CEO of Kubecost

Kubecost is a cost monitoring and management tool for Kubernetes. We help our users track and save on billions of dollars of spend. Kubecost runs anywhere K8s runs; install today!

3 minute read

Celebrating OpenCost’s Journey to CNCF Incubation

I’m thrilled to announce that OpenCost has reached CNCF Incubating status! The Kubecost team is excited about this achievement not just because we’re advocates and maintainers for the OpenCost project, but also as cloud-native developers and champions of the very open-core model it represents - here’s why.

As cloud-native adoption accelerates, understanding and managing costs within Kubernetes environments has become mission-critical. OpenCost has risen to this challenge, becoming the most widely adopted open-source tool to solve this challenge. Originally launched by our team at Kubecost and supported by a coalition of Kubernetes experts, OpenCost was accepted into the CNCF Sandbox to explore and standardize cost management for Kubernetes environments. OpenCost’s transition to CNCF Incubation is a significant milestone that affirms the growing impact and strong support it receives from the cloud-native and open-source communities.

Why OpenCost Matters

OpenCost addresses the fundamental need for clear, real-time visibility into Kubernetes spending across multi-cloud environments. By offering a vendor-neutral framework, OpenCost equips teams with cost allocation by Kubernetes service, deployment, container, and even specific labels. This standardization provides a trusted model for accurate cost reporting and resource allocation, whether users operate on AWS, Google Cloud, Microsoft Azure, or on-premises infrastructure. Without OpenCost, teams are left to untangle that complex and disconnected Kubernetes cost and utilization data, leading to cost overruns and a lack of metrics for proper planning and technology investments.

From Sandbox to Incubating

The journey from Sandbox to Incubation within CNCF is a vote of confidence from the cloud-native and open-source communities. Projects that reach Incubation status are recognized for their innovation, reliability, and potential for widespread adoption. CNCF incubation validates OpenCost’s solution to cost transparency challenges and secures its important position as a vital tool for organizations scaling Kubernetes in their environments.

Since being accepted into the CNCF Sandbox, OpenCost has gained important new features and capabilities such as Plugins, Carbon Cost Monitoring, OCI support, and the ability to track out-of-cluster cloud costs. We’re excited to continue building on the great momentum this project has.

Key Milestones for OpenCost

OpenCost’s growth has been remarkable. Highlights include:

  • Broader Platform Integration: OpenCost has integrated with major cloud providers’ billing APIs and supports Prometheus for seamless cost data exporting.
  • Powerful Plugin Framework: OpenCost Plugins simplify adding additional cost sources to allow for cost monitoring from a wide range of tools and services, including Datadog, OpenAI, and MongoDB Atlas
  • Community-Driven Development: A diverse group of contributors from AWS, Adobe, Google, SUSE, Microsoft Azure, and many others have significantly contributed to refining OpenCost, with frequent releases that keep it flexible, effective, and secure.
  • FinOps Certification: By aligning with the FinOps Foundation, OpenCost supports Kubernetes FinOps practitioners seeking to optimize their Kubernetes spend without sacrificing agility, privacy, or compliance.

OpenCost Looking Forward

As an Incubating project, OpenCost will continue expanding its capabilities, focusing on new integrations, real-time cost monitoring improvements, and deeper support for multi-cloud and hybrid cloud environments. Additionally, the project will continue to build on our momentum in building plugins for other popular cost sources.

In September 2024, Kubecost was acquired by IBM and joined the IBM FinOps Suite of IBM Cloudability and IBM Turbonomic. In 2015, IBM joined other tech companies to launch the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), and IBM continues to increase its investment in Kubernetes and open-source projects. We’re excited to see OpenCost grow and mature with their support.

The OpenCost community welcomes new contributors and users, we invite you to join a vibrant open-source effort to build a sustainable, cost-transparent future for Kubernetes.

Join Us in Shaping the Future of OpenCost

OpenCost’s evolution reflects the passion and expertise of its users and contributors. We invite you to explore OpenCost’s features on GitHub and connect with us on CNCF Slack. Together, we will advance this essential tool and empower organizations worldwide to manage their Kubernetes costs more effectively.

Come Chat With Us at Kubecon!

Going to Kubecon? Come and visit both OpenCost and Kubecost team members while you’re there. OpenCost will be located in the CNCF Project Pavillion, and Kubecost will be at booth J11.

Also, Don’t miss Alex Meijer’s session, “Measuring All The Costs With OpenCost Plugins.” on November 14th at 3:25pm in the Salt Palace, Level 1, in Grand Ballroom B. Alex will dig into how OpenCost plugins can help you get a complete picture of your Kubernetes costs. Save it to your schedule here.

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