K9s vs Lens Desktop

Struggling to choose between K9s and Lens Desktop? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

K9s is a Network & Admin solution with tags like kubernetes, cli, terminal, ui.

It boasts features such as Terminal UI for managing Kubernetes clusters, Support for multiple Kubernetes contexts, Resource filtering, sorting and coloring, Live resource watching and updates, Resource graphs and metrics, Log streaming, Exec/Port Forward/Proxy, GitOps integration and pros including Intuitive terminal UI, Fast and responsive, Resource shortcuts and aliases, Highly customizable, Lightweight and low resource usage.

On the other hand, Lens Desktop is a Development product tagged with kubernetes, cloud, ide, open-source.

Its standout features include Kubernetes cluster management, Helm chart management, Terminal access, Port forwarding, Resource visualization, Log streaming, SSH into nodes, CLI access, and it shines with pros like Open source and free, Easy to use GUI, Powerful Kubernetes management features, Integrates well with Kubernetes, Cross-platform support.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

K9s

K9s

K9s is an open-source Kubernetes CLI that provides a terminal UI to interact with your Kubernetes clusters. It aims to make it easier to navigate, observe and manage your deployments in Kubernetes.

Categories:
Network & Admin Kubernetes Management
kubernetes cli terminal ui

K9s Features

  1. Terminal UI for managing Kubernetes clusters
  2. Support for multiple Kubernetes contexts
  3. Resource filtering, sorting and coloring
  4. Live resource watching and updates
  5. Resource graphs and metrics
  6. Log streaming
  7. Exec/Port Forward/Proxy
  8. GitOps integration

Pricing

  • Open Source

Pros

Intuitive terminal UI

Fast and responsive

Resource shortcuts and aliases

Highly customizable

Lightweight and low resource usage

Cons

Limited configuration options

Missing some advanced Kubernetes features

Steep learning curve for new users

Lens Desktop

Lens Desktop

Lens Desktop is an open-source IDE for connecting to and managing Kubernetes clusters and cloud instances. It provides a graphical user interface to visualize, access, and operate on Kubernetes resources.

Categories:
Development Ides
kubernetes cloud ide open-source

Lens Desktop Features

  1. Kubernetes cluster management
  2. Helm chart management
  3. Terminal access
  4. Port forwarding
  5. Resource visualization
  6. Log streaming
  7. SSH into nodes
  8. CLI access

Pricing

  • Open Source
  • Free

Pros

Open source and free

Easy to use GUI

Powerful Kubernetes management features

Integrates well with Kubernetes

Cross-platform support

Cons

Less flexibility than CLI

Steep learning curve for beginners

Not as full-featured as paid options

Limited extensibility and customization