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k3sup vs kubeadm: catalog facts
k3sup	kubeadm
Free Free and open source under the MIT licence.	Free Free and open source as part of the Kubernetes project.
Windows, macOS, Linux, Command line	Windows, Linux, Command line
Only needs SSH access to the target machine Single Go binary for Linux, Windows, macOS and Raspberry Pi	Official Kubernetes tool with extensive documentation Simple init and join workflow
Limited to k3s rather than other Kubernetes distributions Repository also contains an EULA file, so check the terms for any extra components	Does not provision machines or install add-ons Requires solid Kubernetes knowledge to operate a cluster
Downloadable app	Downloadable app
Open source	Open source
License: MIT	License: Apache-2.0
No account needed	No account needed
Not stated if it works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked October 2, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.