--- title: "Project Calico" source: "https://www.tigera.io/project-calico/" description: "Free and open source, Project Calico is designed to simplify, scale, and secure container and Kubernetes networks. Invented and maintained by Tigera." --- [![Calico Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2026/01/Calico-logo-2026-white-text.svg)](https://www.tigera.io/project-calico/) - [Docs](https://docs.tigera.io/calico/) - [Community](https://www.tigera.io/project-calico/community/) - [Calico Big Cats ambassador program](https://www.tigera.io/project-calico/calico-big-cats-ambassador-program/) - [Code of Conduct](https://www.tigera.io/project-calico/code-of-conduct/) - [Blog](https://www.tigera.io/blog/) - [Github](http://github.com/projectcalico/calico) # What is Project Calico? Project Calico is an open-source project with an active development and user community. Calico Open Source was born out of this project and has grown to become the most widely adopted solution for container networking and security, powering 8M+ nodes daily across 166 countries. [Get Started](https://docs.tigera.io/calico/) [GitHub](http://github.com/projectcalico/calico) ![Project Calico data planes diagram showcasing eBPF, iptables, nftables, VPP, and HNS options](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2026/01/OSS-data-planes-753x471-03.png) ![A cartoon bee in a hexagon surrounded by honeycomb.](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2026/01/promo-bar-Calico-eBPF-02.png) ### Supercharge Your Kubernetes Networking with Calico eBPF [Learn More >](https://docs.tigera.io/calico/latest/about/kubernetes-training/about-ebpf) ![GitHub logo for Project Calico.](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2025/06/icon-github.png) 0 + Calico GitHub stars ![Calico Slack](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/05/icon-slack.png) 0 + Slack channel members ![Contributors](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/05/icon-enterprises.png) 0 + Contributors ![nodes](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/05/icon-network.png) 0 + Nodes powered by Calico every day ![Calico Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2026/01/Calico-logo-2026-black-text.svg) ## Wall of Fame ![Logo IBM](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/03/logo-IBM-black-1.png) IBM Cloud Kubernetes Services deploys Calico Opensource in all our managed Kubernetes and Openshift clusters for both policy and for pod networking. [Learn More](https://www.ibm.com/) ![Logo SIGHUP](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/03/logo-SIGHUP.png) SIGHUP uses Calico as the default CNI for the open-source [Kubernetes Fury Distribution](https://docs.kubernetesfury.com/index.html). [Learn More](https://sighup.io/) ![Logo FD.io](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/03/logo-FD-io.png) FD.io integrates Calico with the FD.io/VPP data plane to provide optimal performance for Containerized Networking Functions. [Learn More](https://fd.io/) ![Logo VMware](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/03/logo-VMware.png) Tanzu Kubernetes Grid supports Calico open-source as a CNI option, where it provides reliable pod network connectivity and security. [Learn More](https://www.vmware.com/) ![Safespring Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/05/logo-Safespring.png) We have been using Calico in our Openstack clusters. By peering directly with the network infrastructure using BGP, our customers can benefit from ECMP load balancing, path redundancy, and in the future, advanced features like gslb/ IP anycast. [Learn More](https://www.safespring.com/) ![T-Systems Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/05/logo-T-Systems.png) We are currently developing our Release-2 roadmap, and are focused on integrating Project Calico into our Managed Elastic Kubernetes Service (mEKS) product. [Learn More](https://www.t-systems.com/de/en) ![Rafay Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/05/logo-Rafay.png) We recommend Calico as the default networking and security solution for customers using the Rafay Kubernetes Operations Platform. No one should run Kubernetes without Calico networking and security. [Learn More](https://rafay.co/) ![Mulligan Funding Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/03/logo-MulliganFunding2.png) It’s extremely helpful to know what endpoints your services are talking to. We have a much-improved security posture. [Learn More](https://www.mulliganfunding.com/) ![Aldagi Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2022/10/logo-aldagi.png) We were able to achieve EU GDPR compliance and securely deploy 20 new cloud-native applications. [Learn More](https://aldagi.ge/en/) ![Metallic Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/05/logo-Metallic.png) We are using Calico as a consumer in our K8s. [Learn More](https://metallic.io/) ![Info Support Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/05/logo-Infosupport.png) We are using Calico for managed AKS clusters. [Learn More](https://www.infosupport.com/en/home/) ![Bechtle Logo](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2023/05/logo-Bechtle-1.png) We are using Calico for Kubernetes network policies. [Learn More](https://www.bechtle.com/de-en) ## Where does Calico fit? ![Calico connects to data planes, platforms, Kubernetes, and deployment types.](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2026/01/Ecosystem_2026.svg) ## Why use Calico? #### Single solution A single, unified platform for all Kubernetes networking, network security, and observability needs that works on any Kubernetes distribution #### Workload Interoperability Works with container, VM, and bare metal workloads #### Data plane choice Works with eBPF, iptables, nftables, Windows, and VPP data planes with a future-proof pluggable architecture #### Optimized performance Built to go faster with lower CPU consumption, to help you get the best possible performance from your investment in clusters #### Network security Simplify the enforcement of network security with Calico network policies #### Observability Gain deep insights with “Whisker” into workload traffic to quickly identify and troubleshoot issues #### Ingress Gateway Enterprise-grade advanced traffic control based on the Kubernetes Gateway API #### Enterprise grade Enterprise hardened networking and simplified network security for cloud-native applications [Learn More](https://www.tigera.io/tigera-products/calico/) ## How can I get involved? Here are some recommendations for getting involved with Project Calico. There are many paths though—the only hard rule on getting involved is that we all aim to be excellent to each other and you need to read and follow our [Code of Conduct](https://www.tigera.io/project-calico/code-of-conduct/). You can and should expect to see others following it, too. ![Calico Big Cat logo with a cat face and paw prints.](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2026/01/Calico_Big_Cat_logo_2026.svg) Sign up to become a member of our ambassador program, Calico Big Cats, and get a chance to share your experience with other users in the community. [Learn More](https://www.tigera.io/project-calico/calico-big-cats-ambassador-program/) [Meet the Calico Big Cats](https://www.tigera.io/project-calico/calico-big-cats-ambassador-program/#meet-calico-big-cats) ### Already have experience contributing to open-source software? Get involved! ### Put a date in your calendar Come along to our next Calico Community Meeting! It’s a great way to get involved and be productive. [Learn More](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=tigera.io_uunmavdev5ndovf0hc4frtl0i0@group.calendar.google.com) ### Find a good first issue We label some GitHub issues as good first issues if you want to get familiar and productive quickly. Why not give one a look? [Learn More](https://github.com/projectcalico/calico/labels/good%20first%20issue) ### Help make Calico better Is there something that’s always bothered you? Chat with us, raise an issue, and then get your hands dirty. [Learn More](https://github.com/projectcalico/calico/issues) ### Join us in Slack The Calico Users Slack group is a great place to connect with other contributors and Calico developers. [Learn More](https://slack.projectcalico.org/) ### Getting into open-source software for the first time? Get updates and support! ### Get updates We’re in the usual places! Get yourself plugged in and start filling your tanks with knowledge. ![Twitter](https://www.tigera.io/app/themes/tigera2021/dist/img/calico-twitter.svg) [Twitter](https://twitter.com/projectcalico) ![YouTube](https://www.tigera.io/app/themes/tigera2021/dist/img/calico-youtube.svg) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFpTnXDNcBoXI4gqCDmegFA) ![Mailing List](https://www.tigera.io/app/themes/tigera2021/dist/img/calico-envelope.svg) Mailing List ### Put a date in your calendar Come along to our next Calico Community Meeting! It’s fine to just listen in. [Learn More](https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/embed?src=www.tigera.io_uunmavdev5ndovf0hc4frtl0i0@group.calendar.google.com) ### Report an issue If you know of a bug or have an idea, browse the open issues and consider opening a new one. Who knows, you might end up helping to fix it! ### Help contribute to our docs We’re pretty proud of our docs, but nothing’s perfect. Reporting docs issues is a great way to help and gain understanding. [Learn More](https://github.com/projectcalico/calico/blob/master/CONTRIBUTING_DOCS.md) ## Getting started [Documentation](https://docs.tigera.io/calico/) [Training](https://www.tigera.io/events/) [Slack](https://slack.projectcalico.org/) [Blog](https://www.tigera.io/blog/) [GitHub](http://github.com/projectcalico/calico) ## Calico product editions ### Calico Open Source eBPF-based network security ### Calico Cloud SaaS platform for Kubernetes networking and security [Learn More](https://www.tigera.io/tigera-products/calico-commercial-editions/) ### Calico Enterprise Self-managed platform for Kubernetes network security and observability