Kubernetes vs OpenShift:Which is searched more?
In September 2026, Kubernetes had more branded searches than OpenShift among container platforms worldwide. Kubernetes had about 301,000 branded searches, while OpenShift had 60,500. Kubernetes made up 42.6% of all container platform searches we track, and OpenShift accounted for 8.6%. These are worldwide searches for English-language branded terms.
Follow Kubernetes vs OpenShift 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
Is Kubernetes or OpenShift more popular in search?
Compare the container platforms teams use. Branded searches tell you how often people look for a brand by name or related terms. Comparing these searches across competitors helps you see how popular each brand is over time.
Share of searches by month for Kubernetes, OpenShift. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Kubernetes | Docker | Google Cloud Run | Podman | OpenShift | Azure Container Apps | containerd | Amazon ECS | Rancher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 55.3% | 4.1% | 10.2% | 13.6% | 11.1% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 1.2% | 0.9% |
| Nov 2025 | 54.8% | 4% | 11.4% | 13.5% | 11% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.98% | 0.72% |
| Dec 2025 | 44.5% | 20% | 11.3% | 10.9% | 8.9% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.8% | 0.59% |
| Jan 2026 | 56.1% | 4.1% | 11.7% | 13.8% | 9.2% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 1% | 0.76% |
| Feb 2026 | 17.4% | 71% | 3.6% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 0.57% | 0.47% | 0.31% | 0.24% |
| Mar 2026 | 19.8% | 65.5% | 4.1% | 4.9% | 4% | 0.65% | 0.53% | 0.35% | 0.28% |
| Apr 2026 | 50.6% | 4.6% | 13.9% | 15.2% | 10.2% | 2% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.71% |
| May 2026 | 58.1% | 4.3% | 12.1% | 11.7% | 9.5% | 1.6% | 1.3% | 0.85% | 0.65% |
| Jun 2026 | 57.9% | 4.3% | 12% | 11.6% | 9.5% | 1.9% | 1.3% | 0.85% | 0.63% |
| Jul 2026 | 52.9% | 4.8% | 13.5% | 13% | 10.6% | 2.1% | 1.4% | 0.95% | 0.72% |
| Aug 2026 | 54.7% | 4% | 13.9% | 13.5% | 9% | 1.8% | 1.5% | 0.98% | 0.61% |
| Sep 2026 | 42.6% | 23.3% | 10.8% | 10.5% | 8.6% | 1.7% | 1.1% | 0.76% | 0.56% |
How has the Kubernetes and OpenShift comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Kubernetes was ahead of OpenShift in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Kubernetes’ share of searches among container platforms worldwide moved from 55.3% to 42.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 368K to 301K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, OpenShift’s share of searches among container platforms worldwide moved from 11.1% to 8.6%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 74K to 60.5K.
How did search popularity change for container platforms worldwide in September 2026?
3 changes
In September 2026, Docker overtook Google Cloud Run and 2 others to rank 2nd among container platforms worldwide, with 23.3% of the searches.
In September 2026, Kubernetes lost share of searches among container platforms worldwide, from 54.7% to 42.6%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for OpenShift worldwide fell 18.2% over 12 measured months, from 74K to 60.5K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Kubernetes’ and OpenShift’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Kubernetes
1 branded search term
- kubernetes
OpenShift
1 branded search term
- openshift
Other head-to-heads among container platforms
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.