Vagrant vs Puppet: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Vagrant and Puppet 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:
Vagrant
Manage the lifecycle of virtual machines for consistent development environments.
Best for you if:
- • You want to try before committing
- • Manages virtual machine lifecycles via command line.
- • Creates reproducible and portable development environments.
Puppet
Infrastructure automation and configuration management
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (7.6/10 vs 0.0/10)
- • Puppet is a configuration management tool for automating infrastructure
- • It defines infrastructure as code with declarative configurations
| At a Glance |  Vagrant |  Puppet |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Paid |
Best For | Automation | Automation |
Rating | —/100 | 76/100 |
| Feature | Vagrant | Puppet |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Paid |
| Editorial Score | — | 76 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | AutomationInfrastructure as Code | AutomationCI/CD |
How Vagrant and Puppet Compare
Vagrant
Manage the lifecycle of virtual machines for consistent development environments.
Free tier available
Puppet
Infrastructure automation and configuration management
Paid · 76/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Vagrant has a free tier. Puppet is paid only.
Go with: Vagrant
Want the highest-rated option?
Puppet scores 76/100. Vagrant is unrated.
Go with: Puppet
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Puppet
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Vagrant is freemium. Puppet is paid. Vagrant lets you start free.
What's your use case?
Both are automation tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Not all tools have been rated yet.
Key Takeaways
Puppet
- Higher score: 76/100 vs unrated
- Our pick for this comparison
Vagrant
- Has a free tier
The Bottom Line
Puppet (76/100) is our pick. Vagrant has a free tier if you want to test without paying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Vagrant or Puppet better?
Puppet scores 76/100 in our evaluation. Vagrant is freemium and Puppet is paid.
What are Vagrant and Puppet used for?
Vagrant: Manage the lifecycle of virtual machines for consistent development environments.. Puppet: Infrastructure automation and configuration management.
What does Vagrant cost vs Puppet?
Vagrant is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Puppet is a paid tool. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.