HashiCorp Nomad
Workload scheduler from HashiCorp that runs containers, VMs and standalone binaries across a cluster.
Updated · AppBreakup editorial · Linux, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted
Is HashiCorp Nomad free?
Free plan, plus paid plans
Switch from HashiCorp Nomad to
All 5
KubernetesOpen source
K3sOpen source
Red Hat OpenShiftStarting price: $0.076 per hour (reserved, 4 vCPU, 3-year contract)
- Verified facts
- 4 of 4
- Alternatives ranked
- 5
- Approved reviews
- 0
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About HashiCorp Nomad
Nomad is HashiCorp's cluster scheduler, and the most common answer for teams that want orchestration without the size of Kubernetes. It ships as a single self-contained binary that acts as both server and client, so a cluster needs no separate key-value store or control-plane services. Unlike Kubernetes, it is not limited to Linux containers: task drivers let it run Docker containers, Java apps, raw executables, QEMU virtual machines and Windows services from the same job files. Service discovery and secrets come from pairing it with Consul and Vault rather than being built in. The community edition is free to download and its source is on GitHub, though since 2023 it is published under HashiCorp's Business Source License rather than an open-source licence. Nomad Enterprise adds paid governance features such as resource quotas, Sentinel policies, audit logging and multi-region deployments. It runs on Linux, Windows and macOS and suits mixed estates of new and legacy apps.
Best for: Teams that need to schedule containers and legacy apps together without running full Kubernetes.
Pros and cons
What works
- One binary for servers and clients, so clusters are quick to stand up
- Runs non-container workloads such as executables, Java and VMs
- Fits neatly with Consul and Vault for discovery and secrets
Why people leave
- Smaller ecosystem than Kubernetes; Helm charts and operators don't apply
- Source-available licence rather than open source since 2023
- Quotas, policy and audit logging need the paid Enterprise edition
HashiCorp Nomad vs Kubernetes, K3s and Red Hat OpenShift
From each app's listing and the prices verified on its own site. A dash means we haven't verified it yet.
| Attribute | HashiCorp Nomad | Kubernetes | K3s | Red Hat OpenShift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Open source | Open source | Paid |
| Verified price | — | — | — | $0.076 per hour (reserved, 4 vCPU, 3-year contract) |
| Free plan | Yes | Free app | Free app | No |
| Open source | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Self-hostable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Linux, Windows, macOS, Self-hosted | Linux, Self-hosted | Linux, Self-hosted | Web, Linux, Self-hosted |
Top HashiCorp Nomad alternatives
See all 5- 1Kubernetes68.8
The industry-standard orchestrator, with a far larger ecosystem of tools, charts and managed cloud offerings.
- 2K3s64.8
Also a single small binary, but gives you real Kubernetes APIs and tooling under an Apache licence.
- 3Red Hat OpenShift61.8
A supported enterprise platform with a web console and developer tooling built on Kubernetes.
- 4
Coolify51.2A simpler self-hosted PaaS if what you mostly need is deploying web apps and databases to a few servers.
- 5
Docker Swarm42.3Container-only orchestration already built into Docker, with Compose-style stack files.
Why people left HashiCorp Nomad
In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.
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HashiCorp Nomad: common questions
What is HashiCorp Nomad?
HashiCorp Nomad: Workload scheduler from HashiCorp that runs containers, VMs and standalone binaries across a cluster. Best for teams that need to schedule containers and legacy apps together without running full Kubernetes. Available for Linux, Windows and macOS, and you can host it yourself.
Is HashiCorp Nomad free?
HashiCorp Nomad has a free plan and paid plans.
Is HashiCorp Nomad open source?
No, HashiCorp Nomad is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Kubernetes, K3s and Coolify.
What platforms does HashiCorp Nomad run on?
HashiCorp Nomad is available for Linux, Windows, macOS and Self-hosted.
What are the best alternatives to HashiCorp Nomad?
The highest-ranked HashiCorp Nomad alternatives right now are Kubernetes, K3s and Red Hat OpenShift. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.
HashiCorp Nomad vs Kubernetes: what's the difference?
HashiCorp Nomad is free with paid plans; Kubernetes is free and open source. Kubernetes is open source and HashiCorp Nomad is not. Only HashiCorp Nomad runs on Windows and macOS.