Polaris
Claim this toolAn open-source policy engine for Kubernetes to ensure configuration best practices.
Visit WebsiteThe Bottom Line
Entry price
Free plan available, paid tiers above
Biggest pro
Open-source and free to use
Biggest con
Requires familiarity with Kubernetes configurations and JSON for custom policies
TL;DR - Polaris
- Open-source policy engine for Kubernetes.
- Enforces configuration best practices for security and efficiency.
- Automates detection and remediation of configuration issues.
What is Polaris?
Available on: Web
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Open-source and free to use
- Automates policy enforcement, reducing manual effort
- Improves Kubernetes cluster security and stability
- Flexible with custom policy creation
- Comes with a comprehensive set of built-in policies
Cons
- Requires familiarity with Kubernetes configurations and JSON for custom policies
- Primarily focused on Kubernetes, not a general-purpose policy engine
Ratings Across the Web
Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more
Key Features
Pricing Plans
Free TrialPricing checked Jul 14, 2026
Open Source
Free
- Ideal for small teams
- Goldilocks (resource requests and limits)
- Polaris (policy engine)
- Nova (check Helm charts)
- Pluto (find deprecated APIs)
- GoNoGo (add-on upgrade safety)
Insights Enterprise
Custom pricing plans available
- Ideal for teams managing multiple clusters and critical applications
- Available modules: Kubernetes FinOps, Kubernetes Policy Management, and Kubernetes Security and Compliance
- Cluster and node pricing options
- Volume discounts
- Unlimited nodes and clusters
- Unlimited repository scanning
- 13 months of cost metrics retention
- Automated container right-sizing
K8s Services
Custom pricing based on needs
- Ideal for CTOs who need help managing Kubernetes
- 24 x 7 Pager
- Managed Kubernetes Upgrades
- Managed Add-ons
- Cluster networking
- Ongoing cluster maintenance
- Node management
- Shared Slack channel
Is Polaris worth the price?
Polaris offers a very generous free tier, providing essential Kubernetes policy and best practice tools at no cost, making it highly accessible for small teams.
The move to custom pricing for 'Insights Enterprise' and 'K8s Services' suggests a significant jump in cost, likely aligning with enterprise-level solutions. This structure is best for small teams starting with Kubernetes policy enforcement, and larger organizations needing comprehensive managed services or advanced insights.
Hidden Costs & Gotchas
Custom pricing for advanced features
Potential high cost for enterprise modules
No public pricing for K8s Services
Volume discounts imply higher base rates
How Polaris Compares to Competitors
Compared to commercial policy engines like Kyverno (open-source but often integrated into commercial offerings) or Styra DAS (which starts with a free tier but quickly moves to paid plans, often in the thousands per month for enterprise features), Polaris's free tier is exceptionally generous. However, its 'Insights Enterprise' and 'K8s Services' tiers, with custom pricing, likely compete with these commercial solutions at similar enterprise price points, potentially offering more comprehensive managed services than some competitors.
Reviews
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Polaris FAQ
How many pre-built configuration policies are included with Polaris?
Can users create their own custom policies in Polaris?
Does Polaris offer any automated remediation capabilities for identified issues?
Is Polaris an open-source project?
Source: fairwinds.com