· Security/ Head to head

gVisor vs Kata Containers

Both are open source security options with comparable terms, so the choice comes down to which model of the problem you prefer — compare the descriptions below rather than the licence.

gVisor

Google's user-space kernel. Intercepts syscalls before they reach the host, without paying for a full VM.

Open source · can be self-hosted

Fast to start, but 10-30% overhead on I/O-heavy work. Good for compute-bound agent code; reach for a microVM if the threat model is serious.

Kata Containers

MicroVM isolation behind the ordinary container API — drops into Kubernetes as a RuntimeClass.

Open source · can be self-hosted

The least disruptive option if you already run Kubernetes: VM-grade isolation without changing how workloads are packaged.

· Side by side/ 1 of 7 differ
gVisorKata Containers
LicenceOpen sourceOpen source
Pricingopen sourceopen source
Self-hostableYesYes
LanguagesAny languageAny language
Install# runsc — see https://gvisor.dev/docs/user_guide/install/
Keys requiredNoneNone
Job within the layersandboxsandbox
· Common questions/ FAQ

What is the difference between gVisor and Kata Containers?

Both are open source security options with comparable terms, so the choice comes down to which model of the problem you prefer — compare the descriptions below rather than the licence. gVisor: Google's user-space kernel. Intercepts syscalls before they reach the host, without paying for a full VM. Kata Containers: MicroVM isolation behind the ordinary container API — drops into Kubernetes as a RuntimeClass.

Can gVisor and Kata Containers be self-hosted?

gVisor can run on your own infrastructure. Kata Containers can run on your own infrastructure.

Are gVisor and Kata Containers open source?

gVisor is open source (open source). Kata Containers is open source (open source).

Build a stack with gVisorAll security options
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