How popular isK3s?
In September 2026, people searched for K3s by name about 33,100 times worldwide, an 18.3% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 17.5% of all global kubernetes platform searches, placing K3s third out of nine platforms. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about kubernetes platforms, K3s appeared in three of the five answers and was the sixth most recommended of the nine.
K3s is the third most searched of 9 competitors and the sixth most recommended in AI answers.
PortainerShare of searches 39%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
OpenShiftShare of searches 31.9%Mentioned in 4 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
K3sShare of searches 17.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 6th
Azure Kubernetes ServiceShare of searches 3.6%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Amazon EKSShare of searches 2.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Follow K3s and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top kubernetes platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, K3s was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. K3s is the sixth most recommended of the nine.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Azure Kubernetes Service5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Amazon EKS5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Google Kubernetes Engine5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- OpenShift4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- K3s3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Rancher3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Tanzu2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Portainer0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Lens0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about kubernetes platforms
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which Kubernetes platform should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best Kubernetes platforms?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best Kubernetes platform for a cloud team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“kubernetes platforms”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“managed kubernetes service”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Which kubernetes platforms compete with K3s?
Share of searches by month for Portainer, OpenShift, K3s, Azure Kubernetes Service, Amazon EKS, Rancher. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Portainer | OpenShift | K3s | Azure Kubernetes Service | Amazon EKS | Rancher | Lens | Google Kubernetes Engine | Tanzu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 38% | 31.1% | 17% | 4.5% | 2.8% | 2.5% | 2.8% | 1.2% | 0.07% |
| Nov 2025 | 38.7% | 31.7% | 17.3% | 4.2% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 0.11% |
| Dec 2025 | 43.3% | 29% | 15.8% | 4% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 2.6% | 1.1% | 0.12% |
| Jan 2026 | 42.7% | 28.5% | 15.6% | 4.2% | 2.5% | 2.4% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 0.12% |
| Feb 2026 | 38.9% | 26% | 14.2% | 3.9% | 2.3% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 9.5% | 0.11% |
| Mar 2026 | 38.4% | 31.4% | 17.2% | 3.8% | 2.8% | 2.2% | 2.8% | 1.2% | 0.11% |
| Apr 2026 | 43.2% | 28.9% | 15.8% | 3.5% | 2.6% | 2% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 0.12% |
| May 2026 | 38.3% | 31.4% | 17.2% | 3.8% | 2.8% | 2.1% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 0.13% |
| Jun 2026 | 38.5% | 31.4% | 17.2% | 3.8% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.17% |
| Jul 2026 | 38.6% | 31.5% | 17.2% | 3.5% | 2.3% | 2.1% | 2.3% | 2.3% | 0.14% |
| Aug 2026 | 41.6% | 27.9% | 18.6% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 1.9% | 2.5% | 1.1% | 0.15% |
| Sep 2026 | 39% | 31.9% | 17.5% | 3.6% | 2.8% | 2.1% | 1.9% | 1% | 0.17% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 39% | 74K | 0% | -2.6 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 31.9% | 60.5K | +22.2% | +4.1 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 17.5% | 33.1K | 0% | -1.2 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 3.6% | 6.8K | 0% | -0.2 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 2.8% | 5.4K | +22.7% | +0.4 points | |
| 6, moved from 7th to 6th | 2.1% | 4K | +18.5% | +0.2 pointsmoved from 7th to 6th | |
| 7, moved from 6th to 7th | 1.9% | 3.6K | -18.2% | -0.6 pointsmoved from 6th to 7th | |
| 8, held 8th | 1% | 1.9K | 0% | -0.1 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 0.17% | 320 | +23.1% | 0 points |
39%
Held 1st. 74K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -2.6 points.
31.9%
Held 2nd. 60.5K estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +4.1 points.
3.
K3s17.5%
Held 3rd. 33.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.
3.6%
Held 4th. 6.8K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.2 points.
2.8%
Held 5th. 5.4K estimated branded searches, +22.7% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
6.
Rancher2.1%
Moved from 7th to 6th. 4K estimated branded searches, +18.5% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
7.
Lens1.9%
Moved from 6th to 7th. 3.6K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.
Held 8th. 1.9K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
9.
Tanzu0.17%
Held 9th. 320 estimated branded searches, +23.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between K3s and its closest rivals
Every comparison with K3s
8 comparisons
How has branded search demand for K3s changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for K3s worldwide fell from 40.5K to 33.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, K3s’ share of searches among kubernetes platforms worldwide peaked at 18.6% in August 2026 and was lowest at 14.2% in February 2026.
How did search popularity change for kubernetes platforms worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, OpenShift gained share of searches among kubernetes platforms worldwide, from 27.9% to 31.9%.
In September 2026, Portainer lost share of searches among kubernetes platforms worldwide, from 41.6% to 39%.
In September 2026, K3s lost share of searches among kubernetes platforms worldwide, from 18.6% to 17.5%.
In September 2026, Lens lost share of searches among kubernetes platforms worldwide, from 2.5% to 1.9%.
Amazon EKS’s share of searches among kubernetes platforms worldwide has gained ground for 3 months in a row, from 2.3% to 2.8% in September 2026.
In September 2026, Rancher rose from 7th to 6th among kubernetes platforms worldwide.
How are K3s’ branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using K3s’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- k3s
Do you work for K3s? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.
Is K3s your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.