What monitoring tools do you recommend for Kubernetes clusters?

I've heard great things about groundcover.com. My team used it in a larger environment and it revolutionized how we focus on Kubernetes. It provides an intuitive out-of-the-box experience, which is a step above anything else I've seen.

If you're finding Prometheus and Grafana clunky for storing or presenting data, consider checking out kube-state-metrics for better visibility. For paid options, Datadog and New Relic are both solid, although New Relic can be on the pricier side. They both provide great insights into your cluster's performance.

Sysdig Monitor is worth a look too; it offers detailed Kubernetes observability and integrates smoothly with existing tools. Its dashboards are user-friendly and help in monitoring resources without overwhelming you.

For a free alternative, you might want to try Kubernetes Lens. But keep in mind it now comes with licensing. On the other hand, small scale usage of Datadog isn't too expensive—just a single hour wasted searching for issues can justify its cost.

If you're after a simpler UI, the Kubernetes dashboard or Headlamp could be great options to explore. Coroot is another good alternative, as it still uses Prometheus while offering a more user-friendly experience.