Compare / K3s vs MicroK8s
K3s vs MicroK8s
Pick K3s if you want the common single-binary lightweight Kubernetes (SUSE/Rancher). Pick MicroK8s if you want Canonical's snap-based cluster for a workstation or edge box.
Facts checked 20 Oct 2026. License, language, and GitHub activity come from the catalog or the project's own repo. "Not in the catalog row" means the public catalog dump does not store that number.
K3s in the catalog MicroK8s in the catalogStart on Railway
How they compare
| K3s | MicroK8s | |
|---|---|---|
| License | Apache License 2.0 (catalog) source | Apache License 2.0 (catalog) source |
| Language | Go (catalog) | Python (catalog) |
| GitHub activity | 34,222 stars in the catalog source | 9,380 stars in the catalog source |
| Self-host | Single binary. Small cluster or edge. | Snap package. Workstation, datacenter, or edge. |
| Best for | The common lightweight Kubernetes. | A Canonical snap cluster if that is the install you want. |
Self-hosting and resource needs
Neither is a c17 SaaS lander. Functions on a cluster you already run stay on /stacks/fission-functions. A git-push PaaS stays on /stacks/coolify-paas. K3s is k3s-io/k3s. MicroK8s is canonical/microk8s. Bare metal or a VPS, not a random container.
FAQ
- Is this Coolify?
- Coolify is git-push PaaS — /replace/heroku. This pair is the cluster under apps like Fission.
- Is this EKS or GKE?
- No. You run the control plane. Hosted Kubernetes stays behind.
- Are these free?
- Both catalog rows are Apache License 2.0. You pay the machines.
- How do I deploy K3s?
- Follow k3s.io. Then put functions on /stacks/fission-functions if that is the job.
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