OpenCost: Open Source Cost Monitoring for Kubernetes and Cloud

OpenCost: Open Source Cost Monitoring for Kubernetes and Cloud

Summary

OpenCost is an open-source tool providing comprehensive cost monitoring for Kubernetes workloads and multi-cloud environments. It offers real-time visibility into resource allocation and cloud spend, enabling teams to optimize costs across AWS, Azure, and GCP. This CNCF project promotes cost transparency in complex cloud-native setups.

Repository Info

Updated on January 16, 2026
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Tags

opencostkubernetescost monitoringfinopscloud costscncfprometheusgo

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Introduction

OpenCost is a powerful open-source tool designed for comprehensive cost monitoring of Kubernetes workloads and cloud expenses. It provides teams with real-time visibility into current and historical Kubernetes and multi-cloud spend, along with detailed resource allocation. Originally developed and open-sourced by Kubecost, OpenCost is now a prominent project within the Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF), fostering cost transparency in complex cloud-native environments.

Key features include:

  • Real-time cost allocation by Kubernetes cluster, node, namespace, and more.
  • Multi-cloud cost monitoring across AWS, Azure, and GCP.
  • Dynamic on-demand Kubernetes asset pricing through integrations with cloud billing APIs.
  • Support for on-prem Kubernetes clusters with custom CSV pricing.
  • Allocation for in-cluster resources like CPU, GPU, memory, and persistent volumes.
  • Easy export of pricing data to Prometheus via a /metrics endpoint.
  • Carbon costs for cloud resources and support for external costs via OpenCost Plugins.
  • An innovative MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for AI agent integration, enabled by default.

OpenCost is distributed under the Apache 2.0 License, ensuring its free and open-source nature.

Installation

OpenCost is primarily installed and managed using its official Helm chart. This method ensures a streamlined deployment and upgrade process for any Kubernetes 1.20+ cluster.

To quickly install OpenCost, follow these steps:

helm repo add opencost https://opencost.github.io/opencost-helm-chart
helm repo update
helm install opencost opencost/opencost

Note that standalone Kubernetes manifest files have been removed. For detailed installation instructions and configuration options, refer to the Helm installation documentation.

Examples

OpenCost offers various ways to interact with its data, from a user interface to powerful APIs and a CLI tool. Here are examples demonstrating how AI agents can leverage the MCP server to query cost data:

Querying Cost Allocation:
Retrieve cost allocation data for the last 7 days, aggregated by namespace and node.

// Get cost allocation for the last 7 days
const allocation = await mcpClient.callTool('get_allocation_costs', {
  window: '7d',
  aggregate: 'namespace,node'
});

Querying Asset Costs:
Access detailed asset cost information for the last 24 hours.

// Get asset costs for the last 24 hours
const assets = await mcpClient.callTool('get_asset_costs', {
  window: '1d'
});

Querying Cloud Costs:
Filter cloud cost data for AWS EC2 services in the us-west-1 region over 7 days, accumulated daily.

// Get cloud costs for AWS EC2 in us-west-1
const cloudCosts = await mcpClient.callTool('get_cloud_costs', {
  window: '7d',
  aggregate: 'service',
  provider: 'aws',
  service: 'ec2',
  accumulate: 'day',
  filter: 'regionID:"us-west-1"'
});

For more usage details, including Cost APIs, CLI (kubectl cost), Prometheus Metrics, and the User Interface, visit the OpenCost documentation.

Why Use OpenCost?

OpenCost stands out as an essential tool for any organization managing Kubernetes and cloud infrastructure due to several compelling reasons:

  • Unparalleled Cost Transparency: Gain deep insights into where your cloud and Kubernetes spend is going, breaking down costs by various Kubernetes constructs and cloud services.
  • Multi-Cloud Optimization: Effectively monitor and optimize costs across major cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, and GCP, from a single pane of glass.
  • Real-time Data and Integrations: Leverage real-time cost allocation data and seamlessly integrate with Prometheus for robust monitoring and alerting.
  • AI-Ready with MCP Server: The built-in MCP server provides a standardized interface for AI agents, enabling advanced analytics and automated cost management strategies.
  • Community-Driven and Open Source: As a CNCF project with an Apache 2.0 license, OpenCost benefits from a vibrant community, ensuring continuous development, support, and transparency.
  • Flexibility: Supports both cloud and on-premise Kubernetes deployments, with options for custom pricing.

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