Native macOS Kubernetes dashboard for production operations.
Built for engineers who want a lighter Lens alternative without an Electron runtime, cloud account, or cluster agent.
Website | Docs | Download | Krust vs Lens | Dashboard Alternatives | Issues
Direct download
Homebrew
brew install --cask vanchonlee/tap/krustHomebrew also installs the k9r terminal command packaged with Krust.
Krust is a native Kubernetes desktop app for macOS. It reads your existing kubeconfig and gives you a fast local workspace for cluster resources, logs, YAML, Helm releases, CRDs, topology, metrics, port forwarding, security checks, and incident workflows.
Krust is designed for Mac-first DevOps and SRE workflows where a GUI should feel like a native tool, not a browser runtime in a window.
- Native macOS app: Rust core with a Swift/AppKit/SwiftUI interface.
- No Electron runtime: built for lower overhead and a more native desktop feel.
- Existing kubeconfig: works with normal Kubernetes auth flows for EKS, AKS, GKE, and on-prem clusters.
- Resource workspace: inspect pods, deployments, services, config, RBAC, CRDs, Gateway API resources, and more.
- Fast logs: single-pod and incident-oriented log workflows with search, filters, bookmarks, and export.
- YAML and diffs: inspect live YAML, compare resources, review changes, and work through cluster state visually.
- Helm workflows: inspect releases, history, values, manifests, diffs, and rollback context.
- Topology and metrics: understand workload relationships and Prometheus-backed resource signals.
- Port forwarding: manage local routes and service access from a desktop workflow.
- Security checks: review common workload, RBAC, image, and configuration issues.
- K9r terminal preview: terminal-native Kubernetes navigation powered by the same product family.
Krust is for teams and individual engineers who like the speed of terminal tools but still want a visual workspace during production work.
Common reasons people evaluate Krust:
- Lens or Electron-based Kubernetes tools feel heavy on large clusters.
- OpenLens/Freelens maintenance or packaging creates uncertainty.
- k9s is excellent for terminal users but harder for mixed-experience teams.
- Kubernetes Dashboard requires in-cluster installation that some teams avoid.
- Mac-first operators want a local app that feels like it belongs on macOS.
| Need | Good Fit |
|---|---|
| Native macOS Kubernetes dashboard | Krust |
| Cross-platform Kubernetes IDE | Lens, Aptakube, Headlamp |
| Terminal-first workflows | k9s, kubectl, k9r |
| In-cluster web dashboard | Kubernetes Dashboard, Headlamp |
| Local-first incident workspace | Krust |
Read more:
- Website: https://krust.io/
- Documentation: https://krust.io/docs/
- Quick start: https://krust.io/docs/quick-start/
- Features: https://krust.io/docs/features/
- Changelog: https://krust.io/docs/changelog/
- Pricing and licensing: https://krust.io/docs/licensing/
- Latest release: https://github.com/vanchonlee/krust/releases/latest
This repository is the public product, release, roadmap, and issue tracker for Krust.
It is for:
- Downloading releases
- Reporting product bugs
- Requesting features
- Asking setup and usage questions
- Following roadmap and changelog updates
It is not for:
- Browsing the Krust application source code
- Opening pull requests for core app implementation
- Bug report: use the bug report issue form
- Feature request: use the feature request issue form
- Question: use the question issue form
- Docs: https://krust.io/docs/
Please do not open public issues for security vulnerabilities.
Report sensitive security issues to [email protected].
Krust and associated marks are proprietary to the Krust team.