Best Google Cloud VM Manager Alternatives in 2026
The top Google Cloud VM Manager alternatives are Puppet, AWS Systems Manager State Manager and OpenText Server Automation: 15 configuration management tools our editors would look at instead of Google Cloud VM Manager, in our ranking order.
Google Cloud VM Manager: A focused Google Cloud tool for patching, policy enforcement, and VM compliance. Where it falls short: requires the OS config agent on managed VMs.
Switching from Google Cloud VM Manager? For most configuration management tools buyers the best Google Cloud VM Manager alternative is Puppet, built for mature enterprises needing broad hybrid automation.
Why People Look for a Google Cloud VM Manager Alternative
- Requires the OS Config agent on managed VMs
- Designed for Compute Engine virtual-machine fleets
- Supports English-locale operating systems
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallPuppet9.3
Mature enterprises needing broad hybrid automation
Visit Puppet - Best free optionPuppet9.3
Has a free plan
Visit Puppet
All 15 Google Cloud VM Manager Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forMature enterprises needing broad hybrid automation
- Better than Google Cloud VM Manager:
- Editor score 9.3 vs 9.0
A mature hybrid automation platform with strong drift, patching, and compliance controls.
- Compliance reporting
- Patch management
- Policy as code
9.3/10★★★★★Visit Puppet -
Best forAWS-heavy teams wanting free managed-state control
- Better than Google Cloud VM Manager:
- Editor score 9.1 vs 9.0
A free AWS service for scheduled configuration, drift management, patching, and compliance reporting.
- Compliance reporting
- Patch management
- Policy as code
9.1/10★★★★★Visit AWS -
Best forLarge operations needing provisioning and remediation
A broad platform for provisioning, patching, compliance, and remediation across heterogeneous servers.
- Compliance reporting
- Patch management
- Policy as code
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit OpenText -
Best forTeams wanting visual policy and compliance management
A visual, open-source platform for enforcing configuration and reporting compliance.
- Compliance reporting
- Patch management
- Policy as code
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit Rudder -
Best forFree, flexible infrastructure automation at scale
A flexible self-hosted choice for declarative infrastructure automation at scale.
- Compliance reporting
- Patch management
- Policy as code
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Salt -
Best forSUSE-centric teams needing provisioning and compliance
A broad Salt-based platform for provisioning, patching, compliance, and configuration control.
- Compliance reporting
- Patch management
- Policy as code
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Uyuni -
Best forMature teams prioritizing autonomous compliance
A mature, agent-based choice for teams that need autonomous drift correction.
- Compliance reporting
- Patch management
- Policy as code
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit CFEngine -
Best forEnterprises wanting paid Chef workflows and compliance
A broad, policy-driven platform for paid infrastructure management and compliance.
- Compliance reporting
- Policy as code
- Drift detection
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit Chef Infra -
Best forDevelopers needing portable declarative configuration
A portable, open-source DSC CLI for defining and comparing machine state.
- Compliance reporting
- Patch management
- Policy as code
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft DSC -
Best forAzure and Arc environments needing policy enforcement
A focused configuration-as-code service for Azure Policy and Arc-based compliance.
- Compliance reporting
- Policy as code
- Drift detection
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forUbuntu teams managing updates and compliance
Ubuntu-focused management for updates, monitoring, and compliance across Linux systems.
- Drift detection
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Canonical -
Best forSecurity configuration and change monitoring
A security-focused platform for configuration baselines, change monitoring, compliance, and remediation.
- Drift detection
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit Fortra -
Best forPython teams preferring agentless deployment workflows
A flexible open-source choice for Python teams managing infrastructure without agents.
- Patch management
- Policy as code
- Drift detection
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit pyinfra -
Best forEnterprises managing versioned software changes and audits
A mature source and artifact manager, but a weak match for infrastructure configuration enforcement.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit OpenText -
Best forWindows software update management
A deep Windows update management platform with broad endpoint administration capabilities.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft
Google Cloud VM Manager Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Google Cloud VM Manager?
Puppet: #1 in our Configuration Management Tools ranking, with an editor score of 9.3 out of 10. A mature hybrid automation platform with strong drift, patching, and compliance controls.
Is there a free alternative to Google Cloud VM Manager?
Yes. Puppet, AWS Systems Manager State Manager, Rudder, Salt and Uyuni have a free plan or a free tier (10 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Google Cloud VM Manager alternatives?
Requires the OS Config agent on managed VMs; Designed for Compute Engine virtual-machine fleets; Supports English-locale operating systems.
How do I switch from Google Cloud VM Manager?
Export your data from Google Cloud VM Manager (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Google Cloud VM Manager.
How to Switch from Google Cloud VM Manager
- Export your data from Google Cloud VM Manager (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Google Cloud VM Manager.
Google Cloud VM Manager vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Agent model | Drift detection | Patch management | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Google Cloud VM Manager | Yes | $0.003/device usage-based | Cloud | Agent_based | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 1 | Puppet | Yes | Self_hosted | Both | Yes | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 2 | AWS Systems Manager State Manager | Yes | Free | Cloud | Agent_based | Yes | Yes | 9.1 |
| 3 | OpenText Server Automation | Self_hosted | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | ||
| 4 | Rudder | Yes | Self_hosted | Agent_based | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 5 | Salt | Yes | Free | Self_hosted | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.6 |
| 6 | Uyuni | Free | Both | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 7 | CFEngine | Yes | Self_hosted | Agent_based | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 8 | Chef Infra | $59/unit/yr | Both | Both | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 9 | Microsoft Desired State Configuration | Free | Self_hosted | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | ||
| 10 | Azure Machine Configuration | Yes | Cloud | Agent_based | Yes | No | 8.1 | |
| 11 | Canonical Landscape | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | ||||
| 12 | Tripwire Enterprise | No | Yes | 7.8 | ||||
| 13 | pyinfra | Free | Both | Agentless | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 14 | OpenText Dimensions CM | 7.6 | ||||||
| 15 | Microsoft Configuration Manager | No | $1,455 usage-based | 7.6 |
Head-to-Head
- Google Cloud VM Manager vs Puppet
- Google Cloud VM Manager vs AWS Systems Manager State Manager
- Google Cloud VM Manager vs OpenText Server Automation
- Google Cloud VM Manager vs Rudder
- Google Cloud VM Manager vs Salt
- Google Cloud VM Manager vs Uyuni
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update