AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) vs Apache OpenWhisk

ASAWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM)9.1Visit Apache OpenWhisk8.8Visit

Higher score AS AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) #2 in Serverless Development Frameworks 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 4 features Visit AWS SAM

vs

Apache OpenWhisk #3 in Serverless Development Frameworks 8.8/10 Open source ✓ 0 of 4 features Try Apache OpenWhisk

• AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) fits best

  AWS teams wanting templates and local debugging

• Apache OpenWhisk fits best

  Teams building portable event-driven functions

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Side by side

Feature	ASAWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Apache OpenWhisk 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.8
Ranking	#2 in Serverless Development Frameworks	#3 in Serverless Development Frameworks
Best for	AWS teams wanting templates and local debugging	Teams building portable event-driven functions
Pricing model	Free	Free
Starting price	Free plan	Open source
Free plan	✓ (best)	Not checked yet
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Self-hosted	Desktop, Self-hosted
Platforms	Linux, macOS, Windows	Linux, macOS, Windows
Integrations	4 integrations	7 integrations
Features AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) 0/4 · Apache OpenWhisk 0/4
Local testing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Application packaging	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Kubernetes support	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Deployment rollback	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Deployment targets	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Supported languages	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Deployment model	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Defines AWS serverless resources in shorthand YAML templates. Supports local Lambda invocation, testing, and debugging. Builds, packages, deploys, syncs, and manages CI/CD pipelines.	Supports triggers, rules, feeds, sequences, and synchronous or asynchronous actions Offers multiple language runtimes plus custom Docker runtimes Deploys locally or on Kubernetes and includes REST API access
Cons	Supports AWS rather than serving as a general multi-cloud framework. AWS resources deployed with SAM incur separate usage charges. Its templates and deployment flow are centered on CloudFormation.	Requires a self-managed deployment rather than a vendor-hosted paid service Management and deployment workflows center on the CLI and YAML manifests The published product details give limited development and deployment workflow guidance
Our verdict	AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) is an open-source framework and command-line interface for developers building serverless applications on AWS. Its shorthand YAML templates define resources such as functions, APIs, databases, and… Read the review →	Apache OpenWhisk is an open-source, distributed serverless platform for running functions in response to events or HTTP requests. Its model combines actions with triggers, rules, feeds, packages, and sequences, making it a fit for teams… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) — where it wins

  • Defines AWS serverless resources in shorthand YAML templates.
  • Supports local Lambda invocation, testing, and debugging.
  • Builds, packages, deploys, syncs, and manages CI/CD pipelines.

  Where it doesn't

  • Supports AWS rather than serving as a general multi-cloud framework.
  • AWS resources deployed with SAM incur separate usage charges.
  • Its templates and deployment flow are centered on CloudFormation.

• Apache OpenWhisk — where it wins

  • Supports triggers, rules, feeds, sequences, and synchronous or asynchronous actions
  • Offers multiple language runtimes plus custom Docker runtimes
  • Deploys locally or on Kubernetes and includes REST API access

  Where it doesn't

  • Requires a self-managed deployment rather than a vendor-hosted paid service
  • Management and deployment workflows center on the CLI and YAML manifests
  • The published product details give limited development and deployment workflow guidance

• ASAWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM)9.1/10 · Free plan

  A free AWS-focused toolkit for defining, deploying, and locally debugging serverless apps.

  Visit AWS SAMFull verdict →
• Apache OpenWhisk8.8/10 · Open source

  A portable, self-managed framework for event-driven functions, with Kubernetes and Docker support.

  Try Apache OpenWhiskFull verdict →