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Head-to-head · Container Networking Software

Calico Open Source vs Calico Enterprise

Updated Oct 2026
Both researched from official sources
6 checks side by side

Higher score Calico Open Source #2 in Container Networking Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 5 of 5 features Visit Calico

Calico Enterprise #6 in Container Networking Software 8.5/10 Pricing on request ✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Tigera

Calico Open Source leads on 1 check, Calico Enterprise on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 6 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

Highest scoreCalico Open Source · 9.2/10
Free planonly Calico Open Source
Most featuresCalico Open Source · 5 of 5

Calico Open Source scores higher on our rubric for container networking software: 9.2 against 8.5 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #6.

Calico Open Source offers free plan; Calico Enterprise doesn't.

Calico Open Source is the better fit for free, full-featured Kubernetes networking. Calico Enterprise is the better fit for enterprise Kubernetes security and networking.

Calico Open Source fits best
Free, full-featured Kubernetes networking
Calico Enterprise fits best
Enterprise Kubernetes security and networking

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Show only differences

Feature	Calico Open Source 9.2/10 Visit ↗	Calico Enterprise 8.5/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.2	8.5
Ranking	#2 in Container Networking Software	#6 in Container Networking Software
Best for	Free, full-featured Kubernetes networking	Enterprise Kubernetes security and networking
Pricing model	Free	Paid
Starting price	Free plan	—
Free plan	✓ (best)	—
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud, Self-hosted
Platforms	Linux, Windows	Web, Windows, Linux
Support	Community, Docs	Docs
Built for	Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Calico Open Source 5/5 · Calico Enterprise 0/5
CNI plugin	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Network policies	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Egress control	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Multi-cluster networking	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Encryption in transit	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Specs
Supported platforms	Kubernetes, Linux, Windows, OpenStack, virtual machines, bare metal	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Free and open source with CNI networking and policy enforcement Supports eBPF, nftables, iptables, Windows, and VPP data planes Adds WireGuard, cluster mesh, and Whisker traffic observability	Supports eBPF, iptables, nftables, VPP, and Windows data planes Combines gateways, policies, cluster mesh, and centralized management Adds IDS/IPS, WAF, DDoS protection, observability, and compliance reporting
Cons	Its breadth may exceed the needs of simpler Kubernetes deployments Requires self-hosted operation across supported infrastructure Advanced capabilities can add architectural and operational complexity	Pricing is contact-sales rather than publicly listed There is no free plan or open-source edition Self-managed deployment requires in-house operational responsibility
Our verdict	Calico Open Source is an open-source container networking and security platform maintained by Tigera. It is designed for teams running Kubernetes or other CNI-compatible orchestrators that need networking, policy enforcement, encryption,… Read the review →	Calico Enterprise is Tigera’s self-managed platform for Kubernetes networking and security. It is aimed at organizations running Kubernetes across cloud, on-premises, or edge environments that need centralized policy control, network… Read the review →

Calico Open SourceContainer Networking Software 9.2Free plan
Calico EnterpriseContainer Networking Software 8.5Pricing on request

Compare the top tools in

Strengths and trade-offs

Calico Open Source — where it wins
- Free and open source with CNI networking and policy enforcement
- Supports eBPF, nftables, iptables, Windows, and VPP data planes
- Adds WireGuard, cluster mesh, and Whisker traffic observability
Where it doesn't
- Its breadth may exceed the needs of simpler Kubernetes deployments
- Requires self-hosted operation across supported infrastructure
- Advanced capabilities can add architectural and operational complexity
Calico Enterprise — where it wins
- Supports eBPF, iptables, nftables, VPP, and Windows data planes
- Combines gateways, policies, cluster mesh, and centralized management
- Adds IDS/IPS, WAF, DDoS protection, observability, and compliance reporting
Where it doesn't
- Pricing is contact-sales rather than publicly listed
- There is no free plan or open-source edition
- Self-managed deployment requires in-house operational responsibility

Calico Open Source9.2/10 · Free plan
A free, broad Kubernetes networking stack with policy, encryption, and multi-cluster support.
Visit Calico Full verdict →
Calico Enterprise8.5/10 · Pricing on request
A broad Kubernetes networking and security suite for enterprises operating complex clusters.
Visit Tigera Full verdict →

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update