Comparison
kubeshark vs netdata
Verdict
Pick kubeshark when license: kubeshark is Apache-2.0, netdata is GPL-3.0; pick netdata when license: netdata is GPL-3.0, kubeshark is Apache-2.0.
Markdown twin · kubeshark alternatives · netdata alternatives
GraphCanon updated 1d
Trust & integrity
| Signal | kubeshark | netdata |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | Very active (5d since push) As of 1d · github_public_v1 | Very active (0d since push) As of 1d · github_public_v1 |
| Provenance | Not a fork · Organization account As of 1d · github_public_v1 | Not a fork · Organization account As of 1d · github_public_v1 |
| Security (OSV) | No MCP manifest As of 1d · mcp_manifest | No MCP manifest As of 1d · mcp_manifest |
Tagline
- kubeshark
- eBPF-powered network observability for Kubernetes. Indexes L4/L7 traffic with full K8s context, decrypts TLS without keys. Queryable by AI agents via MCP and humans via dashboard.
- netdata
- The fastest path to AI-powered full stack observability, even for lean teams.
Stars
- kubeshark
- 12k
- netdata
- 80k
Forks
- kubeshark
- 543
- netdata
- 6.5k
Open issues
- kubeshark
- 146
- netdata
- 359
Language
- kubeshark
- Go
- netdata
- Go
Adopt for
- kubeshark
- -
- netdata
- -
Persona
- kubeshark
- -
- netdata
- -
Runtime
- kubeshark
- -
- netdata
- -
License
- kubeshark
- Apache-2.0
- netdata
- GPL-3.0
Last pushed
- kubeshark
- Jul 6, 2026
- netdata
- Jul 11, 2026
Categories
- kubeshark
- AI Agents, Developer Tools, Evaluation & Observability
- netdata
- Developer Tools, Evaluation & Observability
Trust and health
Days since push
- kubeshark
- 5d
- netdata
- 0d
Open issues (now)
- kubeshark
- 146
- netdata
- 359
Full report
- kubeshark
- Trust report
- netdata
- Trust report
Choose kubeshark if…
- License: kubeshark is Apache-2.0, netdata is GPL-3.0.
- Tags unique to kubeshark: cloud-native, ebpf, golang, grpc.
- Also covers AI Agents.
When NOT to use kubeshark
- AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism.
- Developer Tools: A gateway is overkill when you're pinned to a single provider and model.
- Evaluation & Observability: Defer heavyweight eval infra only until you have real traffic - never skip it once users depend on answers.
Choose netdata if…
- License: netdata is GPL-3.0, kubeshark is Apache-2.0.
- Tags unique to netdata: ai, alerting, cncf, data-visualization.
- More GitHub stars (80k vs 12k) - visibility, not fit.
When NOT to use netdata
- Developer Tools: A gateway is overkill when you're pinned to a single provider and model.
- Evaluation & Observability: Defer heavyweight eval infra only until you have real traffic - never skip it once users depend on answers.
Explore
Sources
Every stat on this page traces to a dated GitHub sync, license file, enrichment field, or trust scan.
- GitHub stars (kubeshark/kubeshark) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub forks (kubeshark/kubeshark) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Last push (kubeshark/kubeshark) · observed Jul 6, 2026
- License file (Apache-2.0) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub stars (netdata/netdata) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- GitHub forks (netdata/netdata) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Last push (netdata/netdata) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- License file (GPL-3.0) · observed Jul 11, 2026
- Trust scan (lockfile / OSV) · observed Jul 11, 2026
GitHub stars on cards: kubeshark 12k · netdata 80k (synced Jul 11, 2026).
Common questions
- What is the difference between kubeshark and netdata?
- kubeshark: eBPF-powered network observability for Kubernetes. Indexes L4/L7 traffic with full K8s context, decrypts TLS without keys. Queryable by AI agents via MCP and humans via dashboard.. netdata: The fastest path to AI-powered full stack observability, even for lean teams.. See the comparison table for live GitHub stats and shared categories.
- When should I choose kubeshark over netdata?
- Choose kubeshark over netdata when License: kubeshark is Apache-2.0, netdata is GPL-3.0; Tags unique to kubeshark: cloud-native, ebpf, golang, grpc; Also covers AI Agents.
- When should I choose netdata over kubeshark?
- Choose netdata over kubeshark when License: netdata is GPL-3.0, kubeshark is Apache-2.0; Tags unique to netdata: ai, alerting, cncf, data-visualization; More GitHub stars (80k vs 12k) - visibility, not fit.
- When should I avoid kubeshark?
- AI Agents: Don't use an agent loop when a deterministic workflow would do; agents add latency, cost, and non-determinism. Developer Tools: A gateway is overkill when you're pinned to a single provider and model. Evaluation & Observability: Defer heavyweight eval infra only until you have real traffic - never skip it once users depend on answers.
- When should I avoid netdata?
- Developer Tools: A gateway is overkill when you're pinned to a single provider and model. Evaluation & Observability: Defer heavyweight eval infra only until you have real traffic - never skip it once users depend on answers.
- Is kubeshark or netdata more popular on GitHub?
- netdata has more GitHub stars (79,594 vs 11,994). Stars measure visibility, not whether either tool fits your constraints.
- Are kubeshark and netdata open source?
- Yes - both are open-source projects on GitHub (kubeshark: Apache-2.0, netdata: GPL-3.0).
- Where can I find alternatives to kubeshark or netdata?
- GraphCanon lists graph-backed alternatives at kubeshark alternatives and netdata alternatives (kubeshark markdown twin, netdata markdown twin), ranked by typed relationship edges rather than popularity votes.
- Is there a machine-readable version of this comparison?
- Yes. The markdown twin at this comparison mirrors this page for agents and LLM crawlers, with the same stats table and FAQ answers.
- Which is better maintained, kubeshark or netdata?
- kubeshark: Very active. netdata: Very active. Compare maintenance labels, days since push, and release cadence in the trust section below - stars alone do not measure maintenance.
- Where are the full trust reports for kubeshark and netdata?
- GraphCanon publishes per-repo trust reports with dated maintenance, provenance, and scan summaries: kubeshark trust report; netdata trust report.