compare
k3d vs MicroK8s
The same facts for both, read from GitHub every night, and the relation a person reviewed.
| Fact | k3d | MicroK8s |
|---|---|---|
| Language | Go | Python |
| Licence | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| Stars | 6.6k | 9.4k |
| Latest | v5.9.0 | v1.36 |
| Last push | 2026-10-05 | 2026-10-06 |
| Release cadence | about 26 days between releases | about 131 days between releases |
| Active contributors | 0 commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days | 2 commit authors on the default branch in the last 90 days |
| Flags | none | none |
How they relate
Both replace minikube. Alternatives to minikube →
Full replacementk3dLightweight k3s clusters in Docker.
Full replacementMicroK8sA single-package Kubernetes with add-ons enabled by one command, native on Linux and in a VM elsewhere.
k3d
- v5.9.02026-06-02Fix docker registry auth example
- v5.9.0-rc.02025-10-01Fix docker registry auth examplepre-release
- v5.8.32025-02-15Exclude s390x as arch-specific tag from version list
- v5.8.22025-02-12fixing the makefile; enforcing the registry port match;
- v5.8.12025-01-17chore(config): migrate renovate config
k3d
unsigned The latest release, v5.9.0, carries no signature GitHub could verify.
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MicroK8s
✓ signed The latest release, v1.36, carries a signature GitHub verified.
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