28 | prerelease |
| [v1.35.7+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.35.7%2Bk3s1) | 2026-08-04 | stable |
| [v1.35.7-rc2+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.35.7-rc2%2Bk3s1) | 2026-07-28 | prerelease |
| [v1.34.10+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.34.10%2Bk3s1) | 2026-08-04 | stable |
| [v1.34.10-rc2+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.34.10-rc2%2Bk3s1) | 2026-07-28 | prerelease |
| [v1.33.13+k3s2](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.33.13%2Bk3s2) | 2026-08-04 | stable |
| [v1.33.13-rc2+k3s2](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.33.13-rc2%2Bk3s2) | 2026-07-28 | prerelease |
| [v1.36.3-rc1+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.36.3-rc1%2Bk3s1) | 2026-07-24 | prerelease |
| [v1.35.7-rc1+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.35.7-rc1%2Bk3s1) | 2026-07-24 | prerelease |
| [v1.34.10-rc1+k3s1](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.34.10-rc1%2Bk3s1) | 2026-07-24 | prerelease |
| [v1.33.13-rc1+k3s2](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/releases/tag/v1.33.13-rc1%2Bk3s2) | 2026-07-24 | prerelease |

_… and 5 earlier release(s)._

## Security & compliance


Known vulnerabilities: 3 (1 in the last 12 months), max severity HIGH ([source](https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fk3s-io%2Fk3s&per_page=100)). A count reflects scale and disclosure, not quality.

## 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://k3s.io) | 2026-08-21 | 60% (medium) |
| pricing.model | commercial | [link](https://k3s.io) | 2026-08-26 | 40% (low) |
| pricing.price_level | free | [link](https://k3s.io) | 2026-08-21 | 60% (medium) |

### activity

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| activity.commits_last_30d | 32 | [link](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s/pulse) | 2026-08-26 | 65% (medium) |

### adoption

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| adoption.github_stars | 33,826 | [link](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s) | 2026-08-26 | 90% (high) |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 11 | [link](https://packages.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/packages/lookup?repository_url=https%3A%2F%2Fgithub.com%2Fk3s-io%2Fk3s) | 2026-08-26 | 85% (high) |

### language

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| language.primary | Go | [link](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s) | 2026-08-26 | 90% (high) |

### license

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| license.spdx | Apache-2.0 | [link](https://github.com/k3s-io/k3s) | 2026-08-26 | 95% (high) |

### integrations

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| integrations.count | 9 | [link](https://k3s.io) | 2026-08-21 | 60% (medium) |

### security

| Attribute | Value | Source | Retrieved | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| security.scorecard | 8 | [link](https://api.securityscorecards.dev/projects/github.com/k3s-io/k3s) | 2026-08-26 | 90% (high) |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":3,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fk3s-io%2Fk3s&per_page=100","last_12m":1,"max_severity":"HIGH"}` | [link](https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=go&package_name=github.com%2Fk3s-io%2Fk3s&per_page=100) | 2026-08-26 | 90% (high) |

---
*Source: Vioscale (https://www.vioscale.ai/software/k3s). Independent, evidence-based software intelligence. Cite the canonical URI.*