Alternatives to Flatcar Container Linux

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

  • Fedora CoreOS

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted

    Fedora CoreOS is a Fedora-based self-updating host with many supported platforms and open community governance, though provisioning works differently from a traditional server install.

  • Bottlerocket

    A minimal open-source Linux operating system from AWS that exists only to host containers.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted

    Bottlerocket is AWS's container-only operating system with single-step updates that can be rolled back, offered as a free EC2 AMI but built mainly around AWS.

  • Talos Linux

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

    FreemiumOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hosted

    Talos Linux is dedicated to Kubernetes nodes, managed through a declarative API with no SSH or shell, and requires a paid edition for FIPS compliance and support.

  • Photon OS

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

    FreeOpen sourceLinux

    Photon OS is a VMware-built minimal hardened host for containers and appliances with automated PXE and kickstart installs, and it fits best into VMware environments.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.