- Home
- Cloud Cost Management Software
- OpenCost
OpenCost
What it is
OpenCost is a free, open-source project for measuring and allocating Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure costs. It provides real-time allocation for Kubernetes concepts and containers to support showback, chargeback, and reporting, covering CPU, GPU, memory, load balancers, and persistent volumes. It can also monitor cloud resources outside Kubernetes. The included web interface displays Kubernetes allocations and related cloud costs, while the API supplies real-time and historical cost reports. Integrations include cloud providers such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, OVHcloud, Alibaba, and Scaleway, along with metrics and visualization tools including Prometheus, Cortex, Thanos, Victoria Metrics, Grafana, and Grafana Cloud. OpenCost requires a Kubernetes cluster and Prometheus; Helm is recommended for full functionality. Cloud costs appear when provider billing data becomes available, usually several hours to 24 hours later, and on-demand pricing is not reconciled against billed actual costs. Cloud cost support is not available for on-premises clusters.
For and against
For
- Real-time allocation to Kubernetes concepts and containers
- Covers CPU, GPU, memory, load balancers, and volumes
- Includes a web UI and reporting API
- Integrates with multiple cloud providers
Against
- Requires Kubernetes and Prometheus
- Cloud billing data can arrive up to 24 hours later
- On-demand prices are not reconciled with billed costs
- On-premises cluster cloud costs are unsupported
The verdict
OpenCost provides allocation and reporting across Kubernetes resources and connected cloud costs. Its deployment requirements and delays in provider billing data matter when planning its use.
Who it suits
OpenCost suits teams that need to allocate Kubernetes or supported cloud resource costs for reporting or chargeback. It requires a Kubernetes cluster and Prometheus.
Plans and prices
OpenCost
Open source (Apache 2.0) · Requires Kubernetes and Prometheus
Read 8 Oct 2026 · opencost.io
On the record
- AI integration
- The MCP server provides AI agents access to allocation, asset, and cloud cost data and is enabled by default in deployments.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- API
- The API provides real-time and historical Kubernetes cost reporting using on-demand list prices and cloud provider cost and usage reports.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Cloud cost delay
- Cloud costs appear when they become available in provider billing data, usually after several hours to 24 hours, and on-demand pricing is not currently reconciled against billed actual costs.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Cloud providers
- The integrations page lists Azure, AWS, GCP, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, OVHcloud, Alibaba, and Scaleway.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Cost allocation
- It provides real-time cost allocation down to Kubernetes concepts and containers for showback, chargeback, and reporting.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- OpenCost requires a Kubernetes cluster and Prometheus; the project recommends Helm for full functionality.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Governance
- OpenCost is a Cloud Native Computing Foundation incubating project.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Metrics and visualization
- Listed integrations include Prometheus, Cortex, Thanos, Victoria Metrics, Grafana, and Grafana Cloud.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Notable limit
- Cloud costs are not currently supported for on-premises clusters, though costs from other cloud providers may be configured.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- OpenCost is a vendor-neutral open source project for measuring and allocating Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure costs.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Resource coverage
- It allocates costs for CPU, GPU, memory, load balancers, and persistent volumes, and can monitor cloud resources outside Kubernetes.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Security configuration
- For AWS cloud costs, OpenCost supports IAM roles for service accounts, which use ambient credentials so no secrets are stored in the configuration file.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The project directs users with questions to CNCF Slack’s #opencost channel or its support email.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
- Web UI
- The OpenCost UI is included in the default installation and visualizes Kubernetes allocations and related cloud costs.opencost.io · read 8 Oct 2026
