AWS CloudFormation vs Puppet: 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 CloudFormation and Puppet side by side. This page compares data; it is not a hands-on review.
On the data: On the data below, AWS CloudFormation leads on higher user rating; Puppet leads on a free plan. 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 CloudFormation
Infrastructure as code for AWS using YAML or JSON templates
Best for you if:
- • You want native AWS IaC
Puppet
Infrastructure automation and configuration management
Best for you if:
- • You want mature configuration management
| At a Glance | AWS CloudFormation | Puppet |
|---|---|---|
Starts at | Not published | Free plan |
Category | DevOps Infrastructure as Code | DevOps Infrastructure as Code |
Rating | 4.4/5 G2 4.4 · Capterra 4.5 326 reviews | 4.2/5 G2 4.2 761 reviews |
Free plan | No | No |
Choose AWS CloudFormation or Puppet?
Choose AWS CloudFormation if
- You want native AWS IaC
- You want supports all AWS services
Choose Puppet if
- You want mature configuration management
- You want good for large scale
In-Depth Analysis
AWS CloudFormation
Infrastructure as code for AWS using YAML or JSON templates
AWS CloudFormation's pricing is very fair, essentially being free for core functionality.
Strengths
- Pro: Native AWS IaC
- Pro: Supports all AWS services
- Pro: Drift detection
- Pro: Stack management
- Pro: No additional cost
Weaknesses
- Con: YAML/JSON syntax verbose
- Con: AWS only
- Con: Slow deployments
- Con: Error messages cryptic
- Con: Rollback can be slow
Key features
Puppet
Infrastructure automation and configuration management
Puppet's pricing is fair for small teams with its generous free tier for up to 25 nodes.
Strengths
- Pro: Mature configuration management
- Pro: Good for large scale
- Pro: Strong compliance
- Pro: Declarative model
- Pro: Enterprise features
Weaknesses
- Con: Learning curve (DSL)
- Con: Agent required
- Con: Less flexible than Ansible
- Con: Declining popularity
- Con: Complex for simple needs
Key features
Plans and prices: AWS CloudFormation vs Puppet
| Tool | Plans and prices | Source |
|---|---|---|
| AWS CloudFormation |
| aws.amazon.com/cloudformation/pricing read Nov 1, 2026 |
| Puppet |
| puppet.com/pricing read Sep 28, 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 CloudFormation pricing and Puppet pricing.
Key Takeaways
AWS CloudFormation
- Higher user rating: 4.4/5 vs 4.2/5
Puppet
- Has a free plan
What the data shows
On the data below, AWS CloudFormation leads on higher user rating; Puppet leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair.
- AWS CloudFormation has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 326 reviews for AWS CloudFormation, 4.2/5 from 761 reviews for Puppet).
- Only Puppet has 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 CloudFormation and Puppet compare in 2026?
On the data below, AWS CloudFormation leads on higher user rating; Puppet leads on a free plan. We do not name an overall winner for this pair. AWS CloudFormation has the higher user rating (4.4/5 from 326 reviews for AWS CloudFormation, 4.2/5 from 761 reviews for Puppet). Only Puppet has a free plan.
What are AWS CloudFormation and Puppet used for?
AWS CloudFormation: Infrastructure as code for AWS using YAML or JSON templates. Puppet: Infrastructure automation and configuration management.
What does AWS CloudFormation cost vs Puppet?
AWS CloudFormation has no public paid-plan price on file. Puppet has no public paid-plan price on file. Prices read on the vendors' pricing pages, latest check Nov 1, 2026.
What's the main difference between AWS CloudFormation and Puppet?
AWS CloudFormation's main strength: native AWS IaC. Puppet's main strength: mature configuration management.