Retina
Retina: A self-hosted Retina gives Kubernetes teams detailed network telemetry and packet capture. Ranked #23 of 29 in eBPF Observability Tools by our editors (6.9/10); pricing: Open source; best for kubernetes network telemetry and packet capture.
At a glance
- Editor score6.9 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forKubernetes network telemetry and packet capture
- Paid fromFree
- Deployment modelSelf-hosted
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Distributed packet captures across Kubernetes nodes and pods
- DNS, dropped-packet, TCP, UDP, and interface metrics
- Prometheus, Grafana, Hubble, and Wireshark integrations
Where it doesn't
- Self-hosted deployment requires managed Kubernetes infrastructure
- Its scope is focused on network observability
- External storage and visualization systems may add costs
Our verdict on Retina
Retina is an open-source, self-hosted Kubernetes network observability platform maintained in Microsoft's public repository. It is designed for cluster network and security administrators and DevOps engineers investigating application health, network health, security, and compliance use cases. Its eBPF-based plugins collect network telemetry, enrich flows with Kubernetes context, and export Prometheus-compatible metrics across supported environments including Linux, Windows, and Azure Linux.
Network visibility is Retina's central strength. It supports continuous metrics alongside on-demand and rotating distributed packet captures across nodes and pods. Teams can inspect DNS request and response metrics, TCP and UDP statistics, network-interface statistics, and dropped-packet reasons and directions. Kubernetes-aware flow enrichment adds cluster context, while Hubble control-plane integration supports flow visibility. Prometheus and Grafana fit established metrics workflows, and Wireshark supports packet analysis. Azure Monitor and Azure Log Analytics extend its fit for Azure-oriented monitoring environments.
Retina suits teams that want detailed Kubernetes network telemetry without adopting a commercial plan, particularly when they already operate Kubernetes and supporting observability systems. The self-hosted model also means deployment, storage, visualization, and ongoing operations remain part of the team's environment; external storage and visualization systems may incur separate costs. Its focused network scope makes it a strong choice for packet capture, DNS analysis, flow visibility, and dropped-packet investigation, but less suitable for organizations seeking a broader application observability platform in one product. Choose Retina for Kubernetes network and security investigations; consider an alternative when network visibility is only a small part of the required monitoring scope.
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Retina pricing
Retina fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment model | Self-hosted |
| Kubernetes support | Yes |
| Network visibility | Yes |
| Application tracing | Not verified |
| Kernel profiling | Not verified |
| Supported operating systems | Linux, Windows, Azure Linux |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 7 integrations: Prometheus, Azure Monitor, Grafana, Azure Log Analytics, Cilium Hubble, Wireshark … |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | retina.sh |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
Retina integrations
Retina lists 7 integrations on its own site.
- Prometheus
- Azure Monitor
- Grafana
- Azure Log Analytics
- Cilium Hubble
- Wireshark
- Visual Studio Code
Alternatives to Retina
- 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
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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