Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Kubernetes VS rkt

Compare Kubernetes VS rkt and see what are their differences

Kubernetes logo Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open source orchestration system for Docker containers

rkt logo rkt

App Container runtime
  • Kubernetes Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-24
  • rkt Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-08

Kubernetes features and specs

  • Scalability
    Kubernetes excels in scaling applications horizontally by adding more containers to the deployment, ensuring that the application remains responsive even during high demand.
  • Portability
    Kubernetes supports a variety of environments including on-premises, hybrid, and public cloud infrastructures, offering flexibility and freedom from vendor lock-in.
  • High Availability
    Kubernetes ensures high availability through features like self-healing, automated rollouts and rollbacks, and various controller mechanisms to keep applications running reliably.
  • Extensibility
    Kubernetes has a modular architecture with a rich ecosystem of plugins, third-party tools, and extensions that allow customization and integration with various services.
  • Resource Efficiency
    Efficiently manages resources with features like autoscaling and resource quotas, helping to optimize usage and reduce costs.
  • Community and Support
    Kubernetes has a large, active community and strong industry support, which means abundant resources, tutorials, and third-party integrations are available.

Possible disadvantages of Kubernetes

  • Complexity
    The learning curve associated with Kubernetes is steep due to its numerous components, configurations, and operational paradigms.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running a Kubernetes cluster can be resource-intensive, often requiring significant CPU, memory, and storage resources, which can be costly.
  • Operational Challenges
    Managing a Kubernetes cluster requires expertise in areas such as networking, security, and cluster lifecycle management, making it challenging for smaller teams or organizations.
  • Debugging and Troubleshooting
    Pinpointing issues within a Kubernetes cluster can be difficult due to its distributed and dynamic nature, which can complicate debugging and troubleshooting processes.
  • Configuration Overhead
    Kubernetes involves numerous configurations and settings, which can be overwhelming and error-prone, especially during initial setup and deployment.
  • Security Management
    While Kubernetes provides various security features, managing those securely requires in-depth knowledge and diligence, as misconfigurations can lead to vulnerabilities.

rkt features and specs

  • Compatibility
    rkt supports the App Container (appc) spec and can also run Docker container images, providing flexibility and compatibility with various container formats.
  • Security
    rkt is designed with security in mind, offering features like process isolation through Linux namespaces, user namespaces, and SELinux/AppArmor integration.
  • Isolation
    rkt runs applications in their own stage1 environments, ensuring strong isolation between containers and better resource management.
  • Modularity
    rkt is built with a modular architecture, allowing users to swap out the stage1 implementation to better fit their needs.
  • Lightweight
    rkt avoids running a central daemon, thus using fewer system resources and simplifying debugging and monitoring.

Possible disadvantages of rkt

  • Maturity
    rkt is not as mature as Docker, meaning it may lack some features and integrations that have been developed for Docker.
  • Community and Ecosystem
    rkt has a smaller community and ecosystem compared to Docker, which may limit the availability of third-party tools and support.
  • Adoption
    rkt has lower adoption rates, leading to fewer tutorials, guides, and community-driven content, which can make the learning curve steeper.
  • Development Activity
    rkt's development and maintenance activity is not as high as Docker's, which could impact long-term viability and feature development.
  • Enterprise Support
    Enterprise-grade support and services for rkt may not be as widely available or comprehensive as those for Docker.

Kubernetes videos

Kubernetes Documentation

More videos:

  • Review - Kubernetes in 5 mins
  • Review - Module 1: Istio - Kubernetes - Getting Started - Installation and Sample Application Review
  • Review - Deploying WordPress on Kubernetes, Step-by-Step

rkt videos

RKT IPO Review | Is Rocket a Buy for 2020? | Matt Mulvihill

More videos:

  • Review - 2018 Niner RKT 9 RDO - First Look and Build Kit Overview
  • Review - Best Stock Picks Today | RKT Stock 9-2-20

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Kubernetes and rkt)
Developer Tools
94 94%
6% 6
Cloud Computing
81 81%
19% 19
DevOps Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Cloud Storage
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Kubernetes and rkt

Kubernetes Reviews

The Top 7 Kubernetes Alternatives for Container Orchestration
Rancher RKE is an interface to the command line for Rancher Kubernetes Engine (RKE) and OpenShift. Both are software tools employed to deploy Kubernetes, an open source project that manages containers on several hosts.
Kubernetes Alternatives 2023: Top 8 Container Orchestration Tools
Azure Kubernetes Service is a container orchestration platform that offers secure serverless Kubernetes. AKS helps to manage Kubernetes clusters and makes deploying containerized applications so much easier. In addition to that, it provides automatic configuration of all Kubernetes nodes and master.
Top 12 Kubernetes Alternatives to Choose From in 2023
Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE) is a prominent choice for a Kubernetes alternative. It is provided and managed by Google Cloud, which offers fully managed Kubernetes services.
Source: humalect.com
Docker Swarm vs Kubernetes: how to choose a container orchestration tool
In this article, we explored the two primary orchestrators of the container world, Kubernetes and Docker Swarm. Docker Swarm is a lightweight, easy-to-use orchestration tool with limited offerings compared to Kubernetes. In contrast, Kubernetes is complex but powerful and provides self-healing, auto-scaling capabilities out of the box. K3s, a lightweight form of Kubernetes...
Source: circleci.com
Docker Alternatives
An open-source code, Rancher is another one among the list of Docker alternatives that is built to provide organizations with everything they need. This software combines the environments required to adopt and run containers in production. A rancher is built on Kubernetes. This tool helps the DevOps team by making it easier to testing, deploying and managing the...
Source: www.educba.com

rkt Reviews

5 Container Alternatives to Docker
In 2018, 12 percent of production containers were rkt (pronounced “Rocket”). Rkt supports two types of images: Docker and appc. A selling point of rkt is its pod-based process that works out of the box with Kubernetes (also referred to as “rktnetes”). In Kubernetes, an rkt container runtime can easily be specified:

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Kubernetes seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 359 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Kubernetes mentions (359)

  • Is Go Worth Learning in 2025?
    Cloud-Native Friendly: Lightweight and fast, Go apps fit perfectly into containerized environments like Docker and Kubernetes. - Source: dev.to / 4 days ago
  • India Open Source Development: Harnessing Collaborative Innovation for Global Impact
    Over the years, Indian developers have played increasingly vital roles in many international projects. From contributions to frameworks such as Kubernetes and Apache Hadoop to the emergence of homegrown platforms like OpenStack India, India has steadily carved out a global reputation as a powerhouse of open source talent. - Source: dev.to / 14 days ago
  • A Guide to Setting up Service Discovery for APIs
    Kubernetes isn't just for container orchestration—it packs a powerful built-in service discovery system that's changing how developers think about service connectivity. It uses DNS under the hood, along with environment variables, to help services find each other. - Source: dev.to / 19 days ago
  • Kubernetes 1.33: A Deep Dive into the Exciting New Features of Octarine
    For a comprehensive overview, explore the Kubernetes 1.33 release notes and GitHub changelog. Engage with the community at events like KubeCon or join the Kubernetes Slack to collaborate on the future of cloud-native computing. With Octarine, Kubernetes continues to shine as the backbone of modern infrastructure. - Source: dev.to / 22 days ago
  • A Detailed Comparison between Kubernetes Operators and Controllers
    Imagine trying to keep a fleet of ships sailing smoothly across the ocean. You need to ensure each ship has enough crew, fuel, and cargo, and that they're all heading in the right direction. This is a complex task, requiring constant monitoring and adjustments. In the world of Kubernetes, Controllers and Operators play a similar role, ensuring your applications run smoothly and efficiently. This blog post delves... - Source: dev.to / 30 days ago
View more

rkt mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of rkt yet. Tracking of rkt recommendations started around Mar 2021.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Kubernetes and rkt, you can also consider the following products

Rancher - Open Source Platform for Running a Private Container Service

Apache Karaf - Apache Karaf is a lightweight, modern and polymorphic container powered by OSGi.

Docker - Docker is an open platform that enables developers and system administrators to create distributed applications.

GlusterFS - GlusterFS is a scale-out network-attached storage file system.

Helm.sh - The Kubernetes Package Manager

Apache ServiceMix - Apache ServiceMix is an open source ESB that combines the functionality of a Service Oriented Architecture and the modularity.