What is k3s?
A lightweight Kubernetes distribution by Rancher. k3s packages the entire Kubernetes control plane into a single binary under 100MB, ideal for edge, IoT, and small VPS deployments.
Related Calculators
k3s Resources
Calculate RAM and CPU requirements for a k3s cluster. k3s has 5–10× lower overhead than full Kubernetes — see exactly how much your server and agent nodes need.
Hetzner k3s Cost
Calculate the monthly cost of running a k3s cluster on Hetzner Cloud. k3s uses 3× less RAM than full Kubernetes — smaller servers mean lower costs.
Related Generators
Related Comparisons
k3s vs kubeadm Kubernetes
k3s vs kubeadm — which Kubernetes distribution is right for your self-hosted cluster? Compare setup time, resource overhead, HA complexity, and production suitability.
k3s vs MicroK8s
k3s vs MicroK8s — two lightweight Kubernetes distributions for edge, IoT, and small clusters. Compare resource usage, addon systems, ARM support, and ease of use.