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Headlamp

An open-source Kubernetes UI that runs as a desktop app or inside your cluster, extensible with plugins.

Open sourceKubernetes tools
Visit HeadlampSee 3 alternatives
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About Headlamp

Headlamp is a graphical interface for Kubernetes clusters and an official Kubernetes sub-project under SIG UI. It shows workloads, nodes, networking, storage and custom resources, lets you view logs, open a shell, edit YAML and scale or restart resources, and respects each user's RBAC permissions so people only see what they're allowed to change. Its distinguishing feature is flexibility in where it runs: as a desktop app for Windows, macOS and Linux that reads your local kubeconfig, or deployed in a cluster with Helm and exposed through an ingress as a shared web UI. A plugin system lets teams add their own views and branding. It is free and open source under Apache 2.0, with no paid tier. Compared with Lens it has fewer built-in extras such as cost monitoring or AI features, and the Windows desktop builds are unsigned, which triggers security warnings on install.

Best for: Teams wanting a free Kubernetes UI usable on the desktop or shared in-cluster.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Runs as a desktop app or as a shared in-cluster web UI
  • Respects RBAC, so users see only what they're allowed to
  • Plugin system for custom views and branding
  • Official Kubernetes sub-project, Apache 2.0 licensed

Why people leave

  • Fewer built-in extras than Lens, such as cost monitoring
  • Windows desktop builds are unsigned and trigger warnings
  • No commercial support plan

Top Headlamp alternatives

See all 3
  1. 1Lens logo
    Lens

    A more feature-packed desktop IDE, with paid tiers adding AI help, GitOps and cloud integrations.

    66.5
  2. 2K9
    K9s

    A fast keyboard-driven terminal UI for people who live in the shell.

    59.6
  3. 3Portainer logo
    Portainer

    Covers Docker, Swarm and Podman hosts as well as Kubernetes, with RBAC in the Business Edition.

    38.6

Why people left Headlamp

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

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Reviews

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Headlamp: common questions

Is Headlamp free?

Yes. Headlamp is free, open-source software.

Is Headlamp open source?

No, Headlamp is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Portainer.

What platforms does Headlamp run on?

Headlamp is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, Web and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to Headlamp?

The highest-ranked Headlamp alternatives right now are Lens, K9s and Portainer. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 3 Headlamp alternatives