Best Microsoft Azure Arc Alternatives in 2026
The top Microsoft Azure Arc alternatives are Nutanix Cloud Manager, OpenText Cloud Management and HPE Morpheus Enterprise: 15 cloud management software our editors would look at instead of Microsoft Azure Arc, in our ranking order.
Microsoft Azure Arc: A strong Azure-centered control plane for teams managing hybrid and multicloud infrastructure. Where it falls short: additional management, security, monitoring, and data services are charged separately.
Switching from Microsoft Azure Arc? For most cloud management software buyers the best Microsoft Azure Arc alternative is Nutanix Cloud Manager, built for nutanix hybrid-cloud operations. Canonical OpenStack has a free plan.
Why People Look for a Microsoft Azure Arc Alternative
- Additional management, security, monitoring, and data services are charged separately
- Its broad feature set is primarily suited to hybrid and multicloud infrastructure
- Azure-centered workflows may be less suitable for teams seeking a cloud-neutral console
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallNutanix Cloud Manager9.1
Nutanix hybrid-cloud operations
Visit Nutanix Cloud Manager - Best free optionCanonical OpenStack8.8
Has a free plan
Visit Canonical OpenStack
All 15 Microsoft Azure Arc 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 forNutanix hybrid-cloud operations
A broad hybrid-cloud operations suite for teams managing Nutanix, VMware, and public clouds.
- Policy governance
9.1/10★★★★★Visit Nutanix -
Best forEnterprise workflow and CMDB management
A broad platform for governing workflows, infrastructure, CMDB data, and cloud spend.
- Policy governance
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit OpenText -
Best forEnterprise hybrid-cloud governance and provisioning
A self-hosted control plane for governing and automating complex hybrid-cloud estates.
8.9/10★★★★☆Visit HPE -
Best forOpen-source private-cloud builders
A broad, self-hosted toolkit for building private cloud infrastructure on Ubuntu.
- Self-service catalog
- Provisioning automation
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit Canonical -
Best forSelf-hosted private-cloud operators
A broad self-hosted cloud platform for teams managing compute, networking, and storage.
8.7/10★★★★☆Visit site -
Best forStandardized infrastructure provisioning
A declarative infrastructure tool with broad provider support and tiered governance features.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Terraform -
Best forWindows datacenter virtualization management
A Windows-focused control plane for managing virtualized datacenter infrastructure.
8.5/10★★★★☆Visit Microsoft -
Best forFinOps-led multicloud management
A FinOps-focused platform for multicloud cost control, governance, and self-service provisioning.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit CloudBolt -
Best forMulti-platform infrastructure management
Broad, self-hosted control for infrastructure discovery, governance, automation, and optimization.
8.3/10★★★★☆Visit ManageIQ -
Best forTerraform governance and remote operations
A focused Terraform and OpenTofu platform with governance, drift detection, and remote execution.
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit Scalr -
Best forBlueprint-driven multicloud orchestration
Blueprint-driven orchestration for multicloud, edge, and infrastructure workflows.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Cloudify -
Best forApplication-centric multicloud operators
A broad, self-hosted orchestration engine for teams managing applications across varied infrastructure.
- Infrastructure as code
- Provisioning automation
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Canonical -
Best forVMware-centered enterprise clouds
A VMware Cloud Foundation component for governed infrastructure and Kubernetes self-service.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit VMware -
Best forAWS and Azure cloud cost optimization
A focused AWS and Azure platform for visibility, optimization, allocation, and FinOps work.
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit CloudCheckr -
Best forHVM and VMware VM management
A self-hosted choice for unified HVM and VMware VM lifecycle management.
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit HPE
Microsoft Azure Arc Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Azure Arc?
Nutanix Cloud Manager: #2 in our Cloud Management Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.1 out of 10. A broad hybrid-cloud operations suite for teams managing Nutanix, VMware, and public clouds.
Is there a free alternative to Microsoft Azure Arc?
Yes. Canonical OpenStack, Apache CloudStack, Terraform, CloudBolt and ManageIQ have a free plan or a free tier (8 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Microsoft Azure Arc alternatives?
Additional management, security, monitoring, and data services are charged separately; Its broad feature set is primarily suited to hybrid and multicloud infrastructure; Azure-centered workflows may be less suitable for teams seeking a cloud-neutral console.
How do I switch from Microsoft Azure Arc?
Snapshot or back up the data and configs on your Microsoft Azure Arc server. Create the new server with the same operating system and size, and add your SSH key. Copy the data across (rsync or your backup tool) and reinstall your apps or containers. Move the DNS records or IP references to the new server, test it, then cancel Microsoft Azure Arc.
How to Switch from Microsoft Azure Arc
- Snapshot or back up the data and configs on your Microsoft Azure Arc server.
- Create the new server with the same operating system and size, and add your SSH key.
- Copy the data across (rsync or your backup tool) and reinstall your apps or containers.
- Move the DNS records or IP references to the new server, test it, then cancel Microsoft Azure Arc.
Microsoft Azure Arc vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Microsoft Azure Arc | Yes | 9.3 | |
| 1 | Nutanix Cloud Manager | No | 9.1 | |
| 2 | OpenText Cloud Management | 9.0 | ||
| 3 | HPE Morpheus Enterprise | No | 8.9 | |
| 4 | Canonical OpenStack | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 5 | Apache CloudStack | Yes | Free | 8.7 |
| 6 | Terraform | Yes | 8.6 | |
| 7 | Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager | No | 8.5 | |
| 8 | CloudBolt | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 9 | ManageIQ | Yes | Free | 8.3 |
| 10 | Scalr | Yes | $0.99/unit usage-based | 8.2 |
| 11 | Cloudify | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 12 | Juju | Free | 8.0 | |
| 13 | VMware Cloud Foundation Automation | 7.9 | ||
| 14 | CloudCheckr | 7.8 | ||
| 15 | HPE Morpheus VM Essentials Software | No | 7.7 |
Head-to-Head
- Microsoft Azure Arc vs Nutanix Cloud Manager
- Microsoft Azure Arc vs OpenText Cloud Management
- Microsoft Azure Arc vs HPE Morpheus Enterprise
- Microsoft Azure Arc vs Canonical OpenStack
- Microsoft Azure Arc vs Terraform
- Microsoft Azure Arc vs Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update