Best Microsoft Configuration Manager Alternatives in 2026
The top Microsoft Configuration Manager alternatives are Puppet, AWS Systems Manager State Manager and Google Cloud VM Manager: 15 configuration management tools our editors would look at instead of Microsoft Configuration Manager, in our ranking order.
Microsoft Configuration Manager: A deep Windows update management platform with broad endpoint administration capabilities. Where it falls short: supports windows platforms rather than a broad multi-platform environment.
Switching from Microsoft Configuration Manager? For most configuration management tools buyers the best Microsoft Configuration Manager alternative is Puppet, built for mature enterprises needing broad hybrid automation.
Why People Look for a Microsoft Configuration Manager Alternative
- Supports Windows platforms rather than a broad multi-platform environment
- Does not support offline device management
- Focuses more on updates than broad desired-state configuration management
- No free plan — 8 of the alternatives below have it
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 (Microsoft Configuration Manager has none)
Visit Puppet
All 15 Microsoft Configuration 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 Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.3 vs 7.6
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 Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.1 vs 7.6
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 forGoogle Cloud VM patch and policy operations
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.6
A focused Google Cloud tool for patching, policy enforcement, and VM compliance.
- Compliance reporting
- Patch management
- Policy as code
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Google Cloud -
Best forLarge operations needing provisioning and remediation
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.6
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
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.7 vs 7.6
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
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.6
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
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Editor score 8.5 vs 7.6
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
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.6
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
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Editor score 8.3 vs 7.6
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
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.6
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
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.6
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
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.6
Ubuntu-focused management for updates, monitoring, and compliance across Linux systems.
- Drift detection
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Canonical -
Best forSecurity configuration and change monitoring
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.6
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
- Better than Microsoft Configuration Manager:
- Editor score 7.7 vs 7.6
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
Microsoft Configuration Manager Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Microsoft Configuration 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 Microsoft Configuration Manager?
Yes. Puppet, AWS Systems Manager State Manager, Google Cloud VM Manager, Rudder and Salt have a free plan or a free tier (11 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Microsoft Configuration Manager alternatives?
Supports Windows platforms rather than a broad multi-platform environment; Does not support offline device management; Focuses more on updates than broad desired-state configuration management.
How do I switch from Microsoft Configuration Manager?
Export your data from Microsoft Configuration 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 Microsoft Configuration Manager.
How to Switch from Microsoft Configuration Manager
- Export your data from Microsoft Configuration 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 Microsoft Configuration Manager.
Microsoft Configuration Manager vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Deployment model | Agent model | Drift detection | Patch management | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | Microsoft Configuration Manager | No | $1,455 usage-based | 7.6 | ||||
| 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 | Google Cloud VM Manager | Yes | $0.003/device usage-based | Cloud | Agent_based | Yes | Yes | 9.0 |
| 4 | OpenText Server Automation | Self_hosted | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.8 | ||
| 5 | Rudder | Yes | Self_hosted | Agent_based | Yes | Yes | 8.7 | |
| 6 | Salt | Yes | Free | Self_hosted | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.6 |
| 7 | Uyuni | Free | Both | Both | Yes | Yes | 8.5 | |
| 8 | CFEngine | Yes | Self_hosted | Agent_based | Yes | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 9 | Chef Infra | $59/unit/yr | Both | Both | Yes | 8.3 | ||
| 10 | Microsoft Desired State Configuration | Free | Self_hosted | Yes | Yes | 8.2 | ||
| 11 | Azure Machine Configuration | Yes | Cloud | Agent_based | Yes | No | 8.1 | |
| 12 | Canonical Landscape | Yes | Yes | 8.0 | ||||
| 13 | Tripwire Enterprise | No | Yes | 7.8 | ||||
| 14 | pyinfra | Free | Both | Agentless | Yes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 15 | OpenText Dimensions CM | 7.6 |
Guides on Configuration Management Tools
- Best Software Configuration Management Tools: GitHub, GitLab, Azure DevOps, Perforce, and MoreAug 2026
- 13 Best Free and Open Source Linux Configuration Management SoftwareAug 2026
- Configuration Management Tools Compared: Ansible, Puppet, Chef, and SaltOct 2026
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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