The clusterctl CLI tool handles the lifecycle of a Cluster API management cluster.
Publisher’s description
What is clusterctl?
clusterctl is an open-source containers & devop program for Windows from Kubernetes SIGs. It is written in Go.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit as Portable. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.14.3, released on October 7, 2026. 27 versions are listed since November 5, 2024, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 14 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api) has 4,337 stars. Similar programs include Helm, Docker Desktop and k9s.
Project description on GitHub: “Home for Cluster API, a subproject of sig-cluster-lifecycle”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Portable: runs without installation
- Frequent updates (about 14 a year)
Cons
- No native ARM64 build
In short: clusterctl is an open-source containers & devop tool for 64-bit PCs. It is actively maintained.
Is clusterctl safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
F37F9CCD9A9AB8F5EDA0B3FBEB57A4A461DBC254426818B9995ADCE6A076A722· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Code review10
- Actively maintained10
- No dangerous workflows10
- No binaries in the repository10
- Fuzzing10
- Licence declared10
- Security policy10
- Pinned dependencies5
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge2
- Restricted token permissions0
- Signed releases0
- Static code analysis0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 27 versions ›27 versions over 2 years · about 14 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.14.3Latest | October 7, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.14.2 | September 8, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.14.1 | September 1, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.14.0 | August 11, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.13.4 | July 15, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.13.3 | June 23, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.13.2 | May 13, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
| 1.13.1 | April 28, 2026 | — | 64-bit Portable |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Kubernetes.clusterctl -eProgram files (.exe): clusterctl.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Also for other systems
brew install clusterctlInformation
- Publisher
- Kubernetes SIGs
- Category
- Containers & DevOps
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/kubernetes-sigs/cluster-api
- Written in
- Go
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 1.14.3
- Released
- October 7, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- December 3, 2024
- Versions listed
- 27
- Updates / year
- 14.1
- GitHub stars
- 4,337
- GitHub forks
- 1,582
- Website
- cluster-api.sigs.k8s.io
- winget ID
- Kubernetes.clusterctl
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is clusterctl free?
Yes. clusterctl is open-source software under the Apache-2.0 licence.
Is clusterctl safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install clusterctl with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does clusterctl run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
There is no ARM64 build; Windows 11 on Arm can run the 64-bit version through emulation.
Where can I download an older version of clusterctl?
The versions page lists all 27 versions with links to their official installer files, back to November 5, 2024.
Can I use clusterctl without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to clusterctl?
Helm, Docker Desktop, k9s, k3d and Pulumi. The alternatives page compares them.
