SUSE Harvester vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO
Last updated: · dataset v0.2.0 · FX pinned 2026-07-01 · prices as of Q3 2026 · methodology & sources
Cozystack 5-year TCO for 200 VMs is $342,915 vs Harvester (SUSE) $395,581, at typical negotiated prices, Q3 2026 (including one-time migration costs).
Harvester (SUSE) vs Cozystack at default assumptions
| Scenario | Harvester (SUSE) 5-yr TCO | Cozystack 5-yr TCO* | Savings | Cozystack unit cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMB — 50 VMs | $130,568 | $141,606 | −$11,038 (Harvester (SUSE) cheaper) | $47 / VM / mo | not within horizon |
| Mid-size — 200 VMs | $395,581 | $342,915 | $52,666 (13%) | $29 / VM / mo | month 25 |
| Enterprise — 1,000 VMs | $1,535,461 | $1,514,562 | $20,899 (1%) | $25 / VM / mo | month 53 |
* Cozystack total includes the one-time migration from Harvester (SUSE) (a fixed setup plus a marginal $/VM — owner estimate, Ænix field data). Estimates only — not a quote.
Break-even
Cozystack becomes cheaper than Harvester (SUSE) when Harvester (SUSE) support $/node/yr exceeds $1,142 (current: $2,100) — it already does at the current value. One-time migration costs pay back in month 25.
Key facts
- Harvester (SUSE) software is free; commercial support is ~$2100/node/yr (effective $1,800–2,400/node/yr all-in (analyst, research/03 §5) — midpoint; as of 2026-07).
- Contract term default: 12 months (annual subscription (SUSE)).
When to choose Harvester (SUSE)
- Scale below the crossover: at 50 VMs Harvester (SUSE) is cheaper at default assumptions — the table above shows it openly.
- Hard vendor-ecosystem dependencies (ISV certifications, existing tooling and runbooks) that outweigh the cost delta.
How this is calculated
Three cost articles — software (licenses + vendor support), one-time migration and personnel. Hardware and facilities are identical on both sides and excluded; an internal sizing chain (CPU oversubscription 3:1, RAM target 85%, per-platform storage replication, N+1 HA headroom) only produces the node/core/socket counters that licenses bill against. Renewal uplifts apply only after a real renewal event inside the horizon. Default pricing basis is realized (typical negotiated) — conservative against our own headline. Every default carries a source, date and source nature; owner estimates (migration setup and $/VM, personnel days) are labeled as Ænix field data. Full methodology, formulas and the complete source list.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Harvester (SUSE) cost for 200 VMs over 5 years?
At default assumptions (EU region, typical negotiated prices, Q3 2026) the model puts Harvester (SUSE) at $395,581 over 5 years across the three cost articles: software (licenses + vendor support), migration (one-time, target platform only) and personnel (a days-per-month staffing model).
Is Cozystack cheaper than Harvester (SUSE)?
At 50 VMs: Harvester (SUSE) is $11,038 cheaper. At 200 VMs: Cozystack is $52,666 cheaper (13%). At 1000 VMs: Cozystack is $20,899 cheaper (1%). Cozystack becomes cheaper than Harvester (SUSE) when Harvester (SUSE) support $/node/yr exceeds $1,142 (current: $2,100) — it already does at the current value.
What does migration from Harvester (SUSE) to Cozystack cost?
For 200 VMs the model estimates $36,000 one-time: $8,000 of fixed setup — discovery, standing up the target, cutover design, runbook — plus 200 × $140/VM marginal (owner estimate — Ænix field data: 50 VMs ≈ $15K total). Most of a small migration is the setup, which is why cost does not scale with the estate. Professional services or training can be added via the "migration extras" input (default $0). One-time migration costs pay back in month 25.