Brandwave

Amazon EKS vs K3s:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, K3s had more branded searches than Amazon EKS among kubernetes platforms worldwide. K3s had about 33,100 branded searches, while Amazon EKS had 5,400. K3s made up 17.5% of all kubernetes platform searches we track, and Amazon EKS accounted for 2.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about kubernetes platforms, Amazon EKS appeared in all five answers and K3s in three. Amazon EKS was mentioned before K3s in every answer.

Among kubernetes platforms worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

K3s, about 6 searches for every 1 for Amazon EKS

K3s 33.1K searchesAmazon EKS 5.4K searches

Who does AI mention more?

Amazon EKS, mentioned in every answer we collected

Amazon EKS in 5 of 5K3s in 3 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Amazon EKS, named ahead of K3s in every answer

Amazon EKS first in 5K3s never first

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Top kubernetes platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Amazon EKS appeared in all five answers. K3s was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Amazon EKS was listed before K3s in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. Google Kubernetes Engine1st
  2. Amazon EKS2nd
  3. Azure Kubernetes Service3rd
  4. OpenShift4th
  5. Rancher5th
  6. K3s6th
  7. Tanzu7th
  8. Portainer–
  9. Lens–

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

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.

Is Amazon EKS or K3s more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Amazon EKS and K3s by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine kubernetes platforms we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Amazon EKS and K3s among kubernetes platforms worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for K3s, Amazon EKS. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthPortainerOpenShiftK3sAzure Kubernetes ServiceAmazon EKSRancherLensGoogle Kubernetes EngineTanzu
Oct 202538%31.1%17%4.5%2.8%2.5%2.8%1.2%0.07%
Nov 202538.7%31.7%17.3%4.2%2.3%2.1%2.3%1.2%0.11%
Dec 202543.3%29%15.8%4%2.1%1.9%2.6%1.1%0.12%
Jan 202642.7%28.5%15.6%4.2%2.5%2.4%2.5%1.4%0.12%
Feb 202638.9%26%14.2%3.9%2.3%2.2%2.8%9.5%0.11%
Mar 202638.4%31.4%17.2%3.8%2.8%2.2%2.8%1.2%0.11%
Apr 202643.2%28.9%15.8%3.5%2.6%2%2.6%1.4%0.12%
May 202638.3%31.4%17.2%3.8%2.8%2.1%2.8%1.5%0.13%
Jun 202638.5%31.4%17.2%3.8%2.3%2.1%2.3%2.3%0.17%
Jul 202638.6%31.5%17.2%3.5%2.3%2.1%2.3%2.3%0.14%
Aug 202641.6%27.9%18.6%3.8%2.5%1.9%2.5%1.1%0.15%
Sep 202639%31.9%17.5%3.6%2.8%2.1%1.9%1%0.17%

How has the Amazon EKS and K3s comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • K3s was ahead of Amazon EKS in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Amazon EKS’s share of searches among kubernetes platforms worldwide held steady at 2.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 5.4K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, K3s’ share of searches among kubernetes platforms worldwide moved from 17% to 17.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 40.5K to 33.1K.

How did search popularity change for kubernetes platforms worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, K3s lost share of searches among kubernetes platforms worldwide, from 18.6% to 17.5%.

  2. 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.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Amazon EKS’s and K3s’ 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.

Amazon EKS

1 branded search term

  • amazon eks

K3s

1 branded search term

  • k3s

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among kubernetes platforms

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