AWS CDK vs Pulumi: Pricing and Ratings Compared (2026)
Entry prices and free plans as read on each vendor's pricing page, and user ratings as published on review sites, for AWS CDK and Pulumi side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, Pulumi leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
Based on published vendor pricing and features and on public review data, here's who should pick what:
AWS CDK
Define cloud infrastructure using familiar programming languages
Best for you if:
- • You want a fully free tool (Pulumi requires payment)
Pulumi
Infrastructure as code in any language
Best for you if:
- • You want real programming languages
| At a Glance | AWS CDK | |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Free 100% free | Free plan, paid from $40/mo Team plan |
Category | DevOps Infrastructure as Code | DevOps Infrastructure as Code |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 136 reviews | 4.8/5 G2 4.8 · Capterra 4.7 28 reviews |
Free plan | Yes | Yes |
Watch out for | n/a | Team tier's $0.1825/resource overage can escalate costs. |
Choose AWS CDK or Pulumi?
Choose AWS CDK if
- You want a fully free tool (Pulumi requires payment)
- You want infrastructure as code with real languages
- You want TypeScript, Python, Java support
Choose Pulumi if
- You want real programming languages
- You want multi-cloud
In-Depth Analysis
AWS CDK
Define cloud infrastructure using familiar programming languages
The AWS CDK is a free and extremely generous offering, as users only pay for the AWS resources they deploy, not for the tool itself.
Strengths
- Pro: Infrastructure as code with real languages
- Pro: TypeScript, Python, Java support
- Pro: Better than raw CloudFormation
- Pro: Good IDE support
- Pro: Reusable constructs
Weaknesses
- Con: AWS only
- Con: Learning curve
- Con: Generated CloudFormation can be huge
- Con: Debugging difficult
- Con: Breaking changes between versions
Key features
Pulumi
Infrastructure as code in any language
Pulumi's pricing offers a generous freemium model for individuals, making it accessible.
Watch out
Team tier's $0.1825/resource overage can escalate costs.
Strengths
- Pro: Real programming languages
- Pro: Multi-cloud
- Pro: Great testing
Weaknesses
- Con: Smaller ecosystem
- Con: State management
Key features
Plans and prices: AWS CDK vs Pulumi
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AWS CDK |
| aws.amazon.com/cdk read Oct 4, 2026 |
| Pulumi |
| pulumi.com/pricing read Nov 2, 2026 |
Prices as read on each vendor's own pricing page on the date shown. Plans are listed per tool and are not matched against the other tool's plans: a plan name or price in one column says nothing about the same row in the other. Details on AWS CDK pricing and Pulumi pricing.
Key Takeaways
AWS CDK
- Choose if you want define cloud infrastructure using familiar programming languages
Pulumi
- Higher user rating: 4.8/5 vs 4.4/5
What the data shows
On the data below, Pulumi leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- Pulumi has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 136 reviews for AWS CDK, 4.8/5 from 28 reviews for Pulumi).
- Pulumi starts at $40/mo; AWS CDK has no public paid plan price on file.
- Both have a free plan.
Criteria: user rating (only above 20 reviews on both sides, gap of 0.2 or more), entry price (only on the same billing basis), free plan. How we rate
Frequently Asked Questions
How do AWS CDK and Pulumi compare in 2026?
On the data below, Pulumi leads on higher user rating. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. Pulumi has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 136 reviews for AWS CDK, 4.8/5 from 28 reviews for Pulumi). Pulumi starts at $40/mo; AWS CDK has no public paid plan price on file. Both have a free plan.
What are AWS CDK and Pulumi used for?
AWS CDK: Define cloud infrastructure using familiar programming languages. Pulumi: Infrastructure as code in any language.
What does AWS CDK cost vs Pulumi?
AWS CDK is free. Pulumi's cheapest paid plan is Team at $40/mo; it also has a free plan. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 2, 2026.
What's the main difference between AWS CDK and Pulumi?
AWS CDK's main strength: infrastructure as code with real languages. Pulumi's main strength: real programming languages.