Pulumi ESC vs AWS Secrets Manager: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Pulumi ESC and AWS Secrets Manager comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Pulumi ESC
Centralized secrets and configuration management for all your cloud and application needs.
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • Centralizes secrets and configurations from multiple cloud providers and vaults.
- • Generates dynamic, short-lived credentials for enhanced security.
AWS Secrets Manager
AWS service for storing and rotating secrets securely
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • AWS Secrets Manager helps you securely store and rotate database credentials, API keys, and other secrets
- • It integrates natively with AWS services and supports automatic rotation for RDS and other databases
| At a Glance |  AWS Secrets Manager | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Password Managers | Password Managers |
Rating | —/100 | 86/100 |
| Feature | Pulumi ESC | AWS Secrets Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | — | 86 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Password ManagersIdentity & Access | Password ManagersIdentity & Access |
How Pulumi ESC and AWS Secrets Manager Compare
Pulumi ESC
Centralized secrets and configuration management for all your cloud and application needs.
Free tier available
AWS Secrets Manager
AWS service for storing and rotating secrets securely
Paid · 86/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Pulumi ESC has a free tier. AWS Secrets Manager is paid only.
Go with: Pulumi ESC
Want the highest-rated option?
AWS Secrets Manager scores 86/100. Pulumi ESC is unrated.
Go with: AWS Secrets Manager
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: AWS Secrets Manager
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Pulumi ESC is freemium. AWS Secrets Manager is paid. Pulumi ESC lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are password managers tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
AWS Secrets Manager
- Higher score: 86/100 vs unrated
- Our pick for this comparison
Pulumi ESC
- Has a free tier
The Bottom Line
AWS Secrets Manager (86/100) is our pick. Pulumi ESC has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pulumi ESC or AWS Secrets Manager better?
AWS Secrets Manager scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Pulumi ESC is freemium and AWS Secrets Manager is paid.
What are Pulumi ESC and AWS Secrets Manager used for?
Pulumi ESC: Centralized secrets and configuration management for all your cloud and application needs.. AWS Secrets Manager: AWS service for storing and rotating secrets securely.
What does Pulumi ESC cost vs AWS Secrets Manager?
Pulumi ESC is freemium (free tier + paid plans). AWS Secrets Manager is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.