EKS Cost Optimization: Cluster Autoscaler vs Karpenter

EKS Cost Optimization: Cluster Autoscaler vs Karpenter An architecture diagram generated by Archify. Cluster Autoscaler · Node group-based · Cluster Autoscaler approach Cluster Autoscaler Node group-based Node group-based scaling · Same instance types · Cluster Autoscaler approach Node group-based scaling Same instance types Slow scaling speed · Limited bin packing · Cluster Autoscaler approach Slow scaling speed Limited bin packing Cost savings: Medium · Cluster Autoscaler approach Cost savings: Medium Karpenter · Workload-based · Karpenter approach Karpenter Workload-based Workload-based scaling · Diverse instance types · Karpenter approach Workload-based scaling Diverse instance types Fast scaling speed · Efficient bin packing · Karpenter approach Fast scaling speed Efficient bin packing Node consolidation · Spot instance utilization · Karpenter approach Node consolidation Spot instance utilization Cost savings: High · Karpenter approach Cost savings: High Cluster Autoscaler approach Karpenter approach Legend Autoscaler Cost strategy Savings outcome

Three Karpenter settings that cut cost

  • • Use Spot instances: set the capacity-type requirement to spot
  • • Use diverse instance types: allow amd64/arm64 and many instance-type values
  • • Enable node consolidation: turn consolidation on to retire underutilized nodes