Catalyst Cloud review
OpenStack-compatible cloud infrastructure with compute, storage, networking and managed private cloud.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Catalyst Cloud provides New Zealand-based public cloud infrastructure and platform services for IT professionals and organisations. The service covers OpenStack-based compute, image, block storage, object storage, networking, load balancing, VPN, orchestration, managed Kubernetes and managed databases. It is available through a web dashboard, command-line tools and APIs, with support for Linux and Windows images, customer-uploaded images, and on-demand virtual machine provisioning and resizing. Organisations needing managed private cloud can also use vendor-operated infrastructure built around OpenStack, Kubernetes, Ceph and Swift.
Pricing is paid and usage-based in NZD, excluding GST. The published compute plans include C2 Burst c2-burst.c1r05 and an hourly version of that plan. Both provide 1 vCPU, 0.5 GB RAM, a 5% minimum CPU and 100% maximum CPU, and both are available only in nz-por-1. The offering also includes persistent block storage with snapshots and replication, geo-replicated and single-region object storage, and an image service. Managed private cloud pricing is handled through contact-based arrangements, making Catalyst Cloud a fit for organisations that want a broad infrastructure portfolio rather than a simple fixed-price hosting package.
Its ecosystem fit is a central strength. OpenStack clients and APIs, S3-compatible APIs, Kubernetes, Ceph and Swift connect the service to widely used infrastructure tooling. Software-defined networking, VPN and load balancing extend beyond basic virtual machines, while OpenStack Keystone IAM, role-based permissions, TOTP multi-factor authentication and application credentials provide several identity options. Catalyst Cloud suits teams seeking OpenStack-compatible public infrastructure or managed private cloud services with New Zealand operations. It is less suitable for buyers requiring a free plan, fixed subscription pricing, or a compute flavor available across multiple regions.
Catalyst Cloud pros and cons
- Where it wins
- OpenStack-compatible clients, APIs and command-line tools
- Compute, replicated storage, networking, IAM and TOTP MFA
- Managed private cloud for OpenStack, Kubernetes, Ceph and Swift
- Where it doesn't
- Public-cloud compute pricing is usage-based and excludes GST
- The cheapest listed compute flavor is available only in nz-por-1
- Its infrastructure focus is centered on New Zealand regions
Catalyst Cloud fact sheet, pricing and score →
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