$ k8scalc compare k3s kubeadm
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.
Verdict
k3s is better for 90% of self-hosted use cases. It installs in under 5 minutes, uses 3× less RAM on the control plane, handles embedded etcd HA automatically, and produces the same Kubernetes API. kubeadm shines when you need full control over every component, direct upstream Kubernetes without any vendor, or specific enterprise requirements that k3s bundles away. For a Hetzner-hosted cluster, k3s reduces the minimum viable control plane from a cpx32 to a cx23.
Related tool
K8s Cluster Cost
Calculate the monthly cost of running a self-managed Kubernetes cluster on Hetzner Cloud, Vultr, or DigitalOcean. Choose server types for control planes, workers, and load balancers with HA mode.