Puppet
8.4#2 in it automation softwareFrom $120 a monthFree planWebAPILinuxmacOS
VisitPuppet vs Salt
What both publish
| Fact | Puppet | Salt |
|---|---|---|
| API | Puppet and Puppet Enterprise expose HTTP APIs for application integrations, including inventory and orchestration services. | Salt netapi modules provide network API access over REST through HTTP and WSGI and through WebSockets. |
| Configuration management | The platform continuously enforces declared configuration state and records audit and correction information. | Salt states are described as simple, extensible, deterministic, and layerable. |
| Integrations | Official integration listings include ServiceNow, VMware, Argo CD, Jenkins, Dynatrace, Datadog, New Relic, Splunk, Tenable Nessus and CIS Benchmarks. | SaltStack Config integrates with LDAP, SAML, OIDC, and Active Directory. |
| License | Open-source Puppet is released under Apache-2.0, while Puppet Enterprise adds proprietary commercial components, orchestration, console and support. | Salt is licensed under the Apache 2.0 license. |
| Purpose | Puppet Enterprise provides policy-driven configuration management and infrastructure automation for enterprise-scale environments. | Salt is a Python-based, open-source framework for remote execution, configuration management, automation, provisioning, and orchestration. |
| Scale | Puppet says its free trial runs Puppet Enterprise on up to 10 nodes with no commitment or time limit. | Salt can execute multiple commands across thousands of systems in seconds with a single execution. |
| Security | Puppet describes Security Compliance Enforcement as applying policy as code aligned to CIS Benchmarks and DISA STIGs to identify and remediate configuration drift. | Salt uses RSA keys for authentication, AES keys for encryption, and rotates the AES key every 24 hours by default or when a minion is deleted. |
Puppet plans
- Puppet CoreFree
- Puppet Enterprise free trialFree
- Puppet Enterprise listing price$120 a month
- Puppet EnterprisePriced on request
- Puppet Enterprise AdvancedPriced on request
Salt plans
- Salt Open SourceFree
Pick Puppet if…
It suits medium and large organizations managing complex hybrid environments that need centralized automation, security and compliance. Teams managing network or edge devices should note that this is optional and requires sales contact for licensing.
Pick Salt if…
Salt suits teams automating configuration and infrastructure across multiple systems, including teams that need agentless access or dependency-ordered orchestration. SaltStack Config may suit organizations seeking role-based access controls and compliance profiles.