List of the Top 4 Container Management Software for Knative in 2025

Google Cloud Platform presents a comprehensive solution for managing containers through its Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). This service enables users to efficiently deploy, scale, and oversee containerized applications. GKE streamlines the deployment process and offers inherent scalability tailored for microservices architectures. New users can take advantage of $300 in free credits, allowing them to experiment with and deploy workloads, thus facilitating their exploration of container management capabilities within GCP for production scenarios. Furthermore, GCP’s container services seamlessly integrate with various other Google offerings, such as Cloud Build and Cloud Monitoring, enabling organizations to develop, deploy, and oversee applications in real-time. GKE also features automatic updates and patch management, which help maintain the security and currency of containerized applications. These functionalities significantly reduce the operational burden, making it straightforward for organizations to manage container workloads at scale.

Kubernetes, often abbreviated as K8s, is an influential open-source framework aimed at automating the deployment, scaling, and management of containerized applications. By grouping containers into manageable units, it streamlines the tasks associated with application management and discovery. With over 15 years of expertise gained from managing production workloads at Google, Kubernetes integrates the best practices and innovative concepts from the broader community. It is built on the same core principles that allow Google to proficiently handle billions of containers on a weekly basis, facilitating scaling without a corresponding rise in the need for operational staff. Whether you're working on local development or running a large enterprise, Kubernetes is adaptable to various requirements, ensuring dependable and smooth application delivery no matter the complexity involved. Additionally, as an open-source solution, Kubernetes provides the freedom to utilize on-premises, hybrid, or public cloud environments, making it easier to migrate workloads to the most appropriate infrastructure. This level of adaptability not only boosts operational efficiency but also equips organizations to respond rapidly to evolving demands within their environments. As a result, Kubernetes stands out as a vital tool for modern application management, enabling businesses to thrive in a fast-paced digital landscape.

Ambassador Edge Stack serves as a Kubernetes-native API Gateway that delivers ease of use, robust security, and the capability to scale for extensive Kubernetes environments globally. It simplifies the process of securing microservices by offering a comprehensive suite of security features, which encompass automatic TLS, authentication, and rate limiting, along with optional WAF integration. Additionally, it facilitates fine-grained access control, allowing for precise management of user permissions. This API Gateway functions as an ingress controller based on Kubernetes, and it accommodates an extensive array of protocols, such as gRPC, gRPC Web, and TLS termination, while also providing traffic management controls that help maintain resource availability and optimize performance. Overall, Ambassador Edge Stack is designed to meet the complex needs of modern cloud-native applications.

MicroK8s delivers a streamlined, low-maintenance Kubernetes platform specifically designed for developers engaging with cloud infrastructures, clusters, workstations, Edge, and IoT devices. It smartly identifies the best nodes for the Kubernetes datastore and effortlessly promotes another node if a database node fails, thus eliminating the need for manual oversight in maintaining strong edge deployments. With its compact structure and intuitive defaults, MicroK8s is crafted to function effectively immediately after installation, making tasks such as upgrades and security management both straightforward and efficient. Perfect for micro clouds and edge computing scenarios, it offers comprehensive enterprise support at no extra cost, along with options for 24/7 support and ten years of security updates. Whether used near cell towers, on racing vehicles, in satellites, or in common household gadgets, MicroK8s ensures a complete Kubernetes experience for IoT and micro cloud applications. Its fully containerized approach guarantees dependable operations, further enhanced by streamlined over-the-air updates. By default, MicroK8s applies security updates automatically, although users have the flexibility to postpone them if they choose, and upgrading to the newest Kubernetes version requires just a single command, simplifying the entire process. This blend of user-friendliness and powerful features positions MicroK8s as an essential asset for contemporary developers seeking efficiency and reliability in their deployments. Moreover, the capacity for integration into diverse environments showcases its versatility in meeting various developmental needs.