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AWS Secrets Manager

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AWS service for storing and rotating secrets securely

From $0.40/mo, free trial
Paid Security Cloud & Infrastructure Identity & Access
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Reviews on G2
18 reviews tracked 2 press mentions

The Bottom Line

Price
From $0.40/mo, free trial. Compare plans

Key facts

  • 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
  • Pricing is $0.40/secret/month plus $0.05 per 10,000 API calls

Pros

  • Managed secrets storage
  • Automatic rotation
  • Audit logging
  • Integration with AWS services
  • Cross-account access

Cons

  • Per-secret pricing adds up
  • AWS only
  • Less flexible than Vault
  • Rotation setup complex
  • Region-specific

What is AWS Secrets Manager?

Editorial review
Secrets Manager stores sensitive information-API keys, database credentials, certificates-and rotates them automatically. Applications retrieve secrets at runtime instead of baking them into config files. Automatic rotation changes credentials on a schedule without application changes. Audit logs show who accessed what. Encryption at rest and in transit is handled automatically. Production applications that take security seriously use Secrets Manager to keep credentials out of code and configuration files.

Available on: Web

how we evaluate Source aws.amazon.com ↗

Ratings Across the Web

4.5 (18 reviews)

AWS Secrets Manager holds an aggregate rating of 4.5 out of 5 from 18 reviews across G2, last checked September 17, 2026.

G2 18 reviews
4.5/5

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

  • Secret storage
  • Rotation
  • Fine-grained access
  • Audit
  • AWS integration
  • Encryption

Pricing Plans

30-day Free Trial

Pricing checked Oct 7, 2026

AWS Secrets Manager plans and prices, checked October 2026
PlanPriceDetails
Per Secret Popular

$0.4/month per secret

Secret storage

  • Automatic rotation
  • Fine-grained policies
  • Audit with CloudTrail
+1 more
  • Cross-region replication
API Calls

$0.05/per 10,000 calls

Access pricing

  • GetSecretValue
  • All API operations
  • SDK integration
Calculate your cost View full pricing

Is AWS Secrets Manager worth the price?

Good value

AWS Secrets Manager offers fair pricing, with a clear per-secret cost of $0.40/month and API calls at $0.05 per 10,000.

This model is transparent and scales well. It's best for organizations that need robust, integrated secret management within the AWS ecosystem.

Full AWS Secrets Manager pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

How AWS Secrets Manager's pricing compares

At $0.40/mo, billing unit not specified, AWS Secrets Manager is the most affordable of its 4 comparable direct competitors.

AWS Secrets Manager
$0.40
HashiCorp Vault
$0.50
1Password
$2.99
Infisical
$18
Doppler
$21

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Oct 7, 2026.

Reviews

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4.5/5

Across 18 verified user reviews on G2

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Best AWS Secrets Manager Alternatives

Top alternatives based on features, pricing, and user needs.

View full list →
1Password logo
1Password Paid

Securely store passwords, cards, and docs with end-to-end encryption

4.7
CyberArk logo
CyberArk Paid

Secure every identity across human, machine, and AI with intelligent privilege controls.

3.8
Doppler logo
Doppler Freemium

Centralize secrets and env vars with auto-sync and rotation

4.8
HashiCorp Vault logo
HashiCorp Vault Freemium

Securely store, manage, and encrypt secrets and credentials

4.3
Infisical logo
Infisical Freemium

Open-source secret management platform for modern teams

4.8
QIZ Security logo
QIZ Security Paid

Automate crypto discovery, risk management, and governance

See all security tools →

Still deciding?

Most buyers shortlist 2 or 3 tools before committing. Pull a side-by-side comparison or browse the full alternatives shortlist below.

All AWS Secrets Manager alternatives 6+ tools ranked, pricing + verdict per pick AWS Secrets Manager vs 1Password Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins AWS Secrets Manager vs CyberArk Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins AWS Secrets Manager vs Doppler Head-to-head: features, pricing, who wins

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AWS Secrets Manager FAQ

How does AWS Secrets Manager enhance application security?

AWS Secrets Manager improves security by storing sensitive information like API keys and database credentials, preventing them from being hardcoded into application configuration files. Applications retrieve these secrets at runtime, ensuring credentials are not exposed in code. It also provides automatic rotation of credentials on a schedule.

Which teams benefit most from using AWS Secrets Manager?

Teams developing production applications that prioritize security and operate within the AWS ecosystem will find AWS Secrets Manager most beneficial. It helps maintain secure credential management for applications that take security seriously. This service is particularly useful for development and operations teams.

How does AWS Secrets Manager compare to HashiCorp Vault?

AWS Secrets Manager is a managed service within the AWS ecosystem, offering seamless integration with other AWS services and automatic secret rotation. HashiCorp Vault, while also a secrets management solution, is generally considered more flexible in its deployment options and broader cloud compatibility, whereas Secrets Manager is AWS-only.

What kind of sensitive data can be stored in AWS Secrets Manager?

AWS Secrets Manager is designed to store various types of sensitive information, including API keys, database credentials, and certificates. It ensures these secrets are encrypted at rest and in transit, and can be retrieved by applications as needed.

What are the main trade-offs when choosing AWS Secrets Manager?

A primary trade-off for AWS Secrets Manager is its per-secret pricing model, which can accumulate costs as the number of secrets grows. Additionally, it is an AWS-only service, meaning it doesn't support multi-cloud or on-premises environments, and setting up secret rotation can be complex.

How is AWS Secrets Manager priced?

AWS Secrets Manager is a paid product with no permanently free tier. Its pricing model is based on the number of secrets stored and the number of API calls made to retrieve those secrets. This means costs can vary based on usage volume.

Can AWS Secrets Manager automatically rotate credentials?

Yes, AWS Secrets Manager can automatically rotate credentials on a schedule without requiring changes to the application code. This feature helps to regularly update sensitive information like database passwords, enhancing overall security posture. The rotation process is managed by the service.

Source: aws.amazon.com

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