Pulumi vs Crossplane: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Pulumi and Crossplane 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
Infrastructure as code in any language
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.5/10 vs 8.2/10)
- • You need hosting & deployment features specifically
- • Pulumi is an infrastructure as code platform using general-purpose languages
- • It manages cloud resources with TypeScript, Python, Go, and other languages
Crossplane
Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need ci/cd features specifically
- • Crossplane is an open-source control plane for building cloud-native platforms
- • It enables teams to provision and manage cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes-native APIs
| At a Glance | ||
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free |
Best For | Hosting & Deployment | CI/CD |
Rating | 85/100 | 82/100 |
| Feature | Pulumi | Crossplane |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Editorial Score | 85 | 82 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | Hosting & DeploymentAutomation | CI/CDContainer Orchestration |
How Pulumi and Crossplane Compare
Pulumi
Infrastructure as code in any language
Free tier available · 85/100 score
Crossplane
Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes
Free · 82/100 score
Pulumi is a hosting & deployment tool. Crossplane is in ci/cd.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Crossplane is free. Pulumi is freemium.
Go with: Crossplane
Want the highest-rated option?
Pulumi: 85/100. Crossplane: 82/100.
Go with: Pulumi
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Pulumi
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Pulumi is freemium. Crossplane is free. Go with Crossplane if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Pulumi is a hosting & deployment tool. Crossplane is in ci/cd. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Pulumi scores higher: 85/100 vs 82/100.
Key Takeaways
Pulumi
- Higher score: 85/100 vs 82
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Crossplane
- Completely free
- Better fit for ci/cd
The Bottom Line
Pulumi (85/100) is our pick. That said, Crossplane is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pulumi or Crossplane better?
Pulumi scores 85/100 in our evaluation. Pulumi is freemium and Crossplane is free.
What are Pulumi and Crossplane used for?
Pulumi: Infrastructure as code in any language. Crossplane: Build cloud infrastructure using Kubernetes.
What does Pulumi cost vs Crossplane?
Pulumi is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Crossplane is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.