Alternatives to Bottlerocket

A minimal open-source Linux operating system from AWS that exists only to host containers. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Bottlerocket.

  • Flatcar Container Linux

    A minimal, immutable Linux distribution with automatic atomic updates, built for running containers.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted

    Flatcar Container Linux is a community-driven immutable distribution with automatic atomic updates that is not tied to AWS, though it has no package manager for extra software.

  • Fedora CoreOS

    A minimal, automatically updating Fedora-based operating system for running containerized applications.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted

    Fedora CoreOS is a Fedora-based host with automatic updates, many supported platforms and open community governance, rather than a system built mainly around AWS and EC2.

  • Talos Linux

    An immutable, API-managed Linux operating system built only to run Kubernetes clusters.

    FreemiumOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted

    Talos Linux is managed entirely through an API with no SSH or shell, runs only Kubernetes clusters, and reserves FIPS compliance and formal support for a paid edition.

  • Photon OS

    A minimal, security-hardened Linux operating system from VMware for containers, appliances and cloud hosts.

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Photon OS is VMware's hardened minimal host with images for x86, ARM64, Raspberry Pi and major clouds, and it is best integrated with VMware environments rather than AWS.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.