Every tool in this section is a client of the same API, so none can see or do more than its credentials allow; they differ in where they run, who maintains them and what they cost:
| Tool | Runs as | License | Price | Status in September 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| k9s 592,566 | Terminal UI | Apache-2.0 | Free | 0.51.0, actively released |
| Headlamp | Web UI in cluster, desktop | Apache-2.0 | Free | 0.45.0, a SIG UI project |
| Freelens 5,623 | Desktop | MIT | Free | 1.10.3, community-run |
| Lens K8S IDE 32,572 | Desktop | Proprietary | Free under $10M; $25 to $60 per seat | Mirantis |
| Kubernetes Dashboard 15,415 | Web UI in cluster | Apache-2.0 | Free | Archived January 2026 |
| EKS 24 , GKE 1 , AKS 6 consoles | Web, provider-hosted | Proprietary | Included | Only that provider's clusters |
The open-source tools cover what most teams need: browsing, logs, exec, port-forwarding and editing. A paid plan buys a vendor to call and the extras bundled into it, and a clear license position for a larger company, which matters because Lens's free Personal plan excludes organizations above $10 million in revenue or funding. The Dashboard row is the cautionary one: a tool installed in the cluster keeps running after its project dies, with no security fixes, so check a tool's maintenance before it gets a Service and a login page.