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Best Infrastructure as Code Tools in 2026

10 SaaS products ranked on capability, adoption, value, momentum and trust, each with a short verdict.

Updated · How we rank

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Key takeaways

Terraform remains the industry standard for multi-cloud infrastructure provisioning, making it ideal for large enterprises with complex environments. Pulumi suits developers who prefer writing infrastructure in general-purpose programming languages like Python or TypeScript, while AWS CloudFormation is the best choice for teams deeply committed to the Amazon Web Services ecosystem.
Top 10 Infrastructure as Code Tools, compared
RANKENTRYBEST FORSCOREFROM
1TerraformTerraform uses its own declarative language called HashiCorp Configuration Language.Multi-cloud provisioning95.0Free
2PulumiPulumi supports Python, TypeScript, Go, and C# for defining cloud architecture.Developers using standard programming languages92.7Free
3AWS CloudFormationCloudFormation templates can be written in either JSON or YAML.Native AWS environments90.3Free
4AnsibleAnsible uses agentless architecture by connecting through SSH or WinRM.Configuration management and orchestration88.0Free
5ChefChef uses recipes and cookbooks to describe infrastructure states.Enterprise configuration management85.7Custom
6PuppetPuppet uses a declarative, model-based approach to configuration management.Enforcing system compliance and configuration state83.3Custom
7SaltStackSalt uses a publish-subscribe pattern with a master-minion topology.High-speed remote execution81.0Custom
8CrossplaneCrossplane turns any Kubernetes cluster into a manager for external cloud resources.Kubernetes-native infrastructure management78.7Free
9Azure Resource ManagerAzure Resource Manager uses JSON templates to define infrastructure.Native Microsoft Azure deployments76.3Free
10Google Cloud Deployment ManagerDeployment Manager allows templates to be written using Python or Jinja2.Native Google Cloud Platform setups74.0Free
CURATED · UPDATED HOW WE RANK →

How to choose

Start from what you need it for. Where each entry fits best:

Each entry's full verdict is below.

The ranking, in detail

01

Terraform

The industry standard for cloud provisioning

An open-source infrastructure as code software tool created by HashiCorp that uses a declarative configuration language.

Free
PROS
  • Extensive provider ecosystem
  • Strong community support
CONS
  • State file management can be complex
Best for
Multi-cloud provisioning
Where it falls short
Managing state files can be complex for users.
Pick something else if
you need simple state file management.
95.0
02

Pulumi

Infrastructure as code using general-purpose languages

An infrastructure as code platform that allows developers to use familiar programming languages to define cloud resources.

Free
PROS
  • Use real programming languages
  • Great developer experience
CONS
  • Smaller community than Terraform
Best for
Developers using standard programming languages
Where it falls short
It has a smaller community than Terraform.
Pick something else if
you need a larger community.
92.7
03

AWS CloudFormation

Native AWS infrastructure automation

A service that gives developers and businesses an easy way to create a collection of related AWS and third-party resources.

Free
PROS
  • Deep native integration with AWS
  • No separate state file to manage
CONS
  • Limited to AWS and registered third parties
Best for
Native AWS environments
Where it falls short
It is limited to AWS and registered third parties.
Pick something else if
you need multi-cloud support.
90.3
04

Ansible

Simple IT automation

An open-source software provisioning, configuration management, and application-deployment tool.

Free
PROS
  • Agentless design
  • Easy to read YAML syntax
CONS
  • Can be slower at scale compared to agent-based tools
Best for
Configuration management and orchestration
Where it falls short
It may perform slower at scale compared to agent-based alternatives.
Pick something else if
you need faster performance for large-scale deployments.
88.0
05

Chef

Speed up delivery with automated infrastructure

A configuration management tool written in Ruby that uses a pure Ruby DSL for writing system configuration.

From Custom
PROS
  • Powerful policy-as-code capabilities
  • Highly scalable for large fleets
CONS
  • Steep learning curve for Ruby
Best for
Enterprise configuration management
Where it falls short
Teams lacking Ruby expertise face a steep learning curve.
Pick something else if
you lack experience with Ruby-based configuration management.
85.7
06

Puppet

Enterprise-grade IT automation and compliance

An automated administrative engine for configuration management and infrastructure automation.

From Custom
PROS
  • Strong reporting features
  • Excellent compliance management
CONS
  • Requires agent installation on target nodes
Best for
Enforcing system compliance and configuration state
Where it falls short
Requires agent installation on target nodes.
83.3
07

SaltStack

Fast, scalable and flexible software for infrastructure management

A Python-based configuration management and remote execution engine acquired by VMware.

From Custom
PROS
  • Extremely fast remote execution
  • Flexible architecture
CONS
  • Documentation can be disjointed
Best for
High-speed remote execution
Where it falls short
Documentation can be disjointed.
81.0
08

Crossplane

Build cloud-native control planes without writing code

An open-source Kubernetes add-on that enables platform teams to build bespoke control planes.

Free
PROS
  • Kubernetes-native approach
  • Extensible control planes
CONS
  • Requires existing Kubernetes expertise
Best for
Kubernetes-native infrastructure management
Where it falls short
Requires existing Kubernetes expertise.
78.7
09

Azure Resource Manager

Deployment and management service for Azure

The deployment and management service for Azure that provides a management layer to create, update, and delete resources.

Free
PROS
  • Native integration with Azure
  • Role-based access control built in
CONS
  • Templates can become verbose and difficult to maintain
Best for
Native Microsoft Azure deployments
Where it falls short
Templates can become verbose and difficult to maintain.
76.3
10

Google Cloud Deployment Manager

Simple and flexible infrastructure management for GCP

An infrastructure management service that automates the creation and management of Google Cloud resources.

Free
PROS
  • Native GCP integration
  • Supports parallel resource provisioning
CONS
  • Less active development compared to third-party tools
Best for
Native Google Cloud Platform setups
Where it falls short
Less active development compared to third-party tools.
74.0

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Frequently asked questions

What is Infrastructure as Code?

Infrastructure as Code is the management and provisioning of computing infrastructure through machine-readable definition files, rather than physical hardware configuration or interactive configuration tools.

Should I choose Terraform or Pulumi?

Choose Terraform if you prefer a declarative domain-specific language and need wide multi-cloud support. Choose Pulumi if your team prefers writing infrastructure using general-purpose programming languages like Python or TypeScript.

Are cloud-native tools better than third-party tools?

Cloud-native tools like AWS CloudFormation offer deep integration with their specific platforms without external setup. Third-party tools like Terraform are better suited for organizations managing multiple cloud providers simultaneously.

Sources

Where we checked each company's facts, and when.

Some links on Lister are affiliate links. Rankings are not affected.

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