Chef Infra
Chef Infra is configuration management software for automating infrastructure setup and maintaining a defined system state.
What Chef Infra is
Chef Infra is configuration management software for automating infrastructure setup and maintaining a defined system state. Teams express configurations and policies as code, test them, and deliver them through automated pipelines. When a system diverges from its specified state, Chef Infra can correct the drift automatically. It supports Windows and Linux systems, cloud ARM systems, and Mac laptops across on-premises, cloud, and edge environments. Chef Infra Client includes more than 150 resources for common automation tasks, and community members provide thousands of configuration templates. Chef Workstation bundles the client with Chef InSpec, Chef Habitat, Test Kitchen, Cookstyle, and Chef Upgrade Lab. The policy language is Ruby DSL, and listed capabilities include policy testing, reporting, and CI/CD integration. Chef Automate can populate CMDB tools such as ServiceNow and export system data to other systems. An open-source community version is available for non-commercial use. Business is $59 a year and Enterprise is $189 a year, both billed per node annually. Chef Infra Client 19.x is listed as the current LTS release; 18.x is deprecated and earlier versions are end of life.
Good
- Automatically corrects configuration drift.
- Supports Windows, Linux, and macOS systems.
- Includes more than 150 client resources.
- Policy testing and CI/CD integration are listed.
- A non-commercial open-source version is available.
Watch out
- Business costs $59 a year per node.
- Enterprise costs $189 a year per node.
- Chef Infra Client 18.x is deprecated.
- Versions below 18 are end of life.
Who it suits
Chef Infra suits teams managing mixed Windows, Linux, and macOS fleets that want to define and enforce configuration policies as code. It also fits organizations seeking policy testing, reporting, and CI/CD integration.
Verdict
Chef Infra combines configuration automation, drift correction, and policy-as-code capabilities for varied infrastructure. Check the version lifecycle and per-node annual pricing when deciding whether it fits your environment.
Plans and prices
From Chef Infra's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Business | $59 a year | 10 pooled monthly job runs per node · 10 concurrent jobs · 30-day data retention · 30-day log retention · per node, per year |
| Enterprise | $189 a year | 10 pooled monthly job runs per node · 10 concurrent jobs · 30-day data retention · 30-day log retention · per node, per year |
| Enterprise Plus | Priced on request | 50 concurrent jobs · 10 pooled monthly job runs per node · 30-day data retention · premium support · Contact us for a customized quote. |
The facts
Each one read from Chef Infra's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Configuration resources
- Chef Infra Client ships with more than 150 resources for common automation tasks, and the community provides thousands of configuration templates.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Drift correction
- Chef Infra can automatically correct configuration drift when a system diverges from its defined desired state.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integration
- Chef Automate can populate CMDB tools such as ServiceNow and export collected system data to other systems.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Mixed fleets
- The product page says teams can manage Windows and Linux systems, cloud ARM systems, and Mac laptops across on-premises, cloud, and edge environments.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Policy as code
- Chef lets teams define configurations and policies as code that can be tested, enforced, and delivered through automated pipelines.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Chef Infra configuration management software automates infrastructure configuration and aims to keep it consistent and compliant over its lifetime.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security controls
- Chef says cookbooks can rotate keys, control SSH and WinRM port access, define authorized users and groups, and support alignment with CIS benchmarks and other standards.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security process
- Progress Chef describes responsible vulnerability disclosure and says its product QA includes software composition analysis, static application security testing, and dynamic application security testing.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- The pricing page lists standard support for Business and Enterprise and premium support for Enterprise Plus.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Version lifecycle
- Chef Infra Client 19.x is listed as the current LTS release; version 18.x is deprecated and versions below 18 are listed as end of life.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Workstation tools
- Chef Workstation includes Chef Infra Client, Chef InSpec, Chef Habitat, Test Kitchen, Cookstyle, and Chef Upgrade Lab.checked 4 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1981checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Burlington, Massachusetts, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2026
Money
- Free community version
- Chef Downloads says open source users can download a free, non-commercial version from the community portal.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Free trial
- Chef Downloads offers a guided Chef 360 trial, and the pricing page offers a trial request for Business.checked 4 Oct 2026
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