Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes
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Reviews onG2
1 review trackedThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free, no paid tier
Biggest pro
Kubernetes infrastructure management
Biggest con
Steep learning curve
TL;DR - Crossplane
- 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
- Completely free and open-source
Pricing: Free forever
Best for: Individuals & startups
What is Crossplane?
Crossplane extends Kubernetes to manage cloud infrastructure. Define databases, storage, and other cloud services using the same Kubernetes resources and tools you use for applications.
Cloud providers become Kubernetes resources. The same GitOps workflows manage applications and infrastructure. Composition lets you build reusable abstractions.
Platform teams wanting unified infrastructure management choose Crossplane to extend Kubernetes into cloud resource provisioning.
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Kubernetes infrastructure management
- Multi-cloud
- GitOps friendly
- CNCF project
- Active development
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Complex setup
- Resource overhead
- Documentation dense
- Debugging difficult
Ratings Across the Web
4(1 reviews)
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Infrastructure APIKubernetes nativeMulti-cloudCompositionsCNCFOpen source
Pricing Plans
Pricing checked Jul 4, 2026
Open Source
Free
Apache 2.0
- Cloud-native control plane
- K8s-based
- Multi-cloud
- CNCF Graduated
UXP (Upbound)
Free
Enterprise distro
- Enterprise features
- Drop-in replacement
- Free open source
Most Popular
Upbound Commercial
null
Enterprise support
- Commercial support
- SLA
- Enterprise features
Reviews
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Crossplane FAQ
How does Crossplane enable unified infrastructure management?
Crossplane extends Kubernetes to manage cloud infrastructure, allowing users to define databases, storage, and other cloud services using familiar Kubernetes resources. This approach unifies management of both applications and infrastructure under a single control plane.
Which teams benefit most from using Crossplane?
Platform teams wanting unified infrastructure management choose Crossplane to extend Kubernetes into cloud resource provisioning. It is particularly well-suited for organizations that already leverage Kubernetes for application deployment and seek to manage their cloud resources similarly.
How does Crossplane compare to Terraform for infrastructure management?
Crossplane extends Kubernetes to manage cloud infrastructure, integrating cloud providers as Kubernetes resources, which allows for GitOps workflows for both applications and infrastructure. Terraform, while also an Infrastructure as Code tool, operates independently of Kubernetes and typically uses its own declarative language for resource provisioning.
Can Crossplane manage infrastructure across multiple cloud providers?
Yes, Crossplane is designed for multi-cloud environments, allowing users to manage resources across different cloud providers. It achieves this by transforming cloud providers into Kubernetes resources, enabling consistent management practices.
What kind of trade-offs should users consider when adopting Crossplane?
Adopting Crossplane involves a steep learning curve and can have a complex setup, which might require significant initial effort. Users should also be aware of potential resource overhead and that debugging can be difficult due to its advanced capabilities.
How is Crossplane priced?
Crossplane is free to use, as no paid plan is required to utilize its functionalities. It is an open-source CNCF project, emphasizing community-driven development and accessibility.
How does Crossplane support GitOps workflows?
Crossplane integrates seamlessly with GitOps workflows by allowing users to manage both applications and infrastructure through the same Git-based processes. Cloud infrastructure is defined as Kubernetes resources, enabling version control and automated deployments.
Source: crossplane.io