IT & Infrastructure·Standings
Infrastructure Automation Software
Infrastructure automation tools create and manage cloud resources or keep systems configured; the choice turns on the platforms you use and the kind of infrastructure work you need to automate.
Compare deployment model, infrastructure as code, configuration management, cloud providers, policy as code and drift detection. The signal score is out of 10; the API, open-source and free-tier marks show those details at a glance.
- 24 platforms
- 3 with a public API on this page
- 19 with a free tier
- Checked 7 Oct 2026
- 1 C
Cloudifycloudify.coOpen-source software coordinates multi-cloud and edge deployments with blueprints and workflows.
- 2 C
CFEnginecfengine.comOpen-source software continuously automates infrastructure security, compliance, and updates.
- 3 P
Puppetpuppet.comOpen-source software manages infrastructure settings and continually applies policy rules.
- 4 R
Rudderrudder.ioOpen-source software audits or corrects system settings on local and cloud infrastructure.
- 5 T
Terraformdeveloper.hashicorp.comA configuration-file system for creating and managing cloud and on-site resources; free plan.
- 6 AC
AWS CloudFormationaws.amazon.comAWS CloudFormation models, provisions, and manages AWS resources from declarative templates.
- 7 S
Saltsaltproject.ioFree, open-source software runs remote commands, manages settings, and provisions cloud systems.
- 8 CI
Chef Infrachef.ioFree, open-source software automates infrastructure settings and policy delivery through pipelines.
- 9 O
OpenTofuopentofu.orgA free tool defines cloud and on-site resources, then applies approved changes in order.
- 10 P
Pulumipulumi.comA free-plan tool provisions infrastructure using TypeScript, Python, Go, Java, YAML, or HCL.
- 11 T
Terragruntterragrunt.comOpen-source software that runs Terraform or OpenTofu and groups infrastructure into units and stacks.
- 12 AC
AWS CDKaws.amazon.comA free tool describes AWS cloud resources in familiar programming languages for deployment.
- 13 S
Scalrscalr.comA platform runs Terraform and OpenTofu jobs and detects infrastructure changes.
- 14 Eenv0envzero.com
A web platform governs cloud deployments from templates and Git workflows, with drift correction.
- 15 OHOpenStack Heatdocs.openstack.org
Free, open-source software builds OpenStack applications from text files linking cloud resources.
- 16 S
Spaceliftspacelift.ioInfrastructure orchestration platform for Terraform and more, with policy checks, drift detection, and a free plan.
- 17 C
Crossplanecrossplane.ioA free, open-source framework builds Kubernetes control planes for cloud and other services.
- 18 AB
Azure Biceplearn.microsoft.comA free Azure language defines resources with policies, managed state, and drift checks.
- 19 ARAzure Resource Manager templatesazure.microsoft.com
A free Azure service uses cloud templates to define infrastructure, settings, and policies.
- 20 GC
Google Cloud Infrastructure Managercloud.google.comA paid Google Cloud service deploys Terraform setups, previews changes, and keeps revision records.
- 21 MD
Microsoft Desired State Configurationlearn.microsoft.com - 22 RH
- 23 GCGoogle Cloud Config Controllercloud.google.com
A paid Google Cloud service manages resource settings, policies, and configuration drift.
- 24 VCVMware Cloud Foundation (VCF)Broadcom (VMware)
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How to choose
Which platforms does it need to run on?
Start with the environments your team uses, such as Linux, Windows, macOS, a web interface, a self-hosted setup or an API. Platform support varies, so check the listed platforms before comparing other features.
Does it manage infrastructure or configure systems?
Decide whether you need to create cloud resources, keep existing systems configured, or handle both. Compare infrastructure as code and configuration management to see which kind of work the tool covers.
Which cloud providers does it need to support?
Match the tool’s cloud-provider support to the services your organization already uses. If you rely on a specific provider, confirm that support before choosing.
Do you need policy checks or drift detection?
Look for policy as code if you need rules expressed in a repeatable form. Drift detection can help identify when running infrastructure no longer matches its intended setup.
Can I try it before paying?
Check the free-plan mark and the paid-from price. A free plan is different from a free trial, so confirm which option is offered and whether pricing is available on request.
Should I choose an open-source tool?
If you need to read or change the code, check the tool’s open-source status and licence. Open-source status is a separate consideration from whether a free plan is offered.
Questions
What does infrastructure automation software do?
It helps create or manage infrastructure and automate system configuration. Compare support for infrastructure as code, configuration management, cloud providers, policy as code and drift detection.
How do I choose infrastructure automation software?
Start with the platforms and cloud providers you use, then check deployment model and whether you need infrastructure as code, configuration management, policy checks or drift detection.
Is infrastructure automation software free?
Pricing varies. Check whether a tool has a free plan or trial and review its paid-from price; some pricing may be available on request.
What is infrastructure as code?
It is a way to describe infrastructure in files so a tool can create or manage it. Compare this with configuration management, which focuses on keeping systems set up as intended.
What does drift detection mean in infrastructure automation?
Drift detection identifies when running infrastructure differs from its intended setup. Check whether a tool lists this feature if that comparison matters to you.
Some top positions on this board can be paid placements, standing where they were sold. The facts on each platform are not for sale. How we rank · Disclosure