Spacelift vs Chef: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Spacelift and Chef 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:
Spacelift
The IaC Orchestration Platform Engineers Trust for secure, cost-effective, and high-performance infrastructure.
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • Orchestrates IaC tools like Terraform, OpenTofu, and Ansible for automated infrastructure provisioning and configuration.
- • Provides robust governance, policy enforcement, and drift detection for secure and compliant infrastructure management.
Chef
Infrastructure automation with Ruby-based recipes
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (7.8/10 vs 7.2/10)
- • Chef is an infrastructure automation platform for managing servers and applications at scale
- • It uses Ruby-based recipes to define infrastructure as code across cloud and on-premise environments
| At a Glance |  Spacelift | |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Automation | Automation |
Rating | 72/100 | 78/100 |
| Feature | Spacelift | Chef |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | 72 | 78 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | AutomationCI/CD | AutomationCI/CD |
How Spacelift and Chef Compare
Spacelift
The IaC Orchestration Platform Engineers Trust for secure, cost-effective, and high-performance infrastructure.
Free tier available · 72/100 score
Chef
Infrastructure automation with Ruby-based recipes
Paid · 78/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Spacelift has a free tier. Chef is paid only.
Go with: Spacelift
Want the highest-rated option?
Spacelift: 72/100. Chef: 78/100.
Go with: Chef
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Chef
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Spacelift is freemium. Chef is paid. Spacelift lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are automation tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Chef scores higher: 78/100 vs 72/100.
Key Takeaways
Chef
- Higher score: 78/100 vs 72
- Our pick for this comparison
Spacelift
- Has a free tier
The Bottom Line
Chef (78/100) is our pick. Spacelift has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spacelift or Chef better?
Chef scores 78/100 in our evaluation. Spacelift is freemium and Chef is paid.
What are Spacelift and Chef used for?
Spacelift: The IaC Orchestration Platform Engineers Trust for secure, cost-effective, and high-performance infrastructure.. Chef: Infrastructure automation with Ruby-based recipes.
What does Spacelift cost vs Chef?
Spacelift is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Chef is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.