Crossplane vs Northflank: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Crossplane and Northflank comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Crossplane
Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.2/10 vs 7.3/10)
- • You need something completely free
- • You need ci/cd features specifically
- • Crossplane is an open-source control plane for building cloud-native platforms
- • It enables teams to provision and manage cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes-native APIs
Northflank
Deploy any project in seconds, in our cloud or yours, with a comprehensive developer platform.
Best for you if:
- • You need hosting & deployment features specifically
- • Deploy and manage applications, databases, and AI workloads across any cloud.
- • Offers comprehensive CI/CD, autoscaling, and observability for a streamlined developer experience.
| At a Glance |  Northflank | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | CI/CD | Hosting & Deployment |
Rating | 82/100 | 73/100 |
| Feature | Crossplane | Northflank |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 82 | 73 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | CI/CDContainer Orchestration | Hosting & DeploymentCI/CD |
How Crossplane and Northflank Compare
Crossplane
Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes
Free · 82/100 score
Northflank
Deploy any project in seconds, in our cloud or yours, with a comprehensive developer platform.
Free tier available · 73/100 score
Crossplane is a ci/cd tool. Northflank is in hosting & deployment.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Crossplane is free. Northflank is freemium.
Go with: Crossplane
Want the highest-rated option?
Crossplane: 82/100. Northflank: 73/100.
Go with: Crossplane
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Crossplane
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Crossplane is free. Northflank is freemium. Go with Crossplane if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Crossplane is a ci/cd tool. Northflank is in hosting & deployment. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Crossplane scores higher: 82/100 vs 73/100.
Key Takeaways
Crossplane
- Higher score: 82/100 vs 73
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Northflank
- Better fit for hosting & deployment
The Bottom Line
Crossplane (82/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Crossplane or Northflank better?
Crossplane scores 82/100 in our evaluation. Crossplane is free and Northflank is freemium.
What are Crossplane and Northflank used for?
Crossplane: Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes. Northflank: Deploy any project in seconds, in our cloud or yours, with a comprehensive developer platform..
What does Crossplane cost vs Northflank?
Crossplane is completely free. Northflank is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.