AWS Systems Manager State Manager
AWS Systems Manager State Manager: A free AWS service for scheduled configuration, drift management, patching, and compliance reporting. Ranked #2 of 26 in Configuration Management Tools by our editors (9.1/10); pricing: Free plan; best for AWS-heavy teams wanting free managed-state control.
At a glance
- Editor score9.1 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forAWS-heavy teams wanting free managed-state control
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Deployment modelCloud
- Facts checked22 Sep 2026
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
Our verdict on AWS Systems Manager State Manager
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 resources. Administrators can schedule actions with cron or rate expressions, target resources by tags, resource groups, node IDs, or all managed nodes, and run scripts across Linux, macOS, and Windows Server. It also supports software installation, agent updates, network configuration, Active Directory domain joining, and patching across EC2 instances, on-premises servers, virtual machines, and edge devices.
State Manager itself has no additional charge, which makes it suitable for teams seeking managed-state control without a separate State Manager fee. Associated AWS resources and some related Systems Manager operations may incur separate AWS charges, so the overall cost depends on the surrounding AWS services and operations involved. The web and API interfaces fit teams already administering AWS environments, while integrations with Amazon S3, EventBridge, AWS Config, Systems Manager Automation, Systems Manager Compliance, Systems Manager Patch Manager, and the AWS CLI extend its place in an AWS operations workflow.
Its strongest area is combining repeated configuration enforcement with operational visibility. Associations can store output in Amazon S3, report association status and compliance, manage configuration drift for AWS resources, install software, update agents, and execute scripts on multiple operating systems. The targeting options also cover specific node IDs, tagged resources, resource groups, or all managed nodes. AWS-heavy teams managing hybrid or edge systems should consider State Manager when these capabilities align with an existing Systems Manager environment. Teams seeking a tool independent of AWS services may prefer a less AWS-centered approach.
Your product? Our editors can test AWS Systems Manager State Manager in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →
AWS Systems Manager State Manager pricing
AWS Systems Manager State Manager fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Deployment model | Cloud |
| Agent model | Agent_based |
| Drift detection | Yes |
| Patch management | Yes |
| Policy as code | Yes |
| Compliance reporting | Yes |
| Supported platforms | Linux, macOS on Amazon EC2, Windows Server |
| Deployment | Cloud |
| Platforms | Web |
| Support | Docs |
| Built for | Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: Amazon S3, Amazon EventBridge, AWS Automation, AWS Config, Ansible, Chef … |
| Pricing | Free plan (source) |
| Website | docs.aws.amazon.com |
| Facts checked | 22 Sep 2026 |
AWS Systems Manager State Manager integrations
AWS Systems Manager State Manager lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- Amazon S3
- Amazon EventBridge
- AWS Automation
- AWS Config
- Ansible
- Chef
- GitHub
- PowerShell DSC
Alternatives to AWS Systems Manager State Manager
- PuppetA mature hybrid automation platform with strong drift, patching, and compliance controls.9.3
- Google Cloud VM ManagerA focused Google Cloud tool for patching, policy enforcement, and VM compliance.9.0
- OpenText Server AutomationA broad platform for provisioning, patching, compliance, and remediation across heterogeneous servers.8.8
See all AWS Systems Manager State Manager alternatives →
AWS Systems Manager State Manager vs the competition
- AWS Systems Manager State Manager vs Puppet
- AWS Systems Manager State Manager vs Google Cloud VM Manager
- AWS Systems Manager State Manager vs OpenText Server Automation
- AWS Systems Manager State Manager vs Rudder
- AWS Systems Manager State Manager vs Salt
- AWS Systems Manager State Manager vs Uyuni
Compare AWS Systems Manager State Manager with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
AWS Systems Manager State Manager is ranked in 5 of our directories.
Used AWS Systems Manager State Manager? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used AWS Systems Manager State Manager for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
AWS Systems Manager State Manager is listed in our Configuration Management Tools directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/aws-systems-manager-state-manager/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/aws-systems-manager-state-manager.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update