Best Cloud Management Software in 2026
Updated
In short: Cloudforet is ranked #1 of 33 as of 4 October 2026, ahead of Pulumi and Terraform. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Pulumi. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Terraform at $0.10/mo.
Cloud management software supports work such as provisioning resources, automating infrastructure, and governing cloud environments. Compare cloud coverage and providers with the deployment model to see how each option relates to your setup. Infrastructure as code and provisioning automation address operational workflows, while policy governance and a self-service catalog offer further points of comparison. Terraform, Cloudforet, and Cloudify are among the entries. Check free-plan availability and paid-from pricing alongside the capabilities you need for managing your cloud operations.
33 cloud management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
12 of the 25 here have a free tier you can use, 0 have open-source code on record, and 0 have full bars: free, open, on most of your devices and documented.
| # | App | Signal | Free tier | Open code | Devices | From | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CloudforetWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | PulumiWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $40/mo | 6.6 | |
| 3 | TerraformWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | $0.10/mo | 6.6 | |
| 4 | CloudifyWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 5 | Apache CloudStackWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 6 | Canonical OpenStackWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 7 | Cloud 66Web · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | $23/mo | 6.4 | |
| 8 | CycloidWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $45/mo | 6.4 | |
| 9 | Platform9 Private Cloud DirectorWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | $1,000/mo | 6.4 | |
| 10 | ScalrWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 11 | VMware Workstation ProWindows · Linux · Self-hosted | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 12 | OpenStack BarbicanLinux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 1 of 6 | Free | 6.3 | |
| 13 | JujuWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 14 | OpenNebulaWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 15 | WaldurWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 16 | Flexera One IT Asset ManagementWeb · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 17 | JamcrackerWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 18 | Mirantis OpenStack for KubernetesWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 19 | Stakater Cloud OrchestratorWeb · Self-hosted · API | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 20 | OpenText Cloud ManagementWeb · Android · iPhone | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 21 | CloudMatic AIWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 22 | Danube CloudWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 23 | HPE Morpheus VM Essentials SoftwareWeb · Linux · Self-hosted | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | $50/mo | 5.1 |
| 24 | VMware Cloud Foundation OperationsWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.1 |
| 25 | ManageIQWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.0 |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which cloud management software is ranked first on Freedom251?
Cloudforet is ranked #1 of 33 with a score of 6.6. Pulumi is second and Terraform third.
How many of these have a free plan?
12 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Terraform has the lowest first paid tier we found: $0.10/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked free-and-open first: a usable free tier and open-source code, then the platforms it runs on and its documentation. Paid placements never change a rank.