Terraform

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Score7.4

Rank#1 of 32

From$0.10/mo

Free planYes

Free trialYes

Runs onAPI, Linux, macOS, Self-hosted, Web, Windows

Summary

Terraform is an infrastructure-as-code tool for defining and managing cloud and on-premises resources with human-readable configuration files. Its workflow is to write a configuration, review an execution plan, then apply approved changes. Providers connect it to services through APIs, with the Terraform Registry listing providers for services such as AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Kubernetes, GitHub, and Splunk. Modules package reusable configurations that users can find or publish in the Registry. The downloadable Community Edition is a free command-line tool. HCP Terraform adds remote runs, repository connections that can trigger plans after changes, and an API. It stores state remotely with encryption at rest and offers workspaces, single sign-on, and role-based access controls. HCP Terraform and Terraform Enterprise support Sentinel policies. Downloads are provided for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with a Visual Studio Code extension and a language server for compatible editors. HCP Terraform Free allows up to 500 managed resources; paid plan pricing is per managed resource, while Enterprise pricing is custom.

Who it is for

Terraform Community Edition suits practitioners who want a downloadable command-line tool for infrastructure provisioning. HCP Terraform's free features are described as suitable for small teams, while larger organizations may need paid collaboration and governance features.

What is good

Defines infrastructure through readable configuration files.
Registry includes providers and reusable modules.
HCP Terraform stores remote state encrypted at rest.
Downloads available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

What to know first

HCP Terraform Free is limited to 500 managed resources.
Paid HCP Terraform plans are priced per managed resource.
Enterprise pricing is custom and requires contacting sales.
Trusted providers and modules can access workspace variables and state.

Verdict

Terraform supports a configuration-and-plan workflow across cloud and on-premises infrastructure, with a free command-line edition and optional remote collaboration features. Teams should account for plan limits and carefully select providers and modules, which can access workspace variables and state.

Terraform plans and pricing

All plans

Free Free 500 managed resources · 1 concurrent remote run · 1 concurrent agent run developer.hashicorp.com · 22 Sept 2026

Essentials Not published Unlimited managed resources · 3 concurrent remote runs · 1 concurrent agent run developer.hashicorp.com · 22 Sept 2026

Standard Not published Unlimited managed resources · 10 concurrent remote runs · 10 concurrent agent runs developer.hashicorp.com · 22 Sept 2026

Premium Not published Unlimited managed resources · 200 concurrent remote runs · 300 concurrent agent runs developer.hashicorp.com · 22 Sept 2026

Terraform Community Edition Free Free downloadable command-line tool Provision infrastructure on any cloud provider developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026

HCP Terraform Free Free No charge Up to 500 managed resources · 1 remote run and 1 agent run concurrently developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026

Compared on cloud management software

Free plan: Yesdeveloper.hashicorp.com

Facts

Purpose: Terraform is an infrastructure-as-code tool for defining, provisioning, and managing cloud and on-premises resources through human-readable configuration files.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Workflow: Terraform’s core workflow is to write configuration, review an execution plan, and apply approved infrastructure changes.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Providers: Providers connect Terraform to services through APIs, and the Registry lists providers for services including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Kubernetes, GitHub, and Splunk.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Reusable modules: Terraform modules package reusable infrastructure configurations, and users can find or publish public modules in the Terraform Registry.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Collaboration: HCP Terraform can run Terraform remotely, connect to GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket, trigger plans from repository changes, and integrate through an API.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Security and state: HCP Terraform stores state remotely with encryption at rest and provides workspaces, single sign-on, and role-based access controls.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Security limitation: HashiCorp says policy-as-code provides guardrails rather than a security boundary, and trusted providers and modules are important because they can access workspace variables and state.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Supported downloads: The official install page provides Terraform downloads and installation instructions for Windows, macOS, and Linux.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Editor integration: HashiCorp provides a Visual Studio Code extension and a language server for editors that support the Language Server Protocol.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Policy and governance: HCP Terraform and Terraform Enterprise support Sentinel policies to enforce infrastructure standards and security rules.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Enterprise deployment: Terraform Enterprise is a self-hosted HCP Terraform distribution with customizable resource limits and installation options that include air-gapped and active-active architectures.developer.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026
Company history: HashiCorp was founded by Mitchell Hashimoto and Armon Dadgar in 2012.hashicorp.com · 29 Sept 2026