Rancher (with 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 $224,315 vs Rancher (+ Harvester) $332,646, at typical negotiated prices, Q3 2026 (including one-time migration costs).
Rancher (+ Harvester) vs Cozystack at default assumptions
| Scenario | Rancher (+ Harvester) 5-yr TCO | Cozystack 5-yr TCO* | Savings | Cozystack unit cost | Payback |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SMB — 50 VMs | $109,348 | $104,856 | $4,493 (4%) | $117 / VM / mo | month 42 |
| Mid-size — 200 VMs | $332,646 | $224,315 | $108,331 (33%) | $62 / VM / mo | month 8 |
| Enterprise — 1,000 VMs | $1,309,344 | $901,811 | $407,533 (31%) | $75 / VM / mo | month 1 |
* Cozystack total includes the one-time migration from Rancher (+ Harvester) (a fixed setup plus a marginal $/VM — owner estimate, Ænix field data). Estimates only — not a quote.
Break-even
Cozystack is cheaper than Rancher (+ Harvester) across the whole tested range of Rancher (+ Harvester) support $/node/yr (0–10× the current value). One-time migration costs pay back in month 8.
Key facts
- Rancher (+ Harvester) software is free; commercial support is ~$2110/node/yr (same anchor — reported range midpoint; as of 2026-07).
- Contract term default: 12 months (annual subscription (SUSE)).
When to choose Rancher (+ Harvester)
- 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 Rancher (+ Harvester) cost for 200 VMs over 5 years?
At default assumptions (EU region, typical negotiated prices, Q3 2026) the model puts Rancher (+ Harvester) at $332,646 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 Rancher (+ Harvester)?
At 50 VMs: Cozystack is $4,493 cheaper (4%). At 200 VMs: Cozystack is $108,331 cheaper (33%). At 1000 VMs: Cozystack is $407,533 cheaper (31%). Cozystack is cheaper than Rancher (+ Harvester) across the whole tested range of Rancher (+ Harvester) support $/node/yr (0–10× the current value).
What does migration from Rancher (+ Harvester) to Cozystack cost?
For 200 VMs the model estimates $16,400 one-time: $8,000 of fixed setup — discovery, standing up the target, cutover design, runbook — plus 200 × $42/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 8.