Kubernetes vs Serverless: When to Use What

Choosing the Right Architecture

Both Kubernetes and serverless have their place. Understanding when to use each can save you time, money, and headaches.

Choose Serverless When:

• Traffic is unpredictable or spiky
• You want zero infrastructure management
• Functions run for less than 15 minutes
• Cost optimization is critical for low traffic

Choose Kubernetes When:

• You need consistent, predictable performance
• Workloads run continuously
• You need fine-grained control over infrastructure
• You're running stateful applications

The Hybrid Approach

Many teams use both: Kubernetes for core services and serverless for event-driven workloads. This gives you the best of both worlds.