Convert Docker Compose to Kubernetes YAML Online Free

Transform Docker Compose YAML into production-ready Kubernetes manifests instantly in your browser. No server upload, no signup, no limits.

By ChangeThisFile Team · Last updated: March 2026

Quick Answer

ChangeThisFile converts your Docker Compose files to Kubernetes manifests directly in your browser. Transform services into Deployments, volumes into PersistentVolumes, and networks into Services with proper Kubernetes resource definitions. Your configuration files stay on your device for complete privacy. Free, instant, no signup.

Free No signup required Files stay on your device Instant conversion Updated March 2026

Convert Docker Compose to Kubernetes YAML

Drop your Docker Compose file here to convert it instantly

Drag & drop your .compose.yaml file here, or click to browse

Convert to Kubernetes YAML instantly

Docker Compose vs Kubernetes YAML: Format Comparison

Key differences between the two formats

FeatureDocker ComposeKubernetes YAML
Container orchestrationSingle host, simple multi-container appsMulti-host clusters, enterprise-grade orchestration
Service discoveryAutomatic within compose networkService objects with ClusterIP/NodePort/LoadBalancer
StorageNamed volumes and bind mountsPersistentVolumes, PersistentVolumeClaims, StorageClasses
NetworkingBridge networks, custom networksServices, Ingress controllers, NetworkPolicies
ScalingManual replica count per serviceHorizontal Pod Autoscaler, Vertical Pod Autoscaler
Health checkshealthcheck directivelivenessProbe, readinessProbe, startupProbe
Configurationenvironment variables, .env filesConfigMaps, Secrets, environment variables
Resource limitsdeploy.resources (Compose 3.x)resources.requests and resources.limits

When to Convert

Common scenarios where this conversion is useful

Cloud-native migration

Migrate existing Docker Compose applications to Kubernetes for production deployment on AWS EKS, Google GKE, or Azure AKS.

CI/CD pipeline modernization

Convert development Docker Compose setups to Kubernetes manifests for GitOps workflows and automated deployments.

Multi-environment consistency

Standardize application deployment across dev, staging, and production using Kubernetes manifests generated from Docker Compose.

Container orchestration upgrade

Move from single-host Docker Compose to multi-host Kubernetes clusters for better scalability, high availability, and resource management.

Who Uses This Conversion

Tailored guidance for different workflows

DevOps Engineers

  • Migrate legacy Docker Compose applications to Kubernetes for cloud-native deployment
  • Convert development environments from Compose to Kubernetes manifests for production consistency
Review generated manifests for security contexts, resource quotas, and production-ready configurations
Test converted manifests in a staging Kubernetes cluster before deploying to production

Platform Engineers

  • Standardize application deployment across multiple environments using Kubernetes
  • Create reusable deployment patterns from existing Docker Compose configurations
Customize generated Service types and Ingress configurations based on your cluster networking setup
Add appropriate labels, annotations, and namespace configurations for multi-tenant clusters

Developers

  • Learn Kubernetes concepts by seeing how Docker Compose translates to K8s resources
  • Bootstrap Kubernetes deployment configurations from familiar Docker Compose workflows
Understand how Compose networks map to Kubernetes Services for proper service discovery
Review converted health checks and adjust probe configurations for your application's startup behavior

How to Convert Docker Compose to Kubernetes YAML

  1. 1

    Upload your Docker Compose file

    Drag and drop your docker-compose.yml or compose.yaml file onto the converter, or click to browse your files. Any Compose version is supported.

  2. 2

    Automatic Kubernetes manifest generation

    Your Compose services are converted to Kubernetes Deployments, Services, ConfigMaps, and other resources instantly in your browser. No data is sent to any server.

  3. 3

    Download the Kubernetes YAML bundle

    Click Download to save your converted Kubernetes manifests as a single YAML file with proper resource separation using --- delimiters.

Frequently Asked Questions

The converter supports most common Compose features including services, volumes, networks, environment variables, port mappings, and resource limits. Some Docker-specific features like privileged mode or device mappings may require manual adjustment for Kubernetes.

Services become Deployments with corresponding Service objects. Named volumes become PersistentVolumeClaims. Networks become Service selectors. Environment variables are preserved, and secrets can be extracted to ConfigMaps.

No. The entire conversion happens in your browser using JavaScript. Your Docker Compose files never leave your device, making it safe for sensitive infrastructure configurations.

Yes. External volumes are converted to PersistentVolumeClaims with appropriate storage requests. You may need to configure StorageClasses in your Kubernetes cluster to match your storage requirements.

Docker Compose port mappings are converted to Kubernetes Service objects with appropriate port and targetPort configurations. LoadBalancer type is used for exposed ports, ClusterIP for internal services.

Basic Ingress resources are generated for services with exposed HTTP ports (80, 8080, 3000, etc.). You'll need to configure your Ingress controller and update host rules for your specific domain requirements.

Environment variables are preserved in the Deployment spec. Sensitive values (containing 'password', 'secret', 'key') are automatically extracted to a ConfigMap for easier Kubernetes secret management.

Yes. Multiple networks are converted to appropriate Service selectors and NetworkPolicy resources where applicable. Inter-service communication is maintained through Kubernetes Service discovery.

Docker Compose deploy.resources are mapped to Kubernetes resources.requests and resources.limits. Memory and CPU constraints are preserved with appropriate Kubernetes formatting.

Yes. Docker Compose healthcheck directives are converted to Kubernetes livenessProbe and readinessProbe configurations with appropriate HTTP, TCP, or command-based checks.

The converter generates a solid foundation, but you should review and customize the output for production. Add appropriate labels, annotations, resource quotas, and security contexts based on your cluster requirements.

Yes, completely free with no limits on file size or number of conversions. No account required.

Related Conversions

Need to convert programmatically?

Use the ChangeThisFile API to convert Docker Compose to Kubernetes YAML in your app. No rate limits, up to 500MB files, simple REST endpoint.

View API Docs
Read our guides on file formats and conversion

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