Head-to-head · Configuration Management Tools
AWS Systems Manager State Manager vs OpenVox
AWS Systems Manager State Manager leads on 0 checks, OpenVox on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.
Our verdict
- Highest scoreAWS Systems Manager State Manager · 9.1/10
- Free planonly AWS Systems Manager State Manager
AWS Systems Manager State Manager scores higher on our rubric for configuration management tools: 9.1 against 7.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #18.
On deployment model, AWS Systems Manager State Manager gives you Cloud where OpenVox offers Self_hosted. On agent model, OpenVox gives you Both where AWS Systems Manager State Manager offers Agent_based.
AWS Systems Manager State Manager is the better fit for AWS-heavy teams wanting free managed-state control. OpenVox is the better fit for open-source Puppet-compatible hybrid management.
- AWS Systems Manager State Manager fits best
AWS-heavy teams wanting free managed-state control
- OpenVox fits best
Open-source Puppet-compatible hybrid management
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Side by side
| Feature | AWS Systems Manager State Manager 9.1/10 Visit ↗ | OpenVox 7.4/10 Visit ↗ |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | ||
| Editor score | 9.1 | 7.4 |
| Ranking | #2 in Configuration Management Tools | #18 in Configuration Management Tools |
| Best for | AWS-heavy teams wanting free managed-state control | Open-source Puppet-compatible hybrid management |
| Pricing model | Free | Free |
| Starting price | Free plan | Open source |
| Free plan | ✓ (best) | Not checked yet |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Deployment | Cloud | Self-hosted |
| Platforms | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Docs | Docs |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Features AWS Systems Manager State Manager 4/4 · OpenVox 4/4 | ||
| Drift detection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Patch management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Policy as code | ✓ | ✓ |
| Compliance reporting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Specs | ||
| Deployment model | Cloud | Self_hosted |
| Agent model | Agent_based | Both |
| Supported platforms | Linux, macOS on Amazon EC2, Windows Server | Enterprise Linux, Amazon Linux, Fedora, SLES, Debian, Ubuntu, macOS, Windows |
| Our review | ||
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| 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 → |
OpenVox is a community-driven, open-source configuration management platform and continuation of Puppet’s open-source implementation. It is designed for teams that need declarative desired-state enforcement across Linux, Unix, Windows, and… 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
OpenVox — where it wins
- Declarative desired-state enforcement with idempotent resource application
- Agent and agentless operation across broad operating-system coverage
- Facts, Hiera data lookup, reports, metrics, and transaction events
Where it doesn't
- OpenVox Server is Linux-only
- The declarative catalog model requires configuration-management expertise
- Agent/server deployments add centralized catalog infrastructure
- 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 → - OpenVox7.4/10 · Open source
A flexible Puppet-compatible choice for declarative, hybrid configuration management.
Visit OpenVoxFull verdict →
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All configuration management tools comparisons → · Full ranking →
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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