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Cloud · head to head

Cilium vs JFrog Artifactory

Cilium logo

Cilium

Cloud

eBPF-based networking, observability and security for Kubernetes

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
JFrog Artifactory logo

JFrog Artifactory

Developer Tools

The Universal Binary Repository

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Cilium requires a recent Linux kernel, which rules out older distributions and some managed environments; JFrog Artifactory pro tier limited-time pricing at $50/month (regular rate $150/month); overages charged per GB at tiered rates
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Cilium and JFrog Artifactory actually diverge.

Attributes where Cilium and JFrog Artifactory differ
AttributeCiliumJFrog Artifactory
Pricing modelOpen source, no licence feeusage-based
PlatformsKubernetes, LinuxWeb
CategoryCloudDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Cilium

  • eBPF datapath
  • Identity-based policy
  • Hubble observability
  • Sidecar-free mesh

Only in JFrog Artifactory

Nothing recorded that Cilium does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Cilium

  • Kubernetes networking at a scale where iptables-based CNI performance degradesnot JFrog Artifactory
  • Network policy expressed on workload identity rather than fragile IP rulesnot JFrog Artifactory
  • Seeing which services actually talk to each other, and what policy is droppingnot JFrog Artifactory

JFrog Artifactory

  • Governing AI models and agents in single source of truthnot Cilium
  • Syncing artifacts across federated repositories in multiple sitesnot Cilium
  • Blocking risky and non-compliant open-source packages proactivelynot Cilium
  • Automating source code vulnerability remediation in real-timenot Cilium
  • Collecting compliance evidence throughout software lifecyclenot Cilium

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Cilium

  • Requires a recent Linux kernel, which rules out older distributions and some managed environments
  • eBPF is genuinely hard to debug when it misbehaves, and the skill is rare on most teams
  • Broad scope — CNI, policy, mesh, observability — means the learning curve covers several domains at once

JFrog Artifactory

  • Pro tier limited-time pricing at $50/month (regular rate $150/month); overages charged per GB at tiered rates
  • Enterprise+ plan requires custom quote; specific pricing not published
  • Consumption-based model adds unpredictability to monthly costs for variable storage needs

Pricing, plan by plan

Cilium

Free
  • CiliumFree
    • Full functionality
    • No usage limits
    • Community support

JFrog Artifactory

Free
  • Pro$50/month
    • Limited-time offer pricing (regularly $150/month)
    • 25 GB storage included monthly
    • Tiered overage pricing: $1.25 per GB at 25-1,204 GB usage
  • Enterprise X$950/month
    • 125 GB storage included
    • High availability and artifact federation
    • SSO and advanced security scanning included

Which should you pick?

Choose Cilium if

  • You need ebpf datapath.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Kubernetes, Linux.
  • You also want identity-based policy.
Cilium review

Choose JFrog Artifactory if

  • You want to start without paying.
JFrog Artifactory review

Questions people ask

Is Cilium or JFrog Artifactory better?
Neither clearly leads. Cilium starts at Free and JFrog Artifactory at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Cilium or JFrog Artifactory?
Cilium starts at Free and JFrog Artifactory at Free.
Does Cilium or JFrog Artifactory run on more platforms?
Cilium runs on Kubernetes, Linux. JFrog Artifactory runs on Web.
Can I use Cilium for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Cilium best used for?
Cilium is most often used for kubernetes networking at a scale where iptables-based cni performance degrades, network policy expressed on workload identity rather than fragile ip rules, seeing which services actually talk to each other, and what policy is dropping. Of those, kubernetes networking at a scale where iptables-based cni performance degrades and network policy expressed on workload identity rather than fragile ip rules are not what JFrog Artifactory is typically brought in for.
What can Cilium do that JFrog Artifactory cannot?
Cilium covers eBPF datapath, Identity-based policy, Hubble observability, Sidecar-free mesh.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Cilium: Is Cilium free?

Yes, open source and CNCF-graduated. Isovalent sells an enterprise distribution and support.

JFrog Artifactory: How much does JFrog Artifactory cost?

JFrog Artifactory Pro is currently $50 per month (limited-time rate; regular $150/month) with 25 GB included and $1.25 per GB for overages. Enterprise X starts at $950 per month with 125 GB included. Enterprise+ plans use custom pricing available through sales.

Source
Cilium: What does eBPF change?

It lets Cilium run packet-processing programs inside the kernel instead of relying on iptables rule chains, which behave poorly as the number of services grows.

JFrog Artifactory: What are JFrog's data storage limits?

JFrog Artifactory charges based on consumption: Pro includes 25 GB monthly with tiered overage costs ($1.25/GB at 25-1,204 GB, $1.00/GB at 1,204-2,024 GB, $0.75/GB above 2,024 GB). Enterprise X includes 125 GB with similar tiered overages for additional storage.

Source
Cilium: Does Cilium replace a service mesh?

It can cover much of what a mesh does without sidecars, though full mesh feature sets still favour Istio or Linkerd.

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