Google Cloud VM Manager vs Puppet
Google Cloud VM Manager
cloud.google.com
Puppet
puppet.comSide by side
| Figure | Google Cloud VM Manager | Puppet |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $120/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | — | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 3 | 5 |
| Spec score · Configuration Management Tools | 8.7 (#4) | 8.9 (#2) |
| Spec score · IT Automation Software | 8.7 (#13) | 8.9 (#9) |
| Spec score · IT Configuration Management Software | 8.6 (#7) | 8.8 (#3) |
| Company founding | Gartner Peer Insights lists Google as founded in 1998 and headquartered in Mountain View, California. | Puppet was founded in 2005 in Portland, Oregon. |
| Company legal name | Crunchbase identifies the maker's legal name as Google LLC and lists it as a subsidiary of Alphabet. | Crunchbase identifies the legal entity as Puppet, Inc., also known as Reductive Labs. |
| Integrations | VM Manager works with the Google Cloud console, Google Cloud CLI, direct OS Config API calls, and Terraform resources. | Official integration listings include ServiceNow, VMware, Argo CD, Jenkins, Dynatrace, Datadog, New Relic, Splunk, Tenable Nessus and CIS Benchmarks. |
| Purpose | VM Manager manages operating systems for large Windows and Linux VM fleets running on Compute Engine. | Puppet Enterprise provides policy-driven configuration management and infrastructure automation for enterprise-scale environments. |
| Rating on G2 | The Google Cloud Infrastructure page reports an average based on 15 real user reviews but does not display a numeric aggregate rating. | 4.2 out of 5 from 43 reviews |
| Rating on Gartner Peer Insights | Google Cloud Platform is rated 4.7 out of 5 from 2,035 ratings. | 4.1 out of 5 from 47 ratings |
| Rating on TrustRadius | Google Cloud Platform scores 9 out of 10 from 59 reviews and ratings. | 8.5 out of 10 from 58 reviews and ratings |
| Support | Google Cloud support packages include options such as 24/7 coverage, phone support and access to a technical support manager; VM Manager questions can also be posted to Stack Overflow. | Enterprise plans include standard or premium technical support, CVE service-level commitments and optional technical account management. |
| What it does | VM Manager is a Google Cloud suite for managing Windows and Linux operating systems across large Compute Engine VM fleets. | Puppet Enterprise automates configuration, desired-state enforcement, deployment workflows and governance across hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure. |
Plans
Google Cloud VM Manager
- Free tierFree
- Usage-based VM ManagerFree
- VM ManagerFree
Puppet
- Puppet CoreFree
- Puppet Enterprise free trialFree
- Puppet Enterprise listing price$120 a month
- Puppet EnterprisePriced on request
- Puppet Enterprise AdvancedPriced on request
In their own words
Google Cloud VM Manager
Google Cloud VM Manager manages operating systems across Windows and Linux VM fleets running on Compute Engine. Its tools cover patch management, OS inventory and OS policies. Patch jobs apply updates on demand or on a schedule, report compliance, and can use selected approvals and pre- or post-patching scripts. OS inventory collects hostnames, OS and kernel versions, installed packages, available updates, Windows applications and OS vulnerabilities. OS policies centralize software configuration deployment, maintenance and reporting. Teams can use the Google Cloud console, Google Cloud CLI or OS Config API; Terraform can extend scope across projects. The service supports projects inside VPC Service Controls perimeters, but patch jobs operate on VMs in one project at a time. A free tier covers 100 VMs per Cloud Billing account per month, and limited-functionality mode is available at no cost for unlimited VMs. After the free tier, the listed charge is $0.003 per hour per VM with an active OS Config agent.
Puppet
Puppet Enterprise provides policy-driven configuration management and infrastructure automation for complex cloud and hybrid environments. It uses policy as code to continuously enforce desired state, helping organizations identify and remediate configuration drift. Both agent-based and agentless management are supported, with a web interface and role-based access control. Puppet Enterprise Advanced adds continuous enforcement of CIS Benchmarks and DISA STIGs, self-service automation, AI features, observability integrations, and advanced patching. It also integrates with third-party vulnerability scanners, including Nessus, for remediation. Listed integrations include GitHub, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, HashiCorp Vault, and ServiceNow. Agents are listed for Linux, Windows, and macOS. Puppet describes the product as suited to medium and large organizations managing complex environments that require security, compliance, and centralized automation. Pricing is custom; a free trial runs on up to 10 nodes with no commitment or time limit. Network and edge device management is optional, and licensing for those devices requires contacting sales.