Amazon VPC CNI review
A native AWS networking plugin for Kubernetes clusters running on Amazon infrastructure.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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.
Amazon VPC CNI pros and cons
- 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
Amazon VPC CNI fact sheet, pricing and score →
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