Open-source Kubernetes networking, network security, and observability software from Tigera.
Calico Open Source is Tigera's open-source offering for Kubernetes networking, network security, and observability. It works across any Kubernetes distribution and extends security policy to virtual machines and bare-metal servers alongside containers. Pluggable data planes include eBPF, iptables, nftables, Windows, and VPP.
The software implements the Kubernetes network policy API, including AdminNetworkPolicy, and adds staged policies plus the Whisker observability interface for flow logs. Calico encrypts in-cluster pod traffic by automatically creating and managing WireGuard tunnels between nodes, and Tigera states that it powers more than one million clusters globally.
Broadcom
Antrea
broadcom.com
Microsoft
Azure CNI
microsoft.com
Cilium
Cilium — eBPF-Based Networking, Security, and Observability
cilium.io
Tailscale
Kubernetes Networking
tailscale.com
Buoyant
Linkerd
buoyant.io
| Attribute | Calico Open Source | Antrea | Azure CNI | Cilium — eBPF-Based Networking, Security, and Observability | Kubernetes Networking | Linkerd | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Provider |  | | | | | | |
| Founded | 2016 | 1961 | 1975 | 2015 | 2019 | 2015 | |
| Sells To | Enterprise | Enterprise | Enterprises, Small Business | Developers, Enterprise | B2B | Enterprise | |
| Pricing Model | Recurring, Software | Recurring, Transactional | SaaS, Transactional | Open Source | B2B Subscription, Freemium | Recurring, Software | |
| Ownership | Equity, Venture-backed | Public | Public | — | Private | Private equity-backed, Venture-backed |
Provider
Founded 2016
Sells To Enterprise
Pricing Model Recurring, Software
Ownership Equity, Venture-backed
Provider
Founded 1961
Sells To Enterprise
Pricing Model Recurring, Transactional
Ownership Public
Provider
Founded 1975
Sells To Enterprises, Small Business
Pricing Model SaaS, Transactional
Ownership Public
Provider
Founded 2015
Sells To Developers, Enterprise
Pricing Model Open Source
Ownership —
Provider
Founded 2019
Sells To B2B
Pricing Model B2B Subscription, Freemium
Ownership Private
Private endpoint service for connecting specific remote services without joining entire networks.
Kubernetes-aware eBPF-based security observability and runtime enforcement tool from the Cilium project.
Private endpoint service for connecting specific remote services without joining entire networks.
Cloud networking gateway for routing, securing, transforming, and observing application traffic.