Karmada
What it is
Karmada manages cloud-native applications across multiple Kubernetes clusters and clouds without requiring application changes. It supports public and private clouds, self-built Kubernetes-compliant clusters, on-premises systems, and edge deployments; users manage the control plane, while cluster provisioning is not included. Clusters can connect through Push mode using their Kubernetes API server or Pull mode with an agent inside the cluster. Scheduling policies cover cluster affinity, taints and tolerations, topology spread, and replicated or divided replica placement. OverridePolicy supports cluster-specific settings for images, arguments, commands, and plain-text configuration. After a cluster failure, Karmada can move replicas, including migration that avoids service replicas dropping to zero. Its karmada-apiserver provides unified create, update, delete, and query operations across member clusters. Documentation describes networking with Submariner and service governance integration with ErieCanal, and components export Prometheus metrics. Karmada is open source and free. It can be installed with CLI tools, Helm, an operator, binaries, or from source; the documented CLI initialization requires escalated privileges to store shared configuration under /etc/karmada by default.
For and against
For
- Manages clusters without requiring application changes.
- Supports Push and Pull cluster connections.
- Scheduling policies cover placement and topology.
- Can migrate replicas after cluster failure.
Against
- Does not provision clusters.
- CLI initialization requires escalated privileges by default.
- Security recommendations need adapting to user circumstances.
The verdict
Karmada provides multi-cluster application management, placement policies, and failure migration in a free, open-source system. Installation and control plane management are handled by the user.
Who it suits
Karmada suits teams managing applications across multiple Kubernetes clusters in public, private, on-premises, or edge environments. It assumes responsibility for cluster management stays with the user.
Plans and prices
Karmada
Open source Kubernetes management system
Read 9 Oct 2026 · karmada.io
On the record
- Audience
- Karmada supports public cloud, private cloud, and self-built clusters that comply with Kubernetes specifications.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Cluster connections
- Clusters can connect in Push mode through their Kubernetes API server or Pull mode through an agent deployed in the cluster.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Failover
- Karmada can migrate replicas after cluster failure and supports migration without service replicas dropping to zero.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Installation
- Karmada can be installed on a user's cluster using CLI tools, Helm, an operator, binaries, or from source.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Installation requirement
- The documented CLI initialization requires escalated privileges to store shared configuration under /etc/karmada by default.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- The documentation describes cross-cluster networking with Submariner and service governance integration with ErieCanal.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Monitoring
- Karmada exports Prometheus metrics from components including karmada-apiserver, controller manager, scheduler, agent, webhook, and descheduler.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Overrides
- OverridePolicy supports per-cluster differences for container images, arguments, commands, and plain-text configuration.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Project status
- The official site identifies Karmada as a CNCF graduated project.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Karmada manages cloud-native applications across multiple Kubernetes clusters and clouds without requiring application changes.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Resource management
- Karmada provides unified create, update, delete, and query operations across member clusters through karmada-apiserver.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Scheduling
- Scheduling policies include cluster affinity, taints and tolerations, topology spread constraints, and replicated or divided replica placement.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Security
- Karmada introduced Cosign image verification starting with the v1.7.0 release, and its security guide documents TLS settings for components.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
- Security limitation
- The security guide says its recommendations are for reference and should be adapted to users’ circumstances and requirements.karmada.io · read 9 Oct 2026
