OpenStack vs Cozystack — 5-year TCO and ops staffing
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 OpenStack (self-managed) $467,569, at typical negotiated prices, Q3 2026 (including one-time migration costs).
OpenStack (self-managed) vs Cozystack at default assumptions
| Scenario | OpenStack (self-managed) 5-yr TCO | Cozystack 5-yr TCO* | Savings | Cozystack unit cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMB — 50 VMs | $150,105 | $141,606 | $8,500 (6%) | $47 / VM / mo | month 39 |
| Mid-size — 200 VMs | $467,569 | $342,915 | $124,653 (27%) | $29 / VM / mo | month 14 |
| Enterprise — 1,000 VMs | $1,777,106 | $1,514,562 | $262,544 (15%) | $25 / VM / mo | month 22 |
* Cozystack total includes the one-time migration from OpenStack (self-managed) (a fixed setup plus a marginal $/VM — owner estimate, Ænix field data). Estimates only — not a quote.
Break-even
Cozystack is cheaper than OpenStack (self-managed) across the whole tested range of OpenStack (self-managed) support $/node/yr (0–10× the current value). One-time migration costs pay back in month 14.
Key facts
- OpenStack (self-managed) software is free; its real cost in the model is the Personnel article (staff days), not licenses.
- Contract term default: 12 months (no vendor contract; 12mo bookkeeping period (§4.4)).
When to choose OpenStack (self-managed)
- 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 OpenStack (self-managed) cost for 200 VMs over 5 years?
At default assumptions (EU region, typical negotiated prices, Q3 2026) the model puts OpenStack (self-managed) at $467,569 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 OpenStack (self-managed)?
At 50 VMs: Cozystack is $8,500 cheaper (6%). At 200 VMs: Cozystack is $124,653 cheaper (27%). At 1000 VMs: Cozystack is $262,544 cheaper (15%). Cozystack is cheaper than OpenStack (self-managed) across the whole tested range of OpenStack (self-managed) support $/node/yr (0–10× the current value).
What does migration from OpenStack (self-managed) 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 14.