K3s vs MicroK8s: Lightweight Kubernetes Showdown
Need Kubernetes but without the heavy machinery? That’s where K3s and MicroK8s shine. Let’s break them down in a simple and friendly way.
What Are They?
- K3s – A lightweight Kubernetes distribution by Rancher, designed for IoT, edge, and low-resource environments.
- MicroK8s – A snap-based Kubernetes distro from Canonical (Ubuntu), easy to install and manage.
Why Use Them?
| Feature | K3s | MicroK8s |
|---|---|---|
| Size | <100MB | ~200MB |
| Install | Single binary | snap install microk8s |
| Resource usage | Very low | Low |
| High availability | Yes (with some config) | Yes (built-in clustering) |
| OS compatibility | Linux (only) | Linux, Windows (some support) |
| Add-ons | Helm, Traefik (default), etc. | Built-in add-ons (microk8s enable) |
Installation
K3s:
curl -sfL https://get.k3s.io | sh -
MicroK8s:
sudo snap install microk8s --classic
Use Cases
- K3s: Great for edge computing, Raspberry Pi clusters, or minimal VMs.
- MicroK8s: Ideal for local development, CI/CD pipelines, and Ubuntu-based systems.
Pros and Cons
K3s
Pros:
- Minimal footprint
- Built-in Helm and Traefik
- Super quick startup
Cons:
- Less community support than kubeadm
- Linux-only
MicroK8s
Pros:
- Snap-based, easy install
- Built-in observability and add-ons
- Works well on Ubuntu
Cons:
- Slightly heavier than K3s
- Snap system may conflict on some OSes
Verdict
- Go with K3s if you want ultra-lightweight, IoT/edge friendly Kubernetes.
- Choose MicroK8s if you prefer Ubuntu-native, easy setup with batteries included.
Final Thoughts
No wrong answers here — just pick the one that fits your workflow. Both are powerful tools that simplify Kubernetes without watering it down.
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