Swiss managed Kubernetes with full data residency and open standards
Replaces EKS with fully managed Kubernetes and open standards.
Cluster managementCompute and deployment
Swiss hostedGDPRISO 27001
The best alternatives to Amazon EKS
6 European alternatives · updated 11 October 2026 · How we select
Amazon EKS ties you to AWS services and US jurisdiction, which can conflict with GDPR requirements for EU-based teams. The steep learning curve and opaque pricing also push smaller teams toward simpler, more transparent alternatives. European providers like gridscale offer Kubernetes without the lock-in or data-sovereignty concerns.
In short
Amazon EKS covers cluster management, compute and deployment, networking and access and security. European alternatives: Nine Managed Kubernetes, gridscale, Cloudfleet, Kubermatic and SUSE Rancher and 1 more. By area: Nine Managed Kubernetes, gridscale and Cloudfleet for cluster management; Nine Managed Kubernetes, gridscale and Cloudfleet for compute and deployment; gridscale and Kubermatic for networking; gridscale and SUSE Rancher for access and security.
European alternatives to Amazon EKS
gridscale🇩🇪 DE
German container and Kubernetes management with EU-only hosting
Replaces EKS with managed Kubernetes, VMs, databases and load balancers for teams needing full orchestration.
Covers all of Amazon EKSFrom €99.00/mo★ 4.5 (15 reviews)
EU hostingGDPRISAE 3402 SOC 1 Type 2
gridscale vs Amazon EKS →
What users praise and criticise
- intuitive and user-friendly interface for managing servers, storage and networking
- automated provisioning and monitoring for efficient resource use
- rapid onboarding with minimal technical expertise required
- no API access limiting integration possibilities
- support availability restricted to official business hours
- fewer advanced features compared to larger cloud providers
Cloudfleet🇪🇪 EE
Managed multi-cloud Kubernetes with EU hosting and automated upgrades
Replaces EKS with managed multi-cloud Kubernetes and automated upgrades.
Cluster managementCompute and deployment
EU hostingGDPR
Kubermatic🇩🇪 DE
German Kubernetes management platform for hybrid, multi-cloud and edge environments
Replaces EKS for managing Kubernetes clusters across hybrid, multi-cloud and edge environments.
Cluster managementCompute and deploymentNetworking★ 4.6 (51 reviews)
EU hostingGDPROpen SourceISO 27001
SUSE Rancher🇩🇪 DE
Open-source Kubernetes management platform for multi-cluster environments
Replaces EKS for multi-cluster Kubernetes management with open-source flexibility.
Cluster managementCompute and deploymentAccess and security★ 4.5 (475 reviews)
EU hostingGDPROpen SourceISO 27001
Managed Kubernetes with free control plane and EU-only hosting
Replaces EKS with managed Kubernetes and a free control plane.
Cluster managementCompute and deployment★ 1.5 (352 reviews)
EU hostingGDPROpen SourceISO 27001:2022
All Amazon EKS alternatives at a glance
Which part of Amazon EKS each alternative covers.
| Provider | Cluster management | Compute and deployment | Networking | Access and security | From | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon EKS 🇺🇸 (the tool you are replacing) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | $0.10 | ★ 4.5 |
| Nine Managed Kubernetes 🇨🇭 | ✓ | ✓ | On request | – | ||
| gridscale 🇩🇪 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | €99.00/mo | ★ 4.5 (15) |
| Cloudfleet 🇪🇪 | ✓ | ✓ | On request | – | ||
| Kubermatic 🇩🇪 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | On request | ★ 4.6 (51) | |
| SUSE Rancher 🇩🇪 | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | On request | ★ 4.5 (475) | |
| Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule 🇫🇷 | ✓ | ✓ | On request | ★ 1.5 (352) |
Prices per user and month in the cheapest paid plan. Ratings are weighted across G2, Capterra, OMR and other portals, with the review count in brackets.
Amazon EKS: the facts
What to know about the tool you are replacing, with sources.
- Headquarters
- 🇺🇸 US · since 2006
- Where your data is stored
- EU region only on some plansCustomers can select EU Regions, including Germany, for data storage.
- Transfers to the US based on
- EU-US Data Privacy Framework
- Contracts
- DPA
- Price
- from $0.10
- Rating
- ★ 4.5 (10 reviews)
What users value in Amazon EKS
- Highly scalable and reliable managed Kubernetes service
- Seamless integration with other AWS services
- Strong security and compliance features
What they criticise
- Complex pricing structure can be hard to predict
- Steep learning curve for beginners
- Costs can escalate quickly with usage
Sources: d1.awsstatic.com · capterra.com · aws.amazon.com · researched 5 October 2026
Moving away from Amazon EKS
Amazon EKS exports your data as JSON and YAML, and its API can read everything out.
Frequently asked questions
Which European tool fully replaces Amazon EKS?
gridscale, Kubermatic, SUSE Rancher, Cloudfleet, Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule and Nine Managed Kubernetes cover the core jobs of Amazon EKS. gridscale, Kubermatic and SUSE Rancher also support hybrid and edge environments.
Which European EKS alternative should I pick for hybrid or edge environments?
gridscale, Kubermatic and SUSE Rancher explicitly support hybrid and edge deployments. All three are open-source or offer self-hosting options.
Can I take my Amazon EKS data with me to a European alternative?
Amazon EKS allows export in JSON, YAML and via API. Check the import options of the tool you shortlist for compatibility.
Where does Amazon EKS keep my data?
Amazon EKS lets customers select EU regions, including Germany, for data storage. The default transfer mechanism is the Data Privacy Framework.
Do European EKS alternatives guarantee GDPR-compliant hosting?
gridscale, Kubermatic, SUSE Rancher, Cloudfleet and Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule offer EU-only hosting. Nine Managed Kubernetes provides Swiss data residency.
Are European EKS alternatives cheaper than Amazon EKS?
gridscale, Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule, Kubermatic and SUSE Rancher are open-source or offer published pricing. Cloudfleet and Nine Managed Kubernetes provide pricing on request.