kind
A command-line interface that brings Docker-compatible container management to containerd, including rootless operation and image encryption features
- Also known as
- kind
Available worldwide
What is kind?
nerdctl is a command-line tool for managing containers on containerd. It enables Docker Compose workflows, rootless container execution, image encryption, lazy-pulling, and multi-platform builds.
kind pricing
We don't have kind's full plan breakdown yet (its pricing page resisted automated reading). Here's what we could confirm. Always check live pricing for exact numbers.
What kind does
The capabilities that matter for container orchestration tools, normalised so it lines up with every alternative. “-” means we haven't confirmed it, not that it's missing.
- Orchestration scope
- Kubernetes
- Hosting
- Self-hosted only
- OCI / CRI compliant
- -
- CNCF Certified Kubernetes conformant
- ✓
- Rootless operation
- ✓
- Daemonless architecture
- -
- Windows containers
- ✓
- ARM architecture support
- ✓
- GPU scheduling
- ✓
- Stateful workloads
- -
- Built-in networking / CNI
- ✓
- Vendor-managed control plane
- -
- CNCF maturity
- -
- GUI dashboard
- ✗
Platform & deployment
Independently observed- CLI
- macOS
- Linux
- Windows
- Self-hosted
Integrations (4)
Independently observed- Docker Compose
- Kubernetes
- IPFS
- CNI
Security & compliance
Known vulnerabilities: 0 (0 in the last 12 months) sourcea count reflects scale & disclosure, not quality
kind FAQ
Common questions about kind, answered from independent, dated evidence.
What is kind?
kind enables developers to set up isolated Kubernetes clusters locally using Docker for testing, development, and CI/CD purposes. Originally built for testing Kubernetes itself, it provides CNCF-conformant Kubernetes clusters on a single machine. It is indexed under Container Orchestration Tools.
Source: https://kind.sigs.k8s.io
Is kind free to use?
kind is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the Apache-2.0 licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.
Source: https://kind.sigs.k8s.io
What platforms does kind support?
kind supports Windows, macOS, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.
Source: https://kind.sigs.k8s.io
Can kind be self-hosted?
Yes. kind can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.
Source: https://kind.sigs.k8s.io
Is kind open source?
Yes. kind is published under the Apache-2.0 licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.
kind alternatives
Other container orchestration tools we track, ranked by the same independent score.
- DockerAn open-source containerization toolkit and framework for building custom container-based systems from modular componentsmedium · 61%
- Google Kubernetes EngineA managed Kubernetes service that automates infrastructure operationslow · 39%
- KubernetesAutomates the deployment and scaling of containerized applications in production environmentslow · 29%
- HelmA package manager for Kubernetes applicationslow · 41%
- BuildahA command-line tool for building OCI-format container imageslow · 41%
- containerdlow · 32%
Compare kind
Side by side against other container orchestration tools, attribute by attribute, with a source on every value.
The vioscaleAI score: one lens on the evidence
Not user reviews and not a paid placement: a confidence-weighted blend of the independent signals below (adoption, activity, security posture, and more), which you can sort and re-weight yourself. Vendors can correct their listing but can never move their rank, and stars are weighted low as a vanity metric. It is one way to read the evidence for kind, not the verdict.
| Signal | Score | Weight | Contribution | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capabilities | 81 | 0.06 | 5.1 | ✓ |
| Development activity | 44 | 0.09 | 4.1 | ✓ |
| Dependent projects | 56 | 0.06 | 3.5 | ✓ |
| Security score | 66 | 0.04 | 2.8 | ✓ |
| Release cadence | 53 | 0.05 | 2.7 | ✓ |
| Stars | 79 | 0.03 | 2.1 | ✓ |
| Integrations | 20 | 0.07 | 1.5 | ✓ |
| Security posture | 5 | 0.12 | 0.0 | - |
| Package downloads | 0 | 0.14 | 0.0 | - |
| Developer Q&A activity | 0 | 0.06 | 0.0 | - |
Computed . Re-weight it by intent, or see the full method.
All data & sourcesshow ↓
Every value we hold, with its source, retrieval date, and confidence. This is the evidence behind the score: don't trust it, verify it.
Activity
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Commits last 30d | 24 | mediumsource · 2026-09-11 · 65% |
Adoption
Content
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Faq | 5 items | mediumsource · 2026-09-10 · 67% |
Features
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Capabilities | Hosting: self · Rootless: Yes · Arm support: Yes · Gui dashboard: No · Orchestration: kubernetes · Gpu scheduling: Yes | mediumsource · 2026-10-13 · 60% |
Integrations
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Count | 4 | mediumsource · 2026-10-13 · 60% |
Language
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Primary | Go | highsource · 2026-10-13 · 90% |
License
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Spdx | Apache-2.0 | highsource · 2026-10-13 · 95% |
Market
| Attribute | Value | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | PrimaryMarkets: … · AvailabilityScope: global · AvailableCountries: … · NotAvailableCountries: … | highsource · 2026-09-11 · 75% |
Pricing
Release
Security
Is kind the right choice for you?
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