AV

Amazon VPC CNI

Free#8 of 27 in Container Networking Software

Amazon VPC CNI: A native AWS networking plugin for Kubernetes clusters running on Amazon infrastructure. Ranked #8 of 27 in Container Networking Software by our editors (8.2/10); pricing: Open source; best for amazon EKS and native AWS networking.

8.2/10★★★★☆Editor score

Visit Amazon VPC CNI

At a glance

• Editor score
  8.2 / 10
• Pricing
  Open source
• Best for
  Amazon EKS and native AWS networking
• Paid from
  Free
• Network policies
  Yes
• Facts checked
  20 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Native VPC networking with ENI and Pod IP management
  • Supports IPv4, IPv6, prefix delegation, and custom networking
  • Adds Security Groups for Pods and Kubernetes NetworkPolicy support

• Where it doesn't

  • Network policy support must be enabled before use
  • Designed around AWS VPC, EC2, ENIs, and EKS
  • Its scope centers on AWS-native Kubernetes networking

Our verdict on Amazon VPC CNI

Amazon VPC CNI is an open-source Kubernetes container networking plugin from Amazon Web Services. It assigns Pod IP addresses from an AWS VPC and connects Pods through Elastic Network Interfaces. The plugin is intended for Kubernetes deployments on AWS infrastructure, particularly Amazon EKS, where it is the default networking add-on supported for AWS infrastructure nodes. It supports Linux and Windows, as well as IPv4 and IPv6 modes, and can be managed by EKS or deployed independently with a Helm chart.

Its strongest fit is the AWS ecosystem. Amazon VPC CNI integrates with Amazon EKS, Amazon EC2, AWS VPC, and Kubernetes while handling ENI management and Pod IP allocation through ipamd. Custom networking can use alternate subnets and security groups, while IP prefix delegation and multi-network-interface Pod support extend the available networking configurations. This makes it a practical choice for teams that want Kubernetes Pods connected directly to AWS VPC networking rather than adopting a platform-agnostic networking layer.

Policy capabilities add control beyond basic connectivity. Amazon VPC CNI supports the Kubernetes NetworkPolicy API, including ingress and egress network policy enforcement, and provides Security Groups for Pods. Network policy support is disabled by default, so teams need to enable it as part of deployment. Organizations running Amazon EKS or Kubernetes on Amazon infrastructure should consider it when native VPC integration is a priority. Teams seeking networking that is not centered on AWS VPC, EC2, ENIs, and EKS should look at alternatives with a broader platform focus.

Your product? Our editors can test Amazon VPC CNI in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Amazon VPC CNI pricing

Amazon VPC CNI fact sheet

Amazon VPC CNI integrations

Amazon VPC CNI lists 4 integrations on its own site.

• Amazon EKS
• Amazon EC2
• AWS VPC
• Kubernetes

Alternatives to Amazon VPC CNI

• CiliumA broad open-source networking and observability layer for Kubernetes environments.9.4
• Calico Open SourceA free, broad Kubernetes networking stack with policy, encryption, and multi-cluster support.9.2
• AntreaA strong open-source choice for advanced Kubernetes networking, policy, and visibility.9.0

See all Amazon VPC CNI alternatives →

Amazon VPC CNI vs the competition

• AVAmazon VPC CNI vs Cilium
• AVAmazon VPC CNI vs Calico Open Source
• AVAmazon VPC CNI vs Antrea
• AVOKAmazon VPC CNI vs OVN-Kubernetes
• AVKOAmazon VPC CNI vs Kube-OVN
• AVAmazon VPC CNI vs Calico Enterprise

Compare Amazon VPC CNI with any tool side by side →

Used Amazon VPC CNI? Be the first to review it

The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Amazon VPC CNI for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.

Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears

Website

Reviews come only from verified accounts. Sign in or create an account first — your e-mail is never shown.

Your rating

5 stars★4 stars★3 stars★2 stars★1 star★

Title

Your review

0 characters · at least 80, up to 3,000

Pros (optional · one per line)

Cons (optional · one per line)

Your name (shown with your review)

Role (optional)

Company (optional)

How long have you used it?Prefer not to sayLess than a month1–6 months6–12 months1–2 years2+ years

I've used Amazon VPC CNI myself and this is my honest opinion — nobody paid or asked me to write it.

Send my reviewPosted from your verified account. Reviews appear after an editor reads them, usually within two working days.

Featured on iTechGuides

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

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.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update