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k0s

Zero-friction single-binary Kubernetes distribution by Mirantis

open sourceupdated May 6, 2026

k0s is a lightweight, CNCF-certified Kubernetes distribution packaged as a single binary with zero host dependencies. Backed by Mirantis, it simplifies cluster deployment by bundling all required components into one executable that works on any Linux system. Supports x86-64, ARM64, and ARMv7 architectures with automatic upgrades and a built-in control plane load balancer.

k0s strips Kubernetes deployment down to its essential simplicity by packaging the entire control plane and worker node components into a single binary that requires no external dependencies on the host operating system. This zero-friction approach means a functional Kubernetes cluster can be running within minutes on any Linux machine without pre-installing container runtimes, networking plugins, or etcd separately. Mirantis maintains the project with enterprise backing while keeping the core fully open source under Apache 2.0.

The architecture supports both single-node development setups and production multi-node clusters with automatic control plane high availability. k0s bundles containerd as its container runtime, kube-router or Calico for networking, CoreDNS for service discovery, and etcd or kine for state storage, all configured with sensible defaults that work out of the box. The k0sctl command-line tool handles cluster lifecycle management including initial deployment, node joining, and rolling upgrades across the cluster.

k0s targets edge computing and IoT deployments alongside traditional data center installations, with support for x86-64, ARM64, and ARMv7 architectures enabling deployment on everything from cloud servers to Raspberry Pi devices. The distribution passes CNCF conformance testing, ensuring full API compatibility with standard Kubernetes tooling and workloads. Automatic system component upgrades reduce operational burden, and the single-binary design simplifies air-gapped installations where downloading multiple packages is impractical.

Pricing

Free and open-source; Mirantis offers enterprise support

Platforms

Linux (x86-64, ARM64, ARMv7), single binary

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Comparisons

k0s vs k3s — Zero-Dependency Binary vs Lightweight Edge Kubernetes

k0s and k3s both package Kubernetes into minimal single-binary distributions but target different operational priorities. k0s by Mirantis emphasizes zero host dependencies and enterprise lifecycle management with automatic upgrades and built-in high availability. k3s by SUSE prioritizes extreme minimalism with a sub-100MB binary optimized for edge computing, IoT devices, and ARM hardware with SQLite as default storage.

k0sk3s

FAQ

What is k0s?

k0s is a lightweight, CNCF-certified Kubernetes distribution packaged as a single binary with zero host dependencies. Backed by Mirantis, it simplifies cluster deployment by bundling all required components into one executable that works on any Linux system. Supports x86-64, ARM64, and ARMv7 architectures with automatic upgrades and a built-in control plane load balancer.

Is k0s free?

Yes — k0s is open source and free to use. Free and open-source; Mirantis offers enterprise support

Is k0s open source?

Yes — k0s is open source.

What are the best k0s alternatives?

The top editor-verified k0s alternatives are Cilium.