Kubeshark
Kubeshark: Deep Kubernetes traffic inspection with eBPF indexing, L7 analysis, and PCAP export. Ranked #15 of 29 in eBPF Observability Tools by our editors (7.7/10); pricing: Free plan; best for deep Kubernetes traffic inspection.
At a glance
- Editor score7.7 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forDeep Kubernetes traffic inspection
- Free planYes
- Paid from$30/mo
- Deployment modelSelf-hosted
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Cluster-wide eBPF traffic indexing with Kubernetes-aware KFL queries
- L7 analysis, TLS/mTLS decryption, snapshots, and PCAP export
- Dependency maps and MCP integration for AI assistants and agents
Where it doesn't
- Community is limited to 3 nodes or 60 pods
- Community and Pro require internet connectivity
- Enterprise pricing requires contacting the vendor
Our verdict on Kubeshark
Kubeshark is a self-hosted Kubernetes network observability tool for SREs, network engineers, DevOps teams, and AI agents. It indexes cluster-wide network traffic at the kernel level with eBPF, then exposes Kubernetes-aware queries, dashboards, traffic snapshots, PCAP export, and workload dependency maps. Its protocol analysis covers HTTP, gRPC, GraphQL, Redis, Kafka, and DNS, while support for web, Windows, macOS, and Linux surrounds a Kubernetes-focused deployment model.
The published plans cover several operating patterns. Community is free for dev/test clusters, supports up to 3 nodes or 60 pods, and requires internet connectivity. Pro starts at $30 per month for any environment and also requires internet connectivity. Micro costs $30 per month for dev/test clusters with unlimited API calls and unlimited clusters. Dynamic costs $190 per month and adds unlimited nodes and pods, unlimited clusters, 100K daily API calls, and capacity on demand. Small costs $360 per month for small production clusters with unlimited API calls and unlimited clusters. Enterprise supports unlimited cluster size, air-gapped clusters, and unlimited consumption, with pricing requiring vendor contact.
Traffic visibility is Kubeshark’s defining strength. Real-time and delayed L7 indexing, TLS/mTLS decryption without key management, protocol analysis, and PCAP export give teams several ways to inspect service communication. MCP integration extends that network data to AI assistants and agents, while open-source distribution and support for on-premises and air-gapped deployments suit teams that need control over deployment. Choose Kubeshark for detailed Kubernetes traffic investigation across development or production environments. Teams limited to small dev/test clusters may find Community sufficient; teams requiring air-gapped operation or unlimited scale should evaluate Enterprise rather than the internet-dependent plans.
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Kubeshark pricing
All 6 Kubeshark plans and prices →
Kubeshark fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | $30/mo |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted |
| Kubernetes support | Yes |
| Network visibility | Yes |
| Application tracing | Not verified |
| Kernel profiling | Not verified |
| Supported operating systems | Linux, macOS, Windows |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Compliance & security | SOC 2 |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | kubeshark.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Alternatives to Kubeshark
- CorootBroad eBPF observability with a free edition and $1-per-core Standard pricing.9.3
- DeepFlowA broad open-source platform for application, network, and system observability.9.1
- groundcoverA broad eBPF observability platform for teams connecting traces, RUM, logs, and metrics.9.0
See all Kubeshark alternatives →
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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