Kubernetes CLI Tools

A link-checked look at kubectl plugins, interactive shells, context switchers, log viewers, and other tools that speed up day-to-day Kubernetes command-line work.

01 kubectl

The official Kubernetes command-line tool reference — the foundation every other CLI utility on this page builds on or plugs into.

02 kubectx + kubens

A faster way to switch between clusters (kubectx) and namespaces (kubens) on kubectl, with interactive fuzzy-search menus.

03 Web Kubectl

Run kubectl commands from a web browser, manage credentials for multiple clusters, and share access across a team without installing kubectl locally.

04 Kube-shell

An integrated shell for kubectl with auto-completion, inline documentation, fuzzy searching, and command history to speed up everyday use.

05 kail

A Kubernetes log viewer that streams logs from all matched pods at once and automatically adjusts as pods are added or removed.

06 Krew

The package manager for kubectl plugins — discover, install, and manage over 200 plugins the same way you'd use apt, dnf, or brew.

07 ksniff

A kubectl plugin that uses tcpdump and Wireshark to start a remote packet capture on any pod in your cluster, with minimal impact.

08 kube-ps1

Adds the current Kubernetes context and namespace to your Bash, Zsh, or Fish shell prompt, so you always know where a command will run.

09 eksctl

A command-line utility that automates and simplifies creating, managing, and operating Amazon EKS clusters with declarative YAML configuration.

10 Kubefwd

Bulk port-forwards every service in a namespace to your local machine, each with its own loopback IP, so services resolve by name just like in-cluster.

11 KubeTerminal

A kubectl helper tool with a full-screen terminal UI for browsing pods, configmaps, secrets, logs, and other resources without memorizing commands.

12 kubectl-aliases

Programmatically generated shell aliases — hundreds of shortcuts for common kubectl command and flag combinations.

13 Bootkube

A tool for launching self-hosted Kubernetes clusters, deploying a temporary control plane that bootstraps a replacement self-hosted one.

14 K9s

A terminal UI to interact with your Kubernetes clusters, continuously watching for changes and offering shortcuts to manage resources on the fly.

15 kuttle

A kubectl wrapper for sshuttle that proxies your local machine into the cluster network without requiring SSH access.

16 kubectl-sudo

Lets users run Kubernetes commands with the privileges of another user or group via impersonation, with a full audit trail.

17 Ktunnel

A CLI tool that establishes a reverse tunnel between a Kubernetes cluster and your local machine, exposing local resources to in-cluster pods.

18 Kubemqctl

The command-line interface for KubeMQ, a Kubernetes-native message broker, covering pub/sub, queues, RPC commands, and cluster management.

19 mkubectx

Runs a single command across all or a selected set of Kubernetes contexts in parallel, useful for auditing or managing multiple clusters at once.

20 vimkubectl

A Vim/Neovim plugin for managing Kubernetes resources — fetch, edit, and apply manifests as YAML without leaving the editor.

21 Helm

The package manager for Kubernetes — Helm charts define, install, and upgrade even the most complex Kubernetes applications.

22 kubie

A more powerful alternative to kubectx and kubens, giving every shell its own independent context, namespace, and prompt.