3-year cost calculator
Pre-filled for Kubernetes (upstream) → Rancher / RKE2. Adjust every figure with your own numbers.
Every figure here is an illustrative estimate, not a vendor quote. Defaults are editable starting points compiled from public information; real, binding pricing comes from the vendor or an authorized distributor. See our methodology.
All figures are illustrative and fully editable — adjust the cost-per-core and migration inputs with your own numbers. Not guaranteed vendor pricing (defaults reviewed May 2026). For a binding quote, use the request form below to reach an authorized distributor or partner.
Quick comparison: Kubernetes (upstream) vs Rancher / RKE2
Common trade-offs teams weigh when staying on Kubernetes (upstream) versus moving to Rancher / RKE2. These are general, commonly-reported considerations — not statements of fact about any vendor — so check them against your own contract and the vendors' current terms.
- Already in production — no migration effort or risk
- Established and already integrated in your stack
- Re-evaluating cost, support, or strategic fit
- Open source — no license fees
- No vendor lock-in
- Cost model: Free OSS / support
- Requires a migration (~12 weeks, low effort)
- Community support by default — paid support optional
Why teams evaluate alternatives to Kubernetes (upstream)
Reasons commonly cited by users and in public industry coverage for re-evaluating Kubernetes (upstream). These are general, reported considerations — not statements of fact about CNCF — and may not reflect your situation or the vendor's current terms. Verify against your own contract before deciding.
- Re-evaluating cost, support terms, or strategic fit.
The migration plan
Roughly 12 weeks for a mid-size estate, in six phases.
Tooling & automation
Stand up the new Kubernetes platform, migrate workloads with Velero/Helm, re-map ingress/storage/RBAC, and cut over namespace by namespace.
OffVendor's wizard pre-fills these scripts with your environment — inventory export, disk/schema conversion, bulk provisioning, and validation.
Frequently asked
Is migrating from Kubernetes (upstream) to Rancher / RKE2 worth it?
For most teams facing rising Kubernetes (upstream) costs, yes — Rancher / RKE2 (free oss / support) typically lowers 3-year total cost of ownership, though the right answer depends on workload complexity and in-house skills. Use the calculator to model your own numbers.
How long does a Kubernetes (upstream) to Rancher / RKE2 migration take?
A typical mid-size estimate is around 12 weeks across six phases — discovery, design, pilot, waved production migration, validation, and decommission. Larger or more complex estates take longer.
What tools are used to migrate from Kubernetes (upstream) to Rancher / RKE2?
Stand up the new Kubernetes platform, migrate workloads with Velero/Helm, re-map ingress/storage/RBAC, and cut over namespace by namespace.