Cloud Foundry
Cloud Foundry: A self-operated PaaS for deploying, routing, scaling, and monitoring cloud-native apps. Ranked #6 of 43 in Platform as a Service by our editors (8.8/10); pricing: Open source; best for organizations operating their own PaaS.
At a glance
- Editor score8.8 / 10
- PricingOpen source
- Best forOrganizations operating their own PaaS
- Paid fromFree
- AutoscalingYes
- Founded2009 · San Francisco, California, United States
- Facts checked19 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Deploy across AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, OpenStack, and vSphere
- Supports buildpacks, Docker images, and HTTP or TCP routes
- Includes internal networking, scaling, logs, and metrics
Where it doesn't
- Organizations operate the platform or use a commercial provider's distribution
- Database services depend on operator-integrated service brokers
- Automatic scaling uses an optional extension or provider service
Our verdict on Cloud Foundry
Cloud Foundry is an open-source platform as a service for deploying and operating cloud-native applications. It suits organizations that want to operate their own application platform across infrastructure providers, with support for multiple programming languages and buildpacks. Applications can be deployed through the cf CLI and Cloud Controller, or from Docker images when Docker support is enabled. This is a platform for teams that want control over deployment and runtime operations, rather than a single hosted service to adopt as-is.
Its multi-provider support is a central strength: Cloud Foundry can run on AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, OpenStack, and vSphere. Applications get HTTP and TCP routing, internal networking and service discovery, and horizontal or vertical scaling. The Service Broker API connects applications with provisioned services, while centralized logs and metrics cover applications and platform components. This breadth can suit organizations standardizing application operations across infrastructure; teams seeking a narrower, provider-managed deployment path may prefer a commercial Cloud Foundry distribution.
Operating the platform also means accounting for provider and operator choices. Database services are provisioned through operator-integrated service brokers and may come from third parties, so database availability depends on the services an operator integrates. Automatic scaling is not a universal built-in assumption: App AutoScaler is an optional extension or service, depending on the provider. Organizations should choose Cloud Foundry when they can manage the platform or select a provider distribution and want its routing, networking, and scaling capabilities. It is a less direct fit for buyers who expect one centrally hosted Cloud Foundry service with a uniform setup and service catalog.
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Cloud Foundry pricing
Cloud Foundry fact sheet
| Free plan | Not verified |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Managed databases | No |
| Autoscaling | Yes |
| Private networking | Yes |
| Preview environments | Not verified |
| Deployment regions | Not verified |
| Container deployments | Yes |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Integrations | 8 integrations: AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, OpenStack, vSphere, Docker registries … |
| Pricing | Open source |
| Website | cloudfoundry.org |
| Facts checked | 19 Sep 2026 |
Cloud Foundry integrations
Cloud Foundry lists 8 integrations on its own site.
- AWS
- Microsoft Azure
- Google Cloud Platform
- OpenStack
- vSphere
- Docker registries
- Service Broker API
- BOSH
Alternatives to Cloud Foundry
- Azure App ServiceA broad Azure hosting service, with free shared compute and paid dedicated options.9.3
- Google App EngineManaged Google Cloud hosting with autoscaling, versioning, and usage-based pricing.9.2
- HerokuA mature managed PaaS with flexible deployment workflows, but no free plan.9.1
See all Cloud Foundry alternatives →
Cloud Foundry vs the competition
- Cloud Foundry vs Azure App Service
- Cloud Foundry vs Google App Engine
- Cloud Foundry vs Heroku
- Cloud Foundry vs SAP Business Technology Platform
- Cloud Foundry vs ServiceNow App Engine
- Cloud Foundry vs OutSystems
Compare Cloud Foundry with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Cloud Foundry is ranked in 8 of our directories; the 6 strongest besides Platform as a Service.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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