OpenCost
OpenCost: A practical open-source choice for Kubernetes cost allocation, showback, and chargeback. Ranked #17 of 28 in Cloud Cost Management Software by our editors (7.5/10); pricing: Free plan; best for teams needing open-source Kubernetes cost allocation.
At a glance
- Editor score7.5 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTeams needing open-source Kubernetes cost allocation
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Real-time allocation across clusters, namespaces, pods, services, and controllers
- Supports major cloud providers plus on-premises custom pricing
- APIs, Prometheus metrics, web UI, showback, and chargeback reporting
Where it doesn't
- Requires cloud billing data or Kubernetes cost data for full visibility
- Not packaged as a commercial subscription with paid service tiers
- Some additional provider configurations may have incomplete documentation
Our verdict on OpenCost
OpenCost is a vendor-neutral, open-source project for measuring and allocating Kubernetes, container, and cloud infrastructure costs. It is aimed at teams operating Kubernetes across public clouds or on-premises environments, including organizations that need cost visibility without adopting a commercial subscription product. Real-time allocation can be organized by cluster, namespace, controller, service, pod, and other dimensions, while cloud-cost monitoring uses provider billing and cost-and-usage reports. It can also run outside Kubernetes through Docker for cloud-cost monitoring.
The strongest fit is its allocation and reporting depth. OpenCost supports showback and chargeback for Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure, with a web UI for visualization and an API for real-time and historical reporting. Prometheus metrics and exports connect cost data with monitoring tooling, while dynamic asset pricing can use cloud-provider billing and pricing APIs. Custom pricing supports on-premises environments and negotiated rates. AI inference cost tracking is available for compatible vLLM-based deployments, extending the scope beyond standard cluster accounting.
Platform coverage includes Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Open Telekom Cloud, OVHcloud, STACKIT, Prometheus, and Kubernetes. The supported-cloud list also includes Alibaba and Scaleway. OpenCost is a strong choice for engineering, platform, and FinOps teams that prioritize open-source Kubernetes allocation, cloud billing visibility, and programmable reporting. It is less suitable for buyers seeking a commercial subscription structure or a packaged cost-management suite centered on budgeting, forecasting, rightsizing, or commitment management.
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OpenCost pricing
OpenCost fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Billing model | Not verified |
| Supported clouds | Alibaba, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, Open Telekom Cloud, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, OVHcloud, Scaleway, STACKIT |
| Cost allocation | Yes |
| Budget alerts | Not verified |
| Spend forecasting | Not verified |
| Rightsizing guidance | Not verified |
| Commitment management | Not verified |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 9 integrations: Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, Open Telekom Cloud, OVHcloud … |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | opencost.io |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
OpenCost integrations
OpenCost lists 9 integrations on its own site.
- Amazon Web Services
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud Platform
- Oracle Cloud Infrastructure
- Open Telekom Cloud
- OVHcloud
- STACKIT
- Prometheus
- Kubernetes
Alternatives to OpenCost
- Harness Cloud Cost ManagementBroad multi-cloud FinOps coverage with free access and spend-based paid pricing.9.4
- VantageFlexible cloud-cost management with a free tier and a clearly priced $30 Pro plan.9.2
- nOpsA broad multicloud FinOps platform for teams that need allocation and optimization automation.9.0
See all OpenCost alternatives →
Also Ranked In
OpenCost is ranked in 2 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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