OpenNebula is an open-source cloud and edge infrastructure management platform. See its features, Community vs Enterprise pricing, and alternatives for 2026.
Category
DevOps
Pricing
Open Source, from Free (Community Edition); Enterprise subscriptions are custom-priced
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2008
Headquarters
Madrid, Spain (La Finca Business Park), with a US subsidiary in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Open SourceSelf-Hosted
Overview
OpenNebula is an open-source cloud computing platform for building and managing private, public, hybrid, and edge cloud infrastructure, first released in 2008 and backed commercially by Madrid-based OpenNebula Systems since 2010.
It combines KVM, LXC, and Firecracker virtualization support with CNCF-certified Kubernetes clusters, and is used by more than 5,000 organizations worldwide as a lighter-weight alternative to OpenStack.
Key Features
OpenNebula supports KVM virtual machines, LXC system containers, and AWS Firecracker microVMs alongside CNCF-certified Kubernetes clusters via its OneKE service built on SUSE Rancher.
It provides multi-tenant federation and automatic provisioning of cloud and edge resources, letting organizations manage data center, public cloud, and edge infrastructure through a single control plane.
Pricing
The Community Edition is free and open source under an Apache 2.0-style license, suitable for organizations comfortable with self-support and community forums.
The Enterprise Edition is available in Standard and Premium subscription tiers, both custom-priced, offering SLA-backed support ranging from 9x5 to 24x7, additional named support accounts, and supervised upgrade assistance.
Key Features
Multi-hypervisor virtualization — Supports KVM virtual machines, LXC system containers, and AWS Firecracker microVMs.
Kubernetes integration — Deploy CNCF-certified Kubernetes clusters via the OneKE service built on SUSE Rancher.
Cloud and edge federation — Manage private, public, hybrid, and edge infrastructure resources from a single federated control plane.
Multi-tenancy — Isolate and manage resources for multiple tenants or departments within one OpenNebula deployment.
Self-service cloud portal — Give end users a self-service portal to provision virtual machines and containers within defined limits.
Automatic provisioning — Automate provisioning of compute, storage, and networking resources across infrastructure.
Built-in monitoring and chargeback — Track resource usage for monitoring and internal chargeback purposes.
Pros & Cons
Pros
Fully open-source core with no mandatory vendor lock-in
Lighter-weight and simpler to operate than OpenStack
Strong support for hybrid and edge cloud federation at scale
Proven at scale with 5,000-plus organizations and hundreds of thousands of managed cores
Appeals to European organizations prioritizing data sovereignty and on-premises control
Cons
Smaller ecosystem and community than OpenStack
Enterprise pricing is not published and requires a sales conversation
Steeper learning curve for teams new to infrastructure-as-a-service concepts
Fewer third-party integrations than major hyperscaler-native tools
Premium support tiers can be costly for small teams
Pricing
Community Edition Free N/A
Enterprise Standard Custom Annual
Enterprise Premium Custom Annual
Frequently Asked Questions
Is OpenNebula free?
The Community Edition is free and open source; the Enterprise Edition with SLA-backed support is a paid, custom-priced subscription.
How does OpenNebula compare to OpenStack?
OpenNebula is generally considered lighter-weight and simpler to operate than OpenStack, while OpenStack has a larger ecosystem and community.
Does OpenNebula support Kubernetes?
Yes, OpenNebula can deploy CNCF-certified Kubernetes clusters through its OneKE service, built on SUSE Rancher.
Who uses OpenNebula?
More than 5,000 organizations worldwide use OpenNebula, including telecom providers, research institutions, and enterprises running private and edge clouds.
What is the OpenNebula Enterprise Edition?
It is a paid subscription tier (available as Standard or Premium) that adds SLA-backed support, additional named accounts, and enterprise tooling on top of the open-source core.
Can OpenNebula run edge infrastructure?
Yes, OpenNebula supports federation and automatic provisioning across data center, public cloud, and edge computing resources.
Where is OpenNebula Systems headquartered?
OpenNebula Systems is headquartered in Madrid, Spain, with a US subsidiary based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.