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Head-to-head · Server Provisioning Software

MAAS vs Metal³

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 3 checks side by side
Higher score MAAS #2 in Server Provisioning Software 9.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 2 of 3 features Visit MAAS
Metal³ #5 in Server Provisioning Software 8.6/10 Open source ✓ 1 of 3 features Visit Metal³

MAAS leads on 0 checks, Metal³ on 0, and 3 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 3 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreMAAS · 9.2/10
  • Free planonly MAAS
  • Most featuresMAAS · 2 of 3

MAAS scores higher on our rubric for server provisioning software: 9.2 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #5.

On supported operating systems, MAAS gives you Both where Metal³ offers Linux. On provisioning method, MAAS gives you Both where Metal³ offers Image.

MAAS is the better fit for bare-metal and VM provisioning with hardware control. Metal³ is the better fit for kubernetes-managed bare-metal infrastructure.

  • MAAS fits best

    Bare-metal and VM provisioning with hardware control

  • Metal³ fits best

    Kubernetes-managed bare-metal infrastructure

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Side by side

Feature MAAS 9.2/10 Visit ↗ Metal³ 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.2 8.6
Ranking #2 in Server Provisioning Software #5 in Server Provisioning Software
Best for Bare-metal and VM provisioning with hardware control Kubernetes-managed bare-metal infrastructure
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price — Open source
Free plan ✓ (best) Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Linux Linux
Support Phone, Tickets, Community, Docs · 24/7 Community, Docs
Integrations 5 integrations 6 integrations
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features MAAS 2/3 · Metal³ 1/3
Control panel support Not checked yet Not checked yet
Multi-tenant management ✓ (best) Not checked yet
API access ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported operating systems Both Linux
Server types Both Both
Provisioning method Both Image
Managed server limit Not checked yet Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Discovers, commissions, and provisions physical and virtual machines
  • Controls power, storage, networking, RAID, LVM, and PXE workflows
  • Offers REST API, CLI automation, custom images, and role-based permissions
  • Automates image provisioning, BIOS, RAID, firmware, and disk cleaning
  • Connects bare-metal management with Kubernetes Cluster API
  • Supports remediation, power control, boot-device management, and rolling upgrades
Cons
  • Requires a self-hosted deployment
  • Standalone support requires Ubuntu Pro for MAAS controllers
  • Advanced support costs $100 per managed machine annually
  • Designed primarily for physical bare-metal management
  • Requires a Kubernetes-centered operating model
  • Hardware management relies on OpenStack Ironic and related interfaces
Our verdict

MAAS is Canonical’s open-source infrastructure management platform for provisioning and managing physical servers and virtual machines. It is designed for data-center operators, IT teams, private-cloud builders, HPC environments, edge…

Read the review →

Metal³ is an open-source Kubernetes application for enrolling, provisioning, and managing bare-metal machines. It is aimed at teams running on-premises Kubernetes infrastructure, testing environments, and high-performance computing labs.…

Read the review →
  1. MAASServer Provisioning Software 9.2Free plan
  2. Metal³Server Provisioning Software 8.6Open source

Strengths and trade-offs

  • MAAS — where it wins

    • Discovers, commissions, and provisions physical and virtual machines
    • Controls power, storage, networking, RAID, LVM, and PXE workflows
    • Offers REST API, CLI automation, custom images, and role-based permissions

    Where it doesn't

    • Requires a self-hosted deployment
    • Standalone support requires Ubuntu Pro for MAAS controllers
    • Advanced support costs $100 per managed machine annually

  • Metal³ — where it wins

    • Automates image provisioning, BIOS, RAID, firmware, and disk cleaning
    • Connects bare-metal management with Kubernetes Cluster API
    • Supports remediation, power control, boot-device management, and rolling upgrades

    Where it doesn't

    • Designed primarily for physical bare-metal management
    • Requires a Kubernetes-centered operating model
    • Hardware management relies on OpenStack Ironic and related interfaces

More comparisons

All server provisioning software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update