Best IT Configuration Management Software in 2026
19 it configuration management software ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
19ranked
13free plans on this page
$40/molowest paid tier
1 Oct 2026last checked
#1 Puppet Top pick · 9.4 Free plan · Free
#2 CFEngine Runner-up · 9.3 Free plan · Free
#3 Rudder Also great · 9.2 Free plan · Free
- Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free planFree trial apiLinuxself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatformsFree About SaltVisit site - Free planFree trial apiLinuxmacOSself-hostedWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Paid from
- 40 /mo
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$40/mofirst paid tier About PulumiVisit site - Free plan apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxself-hostedWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- hybrid
- Drift detection
- Yes
- Agentless operation
- No
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms$571.75/mofirst paid tier About Canonical LandscapeVisit site - Free plan LinuxmacOSself-hostedWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxmacOSWebWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan Web
- Free plan
- Yes
- Deployment model
- cloud
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WindowsmacOSLinux
- Free plan
- No
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan apiLinuxWeb
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - Free plan LinuxmacOSWindows
- Free plan
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatformsFree About NixVisit site - LinuxmacOSWindows
- Deployment model
- self_hosted
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms -
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - WebLinux
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms - LinuxRecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
- Web
- Free plan
- No
- Drift detection
- Yes
RecognisedDocumentedFree planFree trialPlatforms
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which it configuration management software is ranked first on The Geeks Club?
Puppet is ranked #1 of 19 with a score of 9.4. CFEngine is second and Rudder third.
How many of these have a free plan?
13 of the 19 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Pulumi has the lowest first paid tier we found: $40/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on. Paid placements never change a rank.
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