Best IT Configuration Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Terraform is ranked #1 of 23 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Pulumi and CFEngine. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Pulumi. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Terraform at $0.10/mo.
Keeping configurations consistent across systems calls for comparing more than automation approach alone. Terraform, Pulumi and CFEngine lead this ranking, followed by Puppet, Rudder and Salt. Check whether agentless operation and configuration as code are specified, and whether drift detection and compliance policies match the controls you need. Operating system coverage and the managed node limit help clarify the scope each option describes. Deployment model, free-plan availability and starting price offer further points of comparison. Use those details to assess which configuration management tools align with your infrastructure and the way you want to manage it.
23 IT configuration management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
23ranked
11free plans on this page
$0.10/molowest paid tier
4 Oct 2026last checked
Input list IT Configuration Management Software 23 channels on this page · 57 of 184 spec lines stated by the makers
Ch Tool Free planPaid fromDeployment modelConfiguration as codeDrift detectionAgentless operationOperating system coverageManaged node limit Spec sheet Score
01 Terraform Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 8.0
02 Pulumi Free planYesPaid from$40/moDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.8
03 CFEngine Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelself hostedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.7
04 Rudder Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelself hostedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.6
05 Salt Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelself hostedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.4
06 Puppet Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelself hostedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 7.3
07 Canonical Landscape Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationNoOperating system coveragelinuxManaged node limit5 nodes 6/8spec lines stated 7.2
08 Chef Infra Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.2
09 Foreman Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelself hostedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionnot statedAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.2
10 Nix Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionnot statedAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 7.2
11 AWS CloudFormation Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.1
12 OpenTofu Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 7.1
13 Uyuni Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.9
14 Juju Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelself hostedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionnot statedAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 6.7
15 SUSE Multi-Linux Manager Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelhybridConfiguration as codeYesDrift detectionYesAgentless operationYesOperating system coveragemixedManaged node limitnot stated 6/8spec lines stated 6.3
16 Azure Machine Configuration Free planYesPaid from$6/moDeployment modelcloudConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 4/8spec lines stated 6.0
17 Azure Bicep Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.9
18 Microsoft Desired State Configuration Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelself hostedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.8
19 AWS Systems Manager State Manager Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelcloudConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.6
20 Google Cloud VM Manager Free planYesPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelcloudConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 3/8spec lines stated 5.6
21 Google Cloud Infrastructure Manager Free planNoPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 2/8spec lines stated 5.2
22 Crossplane Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionYesAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 1/8spec lines stated 5.0
23 OpenStack Heat Free plannot statedPaid fromnot statedDeployment modelnot statedConfiguration as codenot statedDrift detectionnot statedAgentless operationnot statedOperating system coveragenot statedManaged node limitnot stated 0/8spec lines stated 4.9
Is your tool on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which IT configuration management software is ranked first on Specifiction?
Terraform is ranked #1 of 23 with a score of 8.0. Pulumi is second and CFEngine third.
How many of these have a free plan?
11 of the 23 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Terraform has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.10/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, the fullest spec sheet first: how deeply the product is documented, the platforms it runs on, a free tier or trial to test it, and its standing. Paid placements never change a rank.
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