3-year cost calculator
Pre-filled for VMware Tanzu → 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: VMware Tanzu vs Rancher / RKE2
Common trade-offs teams weigh when staying on VMware Tanzu 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
- Mature ecosystem with vendor support and SLAs
- Broadcom's repackaging raised Tanzu pricing
- Per-core licensing on top of vSphere
- Bundle minimums force larger commitments
- Ongoing per-core / bundle cost to budget for
- Higher vendor lock-in to weigh
- Open source — no license fees
- No vendor lock-in
- Cost model: Free OSS / support
- Requires a migration (~18 weeks, high effort)
- Community support by default — paid support optional
- Higher operational learning curve
Why teams evaluate alternatives to VMware Tanzu
Reasons commonly cited by users and in public industry coverage for re-evaluating VMware Tanzu. These are general, reported considerations — not statements of fact about Broadcom — and may not reflect your situation or the vendor's current terms. Verify against your own contract before deciding.
- Broadcom's repackaging raised Tanzu pricing
- Per-core licensing on top of vSphere
- Bundle minimums force larger commitments
The migration plan
Roughly 18 weeks for a mid-size estate, in six phases.
Tooling & automation
Stand up RKE2 under Rancher; migrate with Velero; port Helm releases; re-create policies; staged cutover.
OffVendor's wizard pre-fills these scripts with your environment — inventory export, disk/schema conversion, bulk provisioning, and validation.
Frequently asked
Is migrating from VMware Tanzu to Rancher / RKE2 worth it?
For most teams facing rising VMware Tanzu 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 VMware Tanzu to Rancher / RKE2 migration take?
A typical mid-size estimate is around 18 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 VMware Tanzu to Rancher / RKE2?
Stand up RKE2 under Rancher; migrate with Velero; port Helm releases; re-create policies; staged cutover.