Bitnami deprecates free images: Migration steps and alternatives

Bitnami is transitioning most of its container images to a legacy repository by August 28, 2026, and will cease updates, posing significant challenges for users of Bitnami images or helm charts as deployments relying on these will face errors when images become inaccessible. This change is driven by Broadcom's shift towards paid subscriptions for "Bitnami Secure," leaving free users without access to updated images or security patches, thus forcing them to either use the unsupported legacy repository or the unsafe "latest" tag in the secure version. Bitnami, renowned for packaging open-source software into containers for nearly two decades, is now owned by Broadcom, which charges $50,000-$72,000 annually for previously free services. The abrupt transition pressures users to update image references or face deployment failures, while the legacy repository offers no security updates or bug fixes. An alternative proposed is Northflank, which provides managed services that eliminate dependency on external image repositories, ensuring automatic updates and reducing infrastructure vulnerability to sudden policy changes. The situation highlights the risks of relying on external parties for critical infrastructure and suggests a strategic migration to more reliable, integrated platforms.