Alternatives to Puppet

A configuration management and infrastructure automation tool that enforces the intended state of servers. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.

Replacements

Listings that take over the same core job as Puppet.

  • Chef

    An infrastructure automation platform for configuration management, compliance audits and workflow orchestration across servers.

    PaidProprietaryWindowsmacOSLinuxSelf-hosted

    Chef uses policy-as-code for server configuration with scheduled compliance auditing across cloud and on-premises environments, with sales-led enterprise pricing.

  • Salt

    Open-source automation framework for remote execution, configuration management and orchestration across many servers.

    FreeOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    Salt is free and open source, adding remote execution and event-driven automation to configuration management, though its states, grains and pillars take time to learn.

  • CFEngine

    A configuration management and automation system that keeps servers in a defined, compliant state.

    FreemiumOpen sourceLinuxSelf-hostedCommand line

    CFEngine offers a lightweight agent for large fleets and a free Community edition, but has its own policy language and keeps the web UI in Enterprise.

  • Rudder

    Open-source configuration management and compliance platform for Linux and Windows systems.

    FreemiumOpen sourceWindowsLinuxSelf-hosted

    Rudder is open source with continuous enforcement for Linux and Windows, adding patch management and CIS, NIST and ISO 27001 benchmark auditing in the same tool.

Similar software

Related functionality, not a direct replacement.