AWS Systems Manager State Manager vs Azure Machine Configuration

AWS Systems Manager State Manager9.1Visit Azure Machine Configuration8.1Visit

Higher score AWS Systems Manager State Manager #2 in Configuration Management Tools 9.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit AWS

vs

Azure Machine Configuration #11 in Configuration Management Tools 8.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Microsoft

• AWS Systems Manager State Manager fits best

  AWS-heavy teams wanting free managed-state control

• Azure Machine Configuration fits best

  Azure and Arc environments needing policy enforcement

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Side by side

Feature	AWS Systems Manager State Manager 9.1/10 Visit ↗	Azure Machine Configuration 8.1/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	9.1	8.1
Ranking	#2 in Configuration Management Tools	#11 in Configuration Management Tools
Best for	AWS-heavy teams wanting free managed-state control	Azure and Arc environments needing policy enforcement
Pricing model	Free	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	—
Deployment	Cloud	Cloud
Platforms	Web	Web
Support	Docs	Docs
Features AWS Systems Manager State Manager 4/4 · Azure Machine Configuration 3/4
Drift detection	✓	✓
Patch management	✓ (best)	—
Policy as code	✓	✓
Compliance reporting	✓	✓
Specs
Deployment model	Cloud	Cloud
Agent model	Agent_based	Agent_based
Supported platforms	Linux, macOS on Amazon EC2, Windows Server	AlmaLinux 9; Amazon Linux 2; Ubuntu Server 16.04–24.x; Debian 10.x–13.x; CBL-Mariner 1–2; Azure Linux 3; Windows 10–11; Windows Server 2012–2025; Oracle Linux 7.x–9.x; CentOS 7.3–8.x; RHEL 7.4–10.x; Rocky Linux 8–9; SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 and 15.x
Our review
Pros	Free State Manager service with scheduled desired-state associations Targets AWS, on-premises, virtual, and edge systems Includes drift management, patching, and compliance reporting	Configuration-as-code auditing with enforcement and drift autocorrection Azure Policy assignments scale configuration across machines Machine-level compliance evidence and Resource Graph queries
Cons	Its scope is centered on AWS and Systems Manager Associated AWS resources may incur separate charges Configuration work is organized around associations and documents	Patch management is outside its feature set Arc resources cost $6 per server per month Custom packages use PowerShell Desired State Configuration
Our verdict	AWS Systems Manager State Manager is a cloud configuration management service for AWS customers. It uses associations and Systems Manager documents to define desired configurations and repeatedly apply them to managed nodes and other AWS… Read the review →	Azure Machine Configuration audits or configures operating-system, application, and environment settings as code. It manages Azure virtual machines and hybrid Arc-enabled machines directly or through Azure Policy assignments. Its audience… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• AWS Systems Manager State Manager — where it wins

  • Free State Manager service with scheduled desired-state associations
  • Targets AWS, on-premises, virtual, and edge systems
  • Includes drift management, patching, and compliance reporting

  Where it doesn't

  • Its scope is centered on AWS and Systems Manager
  • Associated AWS resources may incur separate charges
  • Configuration work is organized around associations and documents

• Azure Machine Configuration — where it wins

  • Configuration-as-code auditing with enforcement and drift autocorrection
  • Azure Policy assignments scale configuration across machines
  • Machine-level compliance evidence and Resource Graph queries

  Where it doesn't

  • Patch management is outside its feature set
  • Arc resources cost $6 per server per month
  • Custom packages use PowerShell Desired State Configuration

• AWS Systems Manager State Manager9.1/10 · Free plan

  A free AWS service for scheduled configuration, drift management, patching, and compliance reporting.

  Visit AWSFull verdict →
• Azure Machine Configuration8.1/10 · Free plan

  A focused configuration-as-code service for Azure Policy and Arc-based compliance.

  Visit MicrosoftFull verdict →