AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) vs OpenFaaS

ASAWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM)9.1Visit OpenFaaS8.4Visit

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

OpenFaaS #6 in Serverless Development Frameworks 8.4/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 4 features Visit OpenFaaS

• AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) fits best

  AWS teams wanting templates and local debugging

• OpenFaaS fits best

  Teams deploying containerized functions on Kubernetes

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Side by side

Feature	ASAWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) 9.1/10 Visit ↗	OpenFaaS 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.4
Ranking	#2 in Serverless Development Frameworks	#6 in Serverless Development Frameworks
Best for	AWS teams wanting templates and local debugging	Teams deploying containerized functions on Kubernetes
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	$1,250/mo
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	14 days
Deployment	Self-hosted	Cloud, Desktop, Self-hosted
Platforms	Linux, macOS, Windows	Web, Linux
Integrations	4 integrations	11 integrations
Features AWS Serverless Application Model (AWS SAM) 0/4 · OpenFaaS 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.	Deploy to Kubernetes, K3s, OpenShift, or a single host with faasd Supports event connectors including Kafka, RabbitMQ, and PostgreSQL Offers language templates plus custom container images and runtimes
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.	Community Edition limits deployments to 15 functions and one namespace Private function registries and scale-to-zero require a paid plan Standard starts at $1,250 per month
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 →	OpenFaaS is a self-hosted serverless platform for teams deploying event-driven functions and microservices as OCI container images. It targets Kubernetes, K3s, OpenShift, and single-host deployments with faasd, and is designed for cloud,… 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.

• OpenFaaS — where it wins

  • Deploy to Kubernetes, K3s, OpenShift, or a single host with faasd
  • Supports event connectors including Kafka, RabbitMQ, and PostgreSQL
  • Offers language templates plus custom container images and runtimes

  Where it doesn't

  • Community Edition limits deployments to 15 functions and one namespace
  • Private function registries and scale-to-zero require a paid plan
  • Standard starts at $1,250 per month

• 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 →
• OpenFaaS8.4/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

  A self-hosted, container-based serverless platform with broad Kubernetes targets and paid scale-to-zero.

  Visit OpenFaaSFull verdict →