Free and open first
Best Platform Engineering Software in 2026
Teams building internal infrastructure workflows can compare platform engineering software by its technical approach and the ways developers interact with resources. Deployment model, infrastructure as code, and Kubernetes support describe key areas to weigh. Self-service provisioning and workflow automation speak to how work can be carried out, while policy and governance add another comparison dimension. Free-plan availability and paid-from pricing provide cost context. Terraform, KubeVela, and Northflank are among the options represented, alongside Pulumi and Backstage. Consider which capabilities match your infrastructure practices and how your team wants to provision and govern resources.
- 31 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
KubeSphere
Free plan Open source APILinuxSelf-hosted+1KubeSphere pairs a free self-managed Community Edition with an Enterprise offering that adds security, permissions, and support options.
- 2
Backstage
Free plan APILinuxMac+2Backstage brings a software catalog, documentation, templates, search, and integrations into a customizable developer portal.
- 3
Cycloid
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1Cycloid combines developer self-service with infrastructure orchestration and governance across several deployment models.
- 4
Devtron Release Orchestration
Free plan APISelf-hostedWebDevtron combines release coordination, deployment, build configuration, and security controls for Kubernetes teams.
- 5
env0
Free plan APISelf-hostedWebenv0 brings deployment controls, drift handling, and cloud asset mapping into one infrastructure management platform.
- 6
KubeVela
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2Choose KubeVela if you need an open-source delivery control plane for applications across clusters and clouds, with workflow-based deployments and several rollout strategies.
- 7
Northflank
Free plan APILinuxMac+3Northflank offers managed Kubernetes and multiple deployment paths, with tools for automation and integrations across development workflows.
- 8
Pulumi
Free plan APILinuxMac+3Pulumi brings infrastructure definitions, deployment integrations, and secrets management into one platform. Its free plan has user and workflow-minute limits; listed paid plans start at $40 a month.
- 9
Crossplane
Free plan Self-hostedCrossplane provides APIs, managed resources, and packaging for teams building infrastructure control planes. Check the cluster requirements and default RBAC permissions before deployment.
- 10
Kratix
Free plan APISelf-hostedKratix provides a free core for building internal developer platforms, with paid offerings adding integrations, support and security features.
- 11
Port
Free plan APIExtensionWebPort brings cataloging, workflows, controls, and AI agents into an engineering platform, with a free tier for smaller teams.
- 12
Scalr
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1Choose Scalr if your platform team wants Terraform and OpenTofu workflows with developer self-service, policy checks, and drift detection.
- 13
Terraform
Free plan APILinuxMac+3Terraform provides a configuration-based workflow, reusable modules, and providers for connecting to services.
- 14
Terrateam
Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+1Terrateam brings pull-request planning, policy checks, and drift handling together for supported infrastructure tools.
- 15
Upbound
Free plan APIExtensionLinux+4 - 16
Spacelift
Free plan APISelf-hostedWebChoose Spacelift if your organization needs infrastructure automation with policy controls and a choice of deployment models.
- 17
StackGen
Free plan APISelf-hostedWebChoose StackGen if your team wants infrastructure provisioning, SRE workflows, and observability in one operations platform, with policy controls and multiple deployment models.
- 18
Wayfinder
Free plan APISelf-hostedWebWayfinder brings deployment workflows, agent assistance, policy checks, and access controls into a platform that runs in the customer's cloud.
- 19
Substrate
Free plan APIWebSubstrate pairs multi-cluster operations and cost optimization with detailed access, secret, and account security controls.
- 20
Bunnyshell
Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+1Bunnyshell brings pull-request environments and Kubernetes options together for engineering teams. Check the per-minute Startup billing and custom-priced plans against your usage and team size.
- 21
Harness Internal Developer Portal
Free plan WebChoose Harness Internal Developer Portal if your team wants a cloud portal with a software catalog, ownership documentation, and self-service workflows.
- 22
Humanitec
Free trial APISelf-hostedWebHumanitec centralizes deployment configuration and environment operations across varied infrastructure. Its paid plans, usage limits, and custom tiers make plan selection significant for larger teams.
- 23
Porter
Free trial APILinuxMac+2Porter combines application deployment with infrastructure management in the customer's cloud account.
- 24
Qovery
Free trial APILinuxMac+3Qovery suits teams that want deployment controls across supported cloud infrastructure, with operational visibility and integrations for AI agents.
- 25
Sealos
Free trial APILinuxSelf-hosted+1Sealos brings development, Kubernetes deployment, databases, and templates into one platform.
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price