# Alternatives to Pulumi Pulumi is an open source (Apache 2.0) infrastructure-as-code platform that provisions cloud resources using general-purpose languages -- TypeScript, Python, Go, C#, Java -- or an optional YAML mode, across 170+ registry providers including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and Kubernetes. State can be stored in the free hosted Pulumi Cloud backend or in a self-managed backend such as S3, Azure Blob, GCS, or the local filesystem. Paid Pulumi Cloud tiers add SSO/RBAC, policy enforcement, audit logs, and automated drift detection for teams. Pulumi ranks #1 of 8 in Infrastructure as Code, with an Alt Score of 93. It is licensed under Apache License 2.0, open source with paid hosting from $40/mo base and available on Windows, macOS and Linux. 12 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source. Source: https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/pulumi/ Category: Infrastructure as Code ## Where Pulumi stands out - **General-purpose language support** — 3 of 8 apps with a verified answer have this - **Managed SaaS backend** — 4 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**: Platform and infrastructure engineers who want to define, deploy, and manage cloud infrastructure using general-purpose programming languages instead of a templating DSL, from individual developers up to enterprise platform teams needing SSO, RBAC, and compliance controls. - **What you get**: An Apache-2.0-licensed CLI and language SDKs for TypeScript, JavaScript, Python, Go, .NET, Java, and YAML; access to the Pulumi Registry of 170+ cloud provider packages; and, optionally, the hosted Pulumi Cloud service for state storage, secrets, policy packs, and team collaboration. - **How it works**: A Pulumi program declares desired resources in a supported language; `pulumi preview` computes and displays the diff against the recorded state without changing anything, `pulumi up` applies it, and `pulumi refresh --preview-only` detects drift between recorded and actual cloud state. ## Profile - **License**: Apache License 2.0 (verified 2026-08-03) - **Pricing model**: OSS + paid hosting (verified 2026-08-03) - **Starts at**: $40/mo base (verified 2026-08-03) - **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux - **Status**: active (verified 2026-08-03) ## Ranked alternatives | # | App | Alt Score | Licence | Platforms | |---|-----|-----------|---------|-----------| | 1 | [Crossplane](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/crossplane.md) | 81 | Apache License 2.0 | ? | | 2 | [env zero](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/env0.md) | 81 | Proprietary | Web | | 3 | [Terraform](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/terraform.md) | 81 | Business Source License 1.1 (BUSL-1.1) | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | | 4 | [OpenTofu](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/opentofu.md) | 74 | Mozilla Public License, version 2.0 | Windows, macOS, Linux | | 5 | [Spacelift](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/spacelift.md) | 74 | Proprietary | Web | | 6 | [AWS CDK](https://altcatalog.com/alternatives/aws-cdk.md) | 70 | Apache License 2.0 | ? | | 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 | Pulumi | Crossplane | env zero | Terraform | OpenTofu | Spacelift | |---|---|---|---|---|---|---| | Pricing model | OSS + paid hosting | OSS + paid hosting | Freemium | OSS + paid hosting | Free | Freemium | | Starts at | $40/mo base | Free | ? | $0.10/resource/mo | Free | $20,000/yr | | License | Apache License 2.0 | Apache License 2.0 | Proprietary | Business Source License 1.1 (BUSL-1.1) | Mozilla Public License, version 2.0 | Proprietary | | Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux | ? | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | Windows, macOS, Linux | Web | | Open source | Yes | Yes | No | Partial | Yes | No | | Declarative configuration language | Partial | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial | | General-purpose language support | Yes | Yes | Partial | No | No | Partial | | State management | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Drift detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | Yes | Partial | | Policy as code | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Partial | Partial | | Multi-cloud providers | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Plan preview before apply | Yes | Partial | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Module registry | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | | Managed SaaS backend | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | | Kubernetes-native | Partial | Yes | Partial | Partial | No | Yes | | Free tier | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | ## Sources Sources for Pulumi. Each alternative is sourced on its own page. - **License**: Apache License 2.0 — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Pricing model**: OSS + paid hosting — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Starts at**: $40/mo base — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Platforms**: Windows, macOS, Linux — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Status**: active — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Open source**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Declarative configuration language**: Partial — (verified 2026-08-03) - **General-purpose language support**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) - **State management**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Drift detection**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Policy as code**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Multi-cloud providers**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Plan preview before apply**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Module registry**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Managed SaaS backend**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Kubernetes-native**: Partial — (verified 2026-08-03) - **Free tier**: Yes — (verified 2026-08-03) --- Ranked by verified data, never by who paid. https://altcatalog.com/trust/