Azure Machine Configuration vs Salt

Azure Machine Configuration

5.3 #13 in Configuration Management Tools

About Azure Machine Configuration

Salt

7.3 #7 in IT Automation Software

About Salt
Azure Machine ConfigurationSalt
Free planNoYes
Free trialNoNo
Paid from$6/moFree
Open sourceNoNo
PlatformsWebapi, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Windows
Free planYesYes
Paid from6 /mo—
Deployment modelcloudself_hosted
Agent modelagent_basedboth
Drift detectionYesYes
Patch managementNoYes
Policy as codeYesYes
Compliance reportingYesYes
Supported platformsAlmaLinux 9; Amazon Linux 2; Ubuntu Server 16.04–24.x; Debian 10.x–13.x; CBL-Mariner 1–2; Azure Linux 3; Windows 10–11; Windows Server 2012–2025; Oracle Linux 7.x–9.x; CentOS 7.3–8.x; RHEL 7.4–10.x; Rocky Linux 8–9; SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 and 15.xLinux, Windows, macOS, AIX, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, NetBSD, Solaris, Gentoo, SUSE

Both are listed in Best Configuration Management Tools, Best IT Configuration Management Software. On Inferse, Salt scores higher on our published basis.