# Karpenter cost optimization
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Karpenter is the most powerful tool for EKS compute cost optimization. It replaces Cluster Autoscaler with faster, smarter provisioning that directly reduces costs through better instance selection, better consolidation, and Spot-aware scheduling. The sections below cover how to configure Karpenter for maximum savings.

For teams that prefer a fully managed alternative with less control, [EKS Auto Mode](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/eks/latest/userguide/automode.html) is also available. However **Karpenter is the recommended approach,** for organizations that want full control over cost optimization, workload isolation, and scaling behavior.