Nitric vs Crossplane: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Nitric and Crossplane 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:
Nitric
Effortless backends with infrastructure from code for portable cloud applications.
Best for you if:
- • You need hosting & deployment features specifically
- • Define cloud infrastructure directly in application code.
- • Automates deployment to multiple cloud providers with pluggable plugins.
Crossplane
Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.2/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • 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
| At a Glance |  Nitric | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free |
Best For | Hosting & Deployment | CI/CD |
Rating | —/100 | 82/100 |
| Feature | Nitric | Crossplane |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| Editorial Score | — | 82 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Hosting & DeploymentInfrastructure as Code | CI/CDContainer Orchestration |
How Nitric and Crossplane Compare
Nitric
Effortless backends with infrastructure from code for portable cloud applications.
Free
Crossplane
Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes
Free · 82/100 score
Nitric is a hosting & deployment tool. Crossplane is in ci/cd.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are free. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Nitric
Want the highest-rated option?
Crossplane scores 82/100. Nitric is unrated.
Go with: Crossplane
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Crossplane
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are free. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Nitric is a hosting & deployment tool. Crossplane is in ci/cd. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Crossplane
- Higher score: 82/100 vs unrated
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Nitric
- Better fit for hosting & deployment
The Bottom Line
Crossplane (82/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Nitric or Crossplane better?
Crossplane scores 82/100 in our evaluation. Both are free.
What are Nitric and Crossplane used for?
Nitric: Effortless backends with infrastructure from code for portable cloud applications.. Crossplane: Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes.
What does Nitric cost vs Crossplane?
Nitric is completely free. Crossplane is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.