🔧 The Cloud Container Iceberg - At least 105 ways to run a container in the cloud

If it connects to the internet, someone has tried running a container on it. From AWS racks packed with phones to quantum computers, the world of container deployment extends far beyond the usual cloud providers. You might think you know where containers run—but that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

At the surface, there are the well-known cloud platforms: AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud, with services like Kubernetes, Fargate, and Cloud Run. But below the waterline? That’s where things get interesting.

Beyond the Surface: The Hidden Depths of Container Hosting

Just below the mainstream, you’ll find alternative cloud platforms and regional providers—some offering K8s with local flair, others designed for hyper-specific workloads. Venture deeper, and you’ll discover serverless platforms that use containers in unexpected ways, experimental multi-cloud orchestration, and hybrid deployments that let you run containers across data centers, IoT devices, and even mail-delivered hardware.

And if you're willing to go all the way down? Containers at the edge—running on factory equipment, Raspberry Pis, and, yes, even smart toasters.

How Deep Does the Iceberg Go?

• The Usual Suspects – The mainstream cloud container services you already know.
• The Lesser-Known Options – Specialized K8s providers, regional cloud giants, and alternative deployment platforms.
• The Experimental Zone – Serverless containerized workloads, hybrid-cloud solutions, and multi-cloud orchestration nightmares.
• The Abyss – Containers in places they should never be: quantum computers, edge devices, and mobile test farms.

The world of container hosting is far bigger than it seems. What starts with Kubernetes in the cloud quickly spirals into a rabbit hole of specialized services, hybrid solutions, and experimental edge cases.

Want to see the full breakdown?

🔗 Dive into the complete article here: The Cloud Container Iceberg