Kubero vs Tsuru
A side-by-side comparison of two self-hosted self-hosting platforms (paas) options — licensing, setup difficulty, resource needs, and what each one replaces.
Kubero
Self-service developer platform for Kubernetes
VS
Tsuru
Extensible open-source application platform
| Feature | Kubero | Tsuru |
|---|---|---|
| Deploy effort | Read-the-docs project | Under-an-hour setup |
| Health score | 81 · Excellent | 90 · Excellent |
| Category | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) | Self-Hosting Platforms (PaaS) |
| License | GPL-3.0 | BSD-3-Clause |
| Language | TypeScript | Go |
| Setup difficulty | Medium | Hard |
| Min. RAM | 1,024 MB | 2,048 MB |
| Deployment | kubernetes, helm | kubernetes, docker |
| GitHub stars | ★ 4,425 | ★ 5,312 |
| First released | 2022 | 2012 |
| Replaces | Heroku | Heroku |
What are Kubero and Tsuru?
Kubero
Kubero is a self-hosted PaaS that brings a Heroku-like developer experience to Kubernetes clusters. It deploys apps from Git, manages add-ons, and exposes pipelines without requiring deep Kubernetes knowledge.
- Git-based pipelines
- Add-on catalog
- Multi-cluster support
- Simple developer UI
Tsuru
Tsuru is an open-source platform-as-a-service that manages the full application lifecycle across Docker and Kubernetes backends. It supports buildpacks, autoscaling, and a pluggable architecture.
- Full app lifecycle management
- Buildpack support
- Pluggable provisioners
- Autoscaling
Kubero vs Tsuru: key differences
Kubero is written in TypeScript, while Tsuru is built with Go. Licensing differs — GPL-3.0 for Kubero versus BSD-3-Clause for Tsuru. Kubero is the lighter option, starting around 1,024 MB of RAM against 2,048 MB for Tsuru. Tsuru is the more established project (first released 2012), while Kubero arrived in 2022. Tsuru lists first-class Docker deployment; Kubero does not.
Why pick each one
Choose Kubero if…
- Released under the GPL-3.0 license
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Active community (4.4k GitHub stars)
- Written in TypeScript
Choose Tsuru if…
- Released under the BSD-3-Clause license
- First-class Docker support for quick deployment
- Kubernetes-ready with Helm charts available
- Mature project with 5.3k GitHub stars
Frequently asked questions
Is Kubero or Tsuru better?
Neither is universally better. Tsuru has the larger community, while Kubero is simpler to set up (medium difficulty). Choose based on the comparison table above and your own setup.
Are Kubero and Tsuru free and open-source?
Yes. Kubero is licensed under GPL-3.0 and Tsuru under BSD-3-Clause. Both can be self-hosted at no software cost.
Can I run Kubero and Tsuru with Docker?
Kubero: check the project docs for container support. Tsuru: yes.
Which is lighter on resources, Kubero or Tsuru?
Kubero has the smaller minimum footprint at 1,024 MB of RAM, compared to about 2,048 MB for Tsuru. Real-world usage depends on library size, user count, and enabled features.