Alternatives to OpenShift Local
A tool that runs a small OpenShift, MicroShift or Podman environment in a local virtual machine. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
OpenShift Local
A tool that runs a small OpenShift, MicroShift or Podman environment in a local virtual machine.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as OpenShift Local.
minikube
Run a local Kubernetes cluster for development and testing.
minikube runs a local upstream Kubernetes cluster for development on Windows, macOS and Linux, without OpenShift-specific features and with lighter resource needs.
kind
A command-line tool that runs local Kubernetes clusters using Docker containers as the cluster nodes.
kind creates throwaway Kubernetes clusters using Docker, Podman or nerdctl containers as nodes, suited to CI, rather than running OpenShift in a virtual machine.
MicroK8s
Canonical's low-footprint Kubernetes for workstations, edge sites and CI.
MicroK8s gives a low-footprint Canonical Kubernetes for workstations with one-command add-ons, installed through snap instead of an OpenShift virtual machine.
k3d
A command-line tool for running lightweight K3s Kubernetes clusters inside Docker containers.
k3d runs lightweight K3s clusters inside Docker in seconds, requiring Docker and kubectl, and offers plain Kubernetes instead of OpenShift.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
OKD
An opinionated community Kubernetes distribution that bundles operators for a complete self-managed container platform.
Podman Desktop
A desktop app for containers and Kubernetes that does not need a paid licence at a certain company size.
Podman
Daemonless container engine with a Docker-compatible command line.
Skaffold
A command-line tool that automates building, pushing and deploying applications during Kubernetes development.
Tilt
An open-source tool that rebuilds and live-updates multi-service apps during development, locally or in Kubernetes.
