Quick Comparison
Key differences between Kubecost, Cast.AI, and DeepCost at a glance.
| Factor | Kubecost | Cast.AI | DeepCost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Cost Visibility Monitoring & reporting | Automation Active optimization | AI + Visibility + Automation Complete platform |
| Pricing Model | $199-999+/month Per-cluster pricing | % of savings Pay for results | $99-499/month Flat rate, all features |
| AI/ML Cost Optimization | None K8s only | None K8s only | Full Support OpenAI, Anthropic, etc. |
| Automation Level | Manual Recommendations only | Automated Auto-optimization | Configurable Manual or automated |
| Multi-Cloud Support | Limited Primarily AWS/GCP | AWS, GCP, Azure Major clouds | Full All clouds + AI providers |
| Setup Complexity | Medium Helm install | Low Agent-based | Very Low 5-minute setup |
Where Kubecost Excels
Kubecost's genuine strengths for Kubernetes cost visibility.
Deep Cost Visibility
Kubecost excels at granular cost allocation, showing costs at namespace, deployment, and pod levels.
Open Source Option
Free tier available with basic cost monitoring features for smaller deployments.
Kubernetes Native
Deeply integrated with Kubernetes, providing native K8s cost reporting.
Showback/Chargeback
Strong cost allocation features for multi-tenant Kubernetes environments.
Where Cast.AI Excels
Cast.AI's genuine strengths for Kubernetes automation.
Automated Optimization
Cast.AI actively optimizes clusters through automated rightsizing and spot instance management.
Instant Spot Fallback
Seamless failover from spot to on-demand instances when spots are reclaimed.
Node Autoscaling
Replaces cluster autoscaler with more efficient bin-packing and scaling.
Cost-Based Scheduling
Schedules workloads on the most cost-effective nodes automatically.
Why DeepCost is Better
Advantages that make DeepCost a stronger choice for comprehensive cost optimization.
AI/ML Cost Optimization
Neither Kubecost nor Cast.AI optimizes AI costs. DeepCost handles OpenAI, Anthropic, and AI API costs alongside Kubernetes.
Predictable Pricing
Flat monthly pricing vs Kubecost's per-cluster fees or Cast.AI's percentage of savings model.
Visibility + Automation
Combines Kubecost's visibility with Cast.AI's automation in one platform. Choose manual or automated optimization.
Multi-Tenant Support
Built-in multi-organization support on all plans for agencies and consultants.
No Vendor Lock-in
Independent vendor with transparent pricing vs IBM-owned Kubecost or VC-backed Cast.AI.
Which Tool for Which Use Case?
Honest recommendations based on your specific needs.
Just need cost visibility (no automation)
Kubecost's free tier offers solid visibility for basic monitoring needs.
Maximum Kubernetes automation
Both offer strong automation. Cast.AI is K8s-only, DeepCost includes AI costs.
AI/ML + Kubernetes costs
Only DeepCost optimizes both Kubernetes AND AI provider costs together.
Predictable monthly costs
Flat pricing vs percentage of savings or per-cluster fees.
Agency managing multiple clients
Native multi-tenant support without enterprise pricing.
Enterprise with IBM partnership
Kubecost's IBM ownership may provide enterprise benefits.
Detailed Feature Comparison
Feature-by-feature comparison across all three platforms.
Cost Visibility
| Feature | Kubecost | Cast.AI | DeepCost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Namespace-level costs | |||
| Pod-level costs | |||
| Cost allocation tags | |||
| Showback reports | |||
| Cost forecasting | |||
| AI cost tracking |
Optimization
| Feature | Kubecost | Cast.AI | DeepCost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rightsizing recommendations | |||
| Automated rightsizing | |||
| Spot instance management | |||
| Node autoscaling | |||
| AI model routing |
Platform
| Feature | Kubecost | Cast.AI | DeepCost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Multi-cloud support | |||
| Multi-tenant | |||
| SSO/SAML | |||
| API access | |||
| Slack/Teams alerts |
Why Teams Choose DeepCost
Real stories from teams who evaluated Kubecost, Cast.AI, and DeepCost.
CloudScale Platform
- 72% total cost reduction
- $25K/month saved on K8s
- $18K/month saved on OpenAI
- Single platform for all costs
"We initially used Cast.AI for K8s and a separate tool for AI costs. DeepCost consolidated everything and saved us more."
DevOps Collective
- Managing 15 clients
- $299/month flat rate
- Simplified client billing
- Better margins on services
"The multi-tenant feature alone saves us $10K/month compared to per-cluster tools."
Kubecost vs Cast.AI FAQ
Common questions about choosing between these Kubernetes cost tools.
Is Kubecost better than Cast.AI?
They solve different problems. Kubecost excels at cost visibility and reporting, while Cast.AI focuses on automated optimization. Kubecost is better for teams that want recommendations without automated changes. Cast.AI is better for teams that want hands-off optimization.
Does Cast.AI replace Kubecost?
Partially. Cast.AI has basic cost visibility but doesn't match Kubecost's depth of cost allocation and showback features. Many teams use both together, though DeepCost provides both capabilities in one platform.
How do Kubecost and Cast.AI pricing compare?
Kubecost charges $199-999+/month per cluster. Cast.AI takes a percentage (typically 20-30%) of your cost savings. For heavily-optimized clusters, Cast.AI can become expensive. DeepCost offers flat monthly pricing regardless of savings.
Can I use Kubecost and Cast.AI together?
Yes, some teams use Kubecost for visibility and Cast.AI for optimization. However, this means managing two tools and paying for both. DeepCost provides both capabilities in a single platform.
Which tool is best for AI/ML workloads?
Neither Kubecost nor Cast.AI optimizes AI API costs (OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.). They only handle Kubernetes infrastructure. DeepCost is the only platform that optimizes both K8s and AI costs together.
Which tool has the fastest ROI?
Cast.AI typically shows fastest K8s savings due to automated optimization. However, for teams with AI costs, DeepCost often delivers higher total ROI by addressing both K8s and AI spending.