Kro vs Helm: Not That Different After All
“I’m tired of wrestling with YAML templates. They say Kro is simpler. But Helm has been around forever. Which one should I use?”
If you’ve found yourself thinking something like this recently, you’re not alone. Anyone working with Kubernetes eventually crosses paths with tools like Helm or the newer contender, Kro. But are these two tools really that different? Let’s be honest: not really.
Summary of the article
- Both Helm and Kro help manage Kubernetes application deployments.
- Their core differences lie in templating style, ecosystem support, and design philosophy.
- Which one you use depends more on team habits than technical limitations.
- You don’t need to overthink it. Try both — they get the job done.
Helm: The Veteran
Helm has been a staple in the Kubernetes world for years. It uses Go templating to make your YAML files dynamic. It’s powerful, but sometimes that power comes with complexity.
Example:
# templates/deployment.yaml
apiVersion: apps/v1
kind: Deployment
metadata:
name: {{ .Values.name }}
spec:
replicas: {{ .Values.replicaCount }}
# values.yaml
name: myapp
replicaCount: 3
helm install myapp ./mychart
- [ + ] Mature ecosystem
- [ + ] Built-in support for rollback/upgrade
- [ - ] Complex template structure can be hard to maintain
Kro: Clean and Minimal
Kro takes a minimalist approach. You define your variables and YAML structure, then run kro build to generate plain manifests. You apply them with kubectl. That’s it.
Example:
# kro.yaml
project: myapp
inputs:
name: myapp
image: nginx
resources:
- path: deployment.yaml
# deployment.yaml
metadata:
name: {{ name }}
spec:
containers:
- image: {{ image }}
kro build -o output
kubectl apply -f output/
- [ + ] Easy to learn
- [ + ] GitOps-friendly output
- [ - ] Smaller ecosystem, fewer prebuilt templates
How Different Are They Really?
| Feature | Helm | Kro |
|---|---|---|
| Templating | Powerful, but complex | Simple and readable |
| Learning curve | Moderate to steep | Gentle |
| Community support | Large and established | New and growing |
| GitOps compatibility | Medium (requires tweaks) | High (outputs plain YAML) |
| Rollback support | Built-in | Manual (via kubectl) |
The bottom line? Yes, they’re different — but not that different.
So Which One Should You Choose?
If your project:
- Depends on existing charts like Prometheus or Redis → Helm
- Has a team already familiar with Helm → Helm
- Favors simplicity and clarity → Kro
- Uses GitOps and wants clean, deterministic output → Kro
You’re not locked in. Try both. Use the one that feels right for your workflow.
Final Thoughts: It’s Not the Tool, It’s the Practice
Kro and Helm both solve the same core problem: deploying templated Kubernetes manifests efficiently. The tool you pick matters less than how you use it.
You don’t need to pick a side — just pick what works best for you and your team right now.
Visual Suggestions for Your Blog
- A tangled mess of YAML to illustrate Helm complexity
- A clean terminal + notepad setup for Kro's simplicity
- A playful “Kro vs Helm” boxing match illustration with the caption “They both pack a punch.”