Best Configuration Management Tools in 2026
Updated
In short: AWS Systems Manager State Manager is ranked #1 of 25 as of 7 October 2026, ahead of CFEngine and Rudder. The best-ranked option with a free plan is CFEngine. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Chef Infra at $4.92/mo.
Keeping system configurations consistent calls for tools that match your infrastructure and operating practices. Compare agent models, deployment options, and supported platforms, then consider drift detection and patch management for ongoing upkeep. Policy as code and compliance reporting offer further points to weigh when governance matters. Free-plan availability and paid starting prices help you account for cost alongside capability. CFEngine, Rudder, and Salt are among the tools to consider, along with config.XO and OpenVox. Use the listed features to judge which approaches align with the systems and policies you need to manage.
25 configuration management tools ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
9 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 | AWS Systems Manager State ManagerWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 2 | CFEngineWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 4 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 3 | RudderWeb · Windows · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 4 | SaltWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.6 | |
| 5 | config.XOWeb · Windows · Linux · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | €449/mo | 6.5 | |
| 6 | Google Cloud VM ManagerWeb · Windows · Linux · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 7 | OpenVoxWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 8 | pyinfraWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Three bars | — | 3 of 6 | Free | 6.5 | |
| 9 | UyuniWeb · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | 2 of 6 | Free | 6.4 | |
| 10 | OpenDSCWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.7 |
| 11 | Chef InfraWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | $4.92/mo | 5.6 |
| 12 | PuppetWeb · Windows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 4 of 6 | — | 5.6 |
| 13 | FabricWindows · Mac · Linux | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 14 | OpenText Dimensions CMWindows · Mac · Linux · Self-hosted · API | Two bars | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.5 |
| 15 | RadmindWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.4 |
| 16 | Azure Machine ConfigurationWeb | One bar | — | — | 1 of 6 | $6/mo | 5.3 |
| 17 | Microsoft Desired State ConfigurationWindows · Mac · Linux | One bar | — | — | 3 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 18 | OpenText Server AutomationWindows · Linux | One bar | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.3 |
| 19 | cdistMac · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 20 | LCFGLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 21 | QuattorLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 22 | RexWindows · Linux | No signal | — | — | 2 of 6 | — | 5.2 |
| 23 | Mgmt ConfigLinux | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.8 |
| 24 | Microsoft Configuration ManagerWindows | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | $1,455/mo | 4.8 |
| 25 | Tripwire EnterpriseWeb | No signal | — | — | 1 of 6 | — | 4.7 |
Compare all 25 in a table
| # | App | Score | Free plan | From | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Agent model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | AWS Systems Manager State Manager | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | cloud | agent_based |
| 2 | CFEngine | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | self_hosted | agent_based |
| 3 | Rudder | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | self_hosted | agent_based |
| 4 | Salt | 6.6 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | self_hosted | both |
| 5 | config.XO | 6.5 | Free plan | €449/mo | Yes | — | cloud | agent_based |
| 6 | Google Cloud VM Manager | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | Yes | — | cloud | agent_based |
| 7 | OpenVox | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | — | — | self_hosted | both |
| 8 | pyinfra | 6.5 | Free plan | Free | — | — | both | agentless |
| 9 | Uyuni | 6.4 | Free plan | Free | — | — | both | both |
| 10 | OpenDSC | 5.7 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | agent_based |
| 11 | Chef Infra | 5.6 | No | $4.92/mo | No | — | both | agent_based |
| 12 | Puppet | 5.6 | No | — | Yes | — | self_hosted | both |
| 13 | Fabric | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | agentless |
| 14 | OpenText Dimensions CM | 5.5 | No | — | — | — | — | — |
| 15 | Radmind | 5.4 | No | — | Yes | — | self_hosted | agent_based |
| 16 | Azure Machine Configuration | 5.3 | No | $6/mo | Yes | 6 /mo | cloud | agent_based |
| 17 | Microsoft Desired State Configuration | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | — |
| 18 | OpenText Server Automation | 5.3 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | both |
| 19 | cdist | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | agentless |
| 20 | LCFG | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | self_hosted | agent_based |
| 21 | Quattor | 5.2 | No | — | Yes | — | self_hosted | agent_based |
| 22 | Rex | 5.2 | No | — | — | — | self_hosted | agentless |
| 23 | Mgmt Config | 4.8 | No | — | No | — | self_hosted | both |
| 24 | Microsoft Configuration Manager | 4.8 | No | $1,455/mo | No | — | — | — |
| 25 | Tripwire Enterprise | 4.7 | No | — | No | — | — | — |
Is your app on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored, and a sponsored row is labelled as paid.
Questions about this list
Which configuration management tool is ranked first on Freedom251?
AWS Systems Manager State Manager is ranked #1 of 25 with a score of 6.6. CFEngine is second and Rudder third.
How many of these have a free plan?
9 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Chef Infra has the lowest first paid tier we found: $4.92/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.