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Choose a Kubernetes Option

Wodby supports four practical deployment paths:

  • managed Kubernetes in your own cloud account
  • self-hosted Kubernetes with K3S on your own server
  • persistent Wodby Cloud clusters
  • temporary Wodby Cloud demo clusters

Quick recommendation

  • Choose Managed Kubernetes when you want production-ready cloud infrastructure in your own provider account.
  • Choose K3S when you want lower infrastructure cost and you are comfortable operating your own server.
  • Choose Wodby Cloud when you want Wodby to handle cluster creation and operations for you.
  • Choose Demo when you only need a short-lived test environment for up to 24 hours.

Comparison

Option Runs where Created from Best for Who manages infra Billing model
Managed Kubernetes Your cloud account Kubernetes after connecting a provider integration Production workloads with cloud-native flexibility You and your cloud provider Your cloud bill plus Wodby platform usage
K3S Your own server Kubernetes > Connect server Cost-sensitive self-hosted setups You Your server costs plus Wodby platform usage
Wodby Cloud Wodby-managed infrastructure Apps > New app > Step 2 Teams that want less cluster ops work Wodby Wodby compute credits
Demo Temporary Wodby Cloud cluster Apps > New app > Step 2 > Wodby Cloud > Demo Evaluation, prototypes, short-lived testing Wodby Free, deleted after 24 hours

When to choose Managed Kubernetes

Choose Managed Kubernetes when:

  • you already operate in AWS, GCP, Azure, DigitalOcean, OVH, or another supported provider
  • you want cluster resources to stay in your own cloud account
  • you expect to scale infrastructure policies, networking, or compliance over time

When to choose K3S

Choose K3S when:

  • you control one or more Linux servers already
  • you want Kubernetes without managed-cluster provider costs
  • you are comfortable handling server lifecycle, networking, and host-level troubleshooting

When to choose Wodby Cloud

Choose Wodby Cloud when:

  • you want the fastest path to a persistent cluster
  • you do not want to wire cloud credentials or bootstrap your own server
  • you prefer Wodby-managed cluster operations

Persistent Wodby Cloud clusters require a paid plan.

When to choose Demo

Choose Demo when:

  • you want to try Wodby quickly
  • you need a disposable cluster for testing
  • you do not need the cluster or app to survive past the evaluation window

Demo clusters and their deployed applications are deleted automatically after 24 hours.