# Alternatives to AWS CDK

AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK) is an open-source software development framework for defining AWS cloud infrastructure using general-purpose programming languages, provisioned through AWS CloudFormation. Developers write reusable components called constructs in TypeScript, Python, Java, C#/.NET, or Go, then use the CDK CLI to synthesize, diff, and deploy CloudFormation stacks.

AWS CDK ranks #7 of 8 in Infrastructure as Code, with an Alt Score of 70. It is licensed under Apache License 2.0 and free from Free. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.

Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/aws-cdk/
Category: Infrastructure as Code

## Where AWS CDK stands out

- **General-purpose language support** — 3 of 8 apps with a verified answer have this
- **Policy as code** — 4 of 8 apps with a verified answer have this

## Overview

- **Who it's for**: Developers and teams already building on AWS who want to define infrastructure with a general-purpose programming language instead of authoring CloudFormation YAML or JSON templates directly.
- **What you get**: A constructs library covering AWS services, the CDK CLI (synth, diff, deploy, drift), and access to Construct Hub for discovering and sharing community and vendor construct packages.
- **How it works**: CDK apps written in a supported language define constructs that are synthesized into AWS CloudFormation templates; the CDK CLI then deploys those templates as CloudFormation stacks, which CloudFormation provisions and tracks.

## Profile

- **License**: Apache License 2.0 (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Pricing model**: Free (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Starts at**: Free (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Status**: active (verified 2026-08-03)

## Ranked alternatives

| # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms |
|---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------|
| 1 | [Pulumi](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/pulumi.md) | 93 | Apache License 2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 2 | [Crossplane](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/crossplane.md) | 81 | Apache License 2.0 | ? |
| 3 | [env zero](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/env0.md) | 81 | Proprietary | Web |
| 4 | [Terraform](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/terraform.md) | 81 | Business Source License 1.1 (BUSL-1.1) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web |
| 5 | [OpenTofu](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/opentofu.md) | 74 | Mozilla Public License, version 2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| 6 | [Spacelift](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/spacelift.md) | 74 | Proprietary | Web |
| 7 | [Terragrunt](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/terragrunt.md) | 62 | MIT | Windows, macOS, Linux |

Alt Score = Verified coverage (90%) + Visibility (10%). See https://altcatalog.com/how-alt-score-works/

## Feature comparison

Legend: Yes / No / Partial / ? (not verified).

| Infrastructure as Code checklist | AWS CDK | Pulumi | Crossplane | env zero | Terraform | OpenTofu |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | OSS + paid hosting | OSS + paid hosting | Freemium | OSS + paid hosting | Free |
| Starts at | Free | $40/mo base | Free | ? | $0.10/resource/mo | Free |
| License | Apache License 2.0 | Apache License 2.0 | Apache License 2.0 | Proprietary | Business Source License 1.1 (BUSL-1.1) | Mozilla Public License, version 2.0 |
| Platforms | ? | Windows, macOS, Linux | ? | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Open source | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Partial | Yes |
| Declarative configuration language | No | Partial | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes |
| General-purpose language support | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | No | No |
| State management | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Drift detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes |
| Policy as code | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial |
| Multi-cloud providers | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Plan preview before apply | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Module registry | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Managed SaaS backend | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Kubernetes-native | No | Partial | Yes | Partial | Partial | No |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |

## Sources

Sources for AWS CDK. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.

- **License**: Apache License 2.0 — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aws/aws-cdk/main/LICENSE> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Pricing model**: Free — <https://aws.amazon.com/cdk/faqs/> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Starts at**: Free — <https://aws.amazon.com/cdk/faqs/> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Status**: active — <https://github.com/aws/aws-cdk/releases/tag/v2.263.0> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Open source**: Yes — <https://raw.githubusercontent.com/aws/aws-cdk/main/LICENSE> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Declarative configuration language**: No — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/home.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **General-purpose language support**: Yes — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/home.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **State management**: Yes — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/stacks.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Drift detection**: Yes — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/ref-cli-cmd-drift.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Policy as code**: Yes — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/aspects.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Multi-cloud providers**: No — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/home.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Plan preview before apply**: Yes — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/ref-cli-cmd-diff.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Module registry**: Yes — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/constructs.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Managed SaaS backend**: No — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/bootstrapping.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Kubernetes-native**: No — <https://docs.aws.amazon.com/cdk/v2/guide/home.html> (verified 2026-08-03)
- **Free tier**: Yes — <https://aws.amazon.com/cdk/faqs/> (verified 2026-08-03)

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Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/