Side by side
Backstage vs Kusion
Both stand on internal developer platforms. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan APILinuxMac+2
Backstage brings a software catalog, documentation, templates, search, and integrations into a customizable developer portal. Organizations should plan for self-hosting and a protected deployment environment.
Visit Backstage
Free plan APILinuxMac+3
Kusion brings application configuration, reusable platform modules, and delivery workflows into one orchestrator. Its early project status is worth considering when evaluating it for infrastructure work.
Visit KusionThe facts
| Backstage | Kusion | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web | API, Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | backstage.io | kusion.kusionstack.io |
| On internal developer platforms | #1 of 27 | #5 of 27 |
Backstage: what it does well
- Free, open-source framework.
- Catalog tracks software ownership and metadata.
- Templates publish generated projects to GitHub or GitLab.
- TechDocs keeps documentation close to code.
- Kubernetes feature aggregates service deployments.
What to know first
- Self-hosted deployment required.
- Standalone demo setup is not production-ready.
- Minimum requirements include 20 GB disk and 6 GB memory.
- Denial-of-service protection is described as rudimentary.
Kusion: what it does well
- Free and open source.
- Three-way diff preview before applying changes.
- Reusable modules support developer self-service.
- Works with Kubernetes, Terraform, and on-premises infrastructure.
- Supports AWS, AliCloud, Azure, and Google Cloud.
What to know first
- The project describes itself as early and rapidly iterated.
- External secret-store guides cover AWS, Alibaba Cloud, and Viettel Cloud.
Alternatives to Backstage Alternatives to Kusion The whole list