16 Most Useful Infrastructure as Code (IaC) Tools for 2025

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Picture this: it’s 2 AM, your Kubernetes cluster is failing, and you’re staring at a Terraform configuration that looks like it was written by someone who hates your future self.

The deployment worked fine in staging, but production? Production is a different beast entirely.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

The dirty secret of Infrastructure as Code is that most teams are still winging it when it comes to security and code quality. Sure, we’ve automated the provisioning part, but we’re still manually reviewing infrastructure code like it’s 2015.

Recent data shows 73% of enterprises got hit with AI-related security incidents in the past year, costing an average of $4.8 million per breach.

Meanwhile, AI is now generating 25% of all new code according to Google. But the math isn’t creating infrastructure code faster than ever, but our review processes are stuck in the past.

The IaC market hit $850.6 million in 2024 and is growing at 24% annually, but the real story isn’t the growth, it’s the shift. Teams are finally realizing that “move fast and break things” doesn’t work when “things” are your production infrastructure.

This guide covers the 16 tools that actually matter in 2025, starting with the security and quality solutions that have become essential, then diving into the provisioning and configuration tools you need to know.

We're not sugarcoating anything, if a tool sucks, we'll tell you why.

Why Infrastructure Code Review is Broken (And What Actually Works)

Let’s talk about something nobody wants to admit: traditional infrastructure code review is fundamentally broken.

The typical process goes like this: Someone writes Terraform, submits a PR, and hopes their colleague catches the security issue where they accidentally opened port 22 to the internet.

Maybe they catch it.

Maybe they don’t.

Maybe they’re too busy to do a thorough review and just approve it because “it looks fine.”

This approach worked when teams were small and infrastructure changes were rare.

Now?

With teams pushing infrastructure changes daily and AI helping generate code, manual review doesn’t scale.

AI-Powered Code Review: The Tools That Actually Help

1. CodeAnt AI

What it actually does

Intelligent infrastructure code review that doesn't suck

Why it matters

Because manual PR reviews miss critical security issues

Real talk

This is what code review should have been all along

Let me be blunt: if you’re not using AI to review code that AI helped write, you’re asking for trouble. CodeAnt AI solves the fundamental problem with infrastructure code review, context.

Traditional static scanners dump hundreds of warnings on your team and call it security. CodeAnt AI actually understands what your code is trying to do and explains why that S3 bucket configuration is a terrible idea before you push it to production.

We raised $2 million from Y Combinator in May 2025, but more importantly, teams like Fidelity and Motorq are using it to catch issues that would otherwise slip through manual review.

What makes it different

• Reviews infrastructure code like a senior engineer would

• Explains the actual impact of security issues, not just "this violates rule X"

• Provides one-click fixes that actually work

• Integrates with your existing Git workflow without slowing anyone down

The reality check

• Works really well for common infrastructure patterns

• Still learning edge cases and complex organizational policies

• Requires some setup and team buy-in

Why teams are switching

Because catching a misconfiguration in PR review costs nothing. Catching it in production costs everything.

Getting started

14-day free trial with your existing Git setup. Their demo actually shows real security issues, not marketing fluff.

Pricing

Starts at $10/user/month (AI Code Review plan), $15/user/month (Code Quality Platform), $15/user/month (Code Security Platform). 14-day free trial available.

2. Checkov

What it actually does: Finds the security issues you didn't know you had

Why it matters: Because "secure by default" is a myth

Real talk: Essential, but prepare for a lot of warnings initially

Checkov is like having a security auditor review every line of your infrastructure code. With 750+ built-in policies, it catches the mistakes that turn minor oversights into major incidents.

The first time you run Checkov on existing infrastructure code, you'll probably get overwhelmed by the number of issues it finds. Don't panic, most teams have hundreds of minor security issues they never knew about.

What it catches:

• S3 buckets that are accidentally public

• Security groups that are too permissive

• Unencrypted databases and storage

• Missing backup configurations

• Compliance violations across major frameworks

The learning curve:

• Easy to install and run

• Takes time to tune policies for your environment

• Can generate false positives without proper configuration

• Works best when integrated into CI/CD from the start

Why it's essential: Because the security issue you don't know about is the one that will bite you.

Getting started: pip install checkov and run it on your existing code. Prepare to learn things you didn't want to know about your infrastructure.

Pricing: Free (Open source under Apache 2.0 license)

3. Spacelift

What it actually does: Makes multi-tool IaC management less painful

Why it matters: Because most teams use more than one IaC tool

Real talk: Enterprise-grade orchestration that actually works

Here's something nobody talks about: managing multiple IaC tools across teams is harder than the tools themselves. 

Spacelift brings sanity to environments where some teams use Terraform, others use Pulumi, and everyone’s trying to coordinate deployments.

Half of Spacelift’s deployments are now running OpenTofu, which tells you something about where the market is heading.

What it solves:

• Coordinating deployments across multiple IaC tools

• Policy enforcement that actually gets followed

• Drift detection that doesn't generate noise

• Approval workflows that don't slow teams down

When you need it:

• Multiple teams with different IaC preferences

• Complex environments with dependencies between stacks

• Enterprise governance and compliance requirements

• More than a handful of people managing infrastructure

The trade-offs:

• Commercial platform with real costs

• Learning curve for workflow configuration

• Probably overkill for small teams

• Worth it when coordination becomes a problem

Getting started: Free tier lets you test with real workloads. Their onboarding actually explains how to organize complex environments.

Pricing: Free tier available, Starter plan at $250/month, Starter+ and Business plans (annual), Enterprise (custom pricing)

Infrastructure Provisioning: The Tools That Build Things

4. OpenTofu

What it actually does: Terraform without the vendor lock-in anxiety

Why it matters: Because depending on one company for critical infrastructure is risky

Real talk: This is where smart teams are heading

Remember when HashiCorp changed Terraform’s license and everyone freaked out? The community didn’t just complain, they built something better.

OpenTofu isn’t just a Terraform fork; it’s proof that community-driven development can outpace corporate priorities. Fidelity recently announced they’re switching to OpenTofu as their default IaC platform. When a financial giant publicly ditches Terraform, that’s not news, that’s a signal.

Why teams are switching:

• Same syntax and providers as Terraform, but actually open source

• Features Terraform users requested for years (like state encryption)

• Linux Foundation governance means no surprise license changes

• Growing faster than anyone expected

What you get:

• Drop-in replacement for Terraform

• Built-in state encryption (finally!)

• Early variable evaluation that actually works

• Dynamic providers for complex scenarios

The honest assessment:

• Newer project with smaller ecosystem (but growing fast)

• Some tooling still catching up to Terraform support

• Feature development sometimes lags HashiCorp's resources

• Worth the switch for long-term peace of mind

Migration reality:

If you're using Terraform 1.6 or earlier, migration is straightforward. Their docs include step-by-step guides that actually work.

Getting started: Start with a non-critical project and migrate gradually. Most teams are surprised how smooth the transition is.

Pricing: Free (Open source under Mozilla Public License 2.0)

5. Terraform

What it actually does: The infrastructure tool everyone knows

Why it still matters: Massive ecosystem and proven track record

Real talk: Still good, but the license situation is awkward

Terraform is the 800-pound gorilla of IaC. It’s battle-tested, well-documented, and has solutions for pretty much every infrastructure problem you can imagine. The Business Source License situation creates some uncertainty, but it's not going anywhere soon.

Why it's still relevant:

• Largest ecosystem with 3,900+ providers

• Proven at massive scale (Netflix, Uber, etc.)

• Most comprehensive third-party tooling

• Best documentation and learning resources

The license reality:

• BSL allows most common use cases

• Creates uncertainty for some commercial scenarios

• Risk of future restrictions or changes

• Some teams switching to OpenTofu as insurance

When to stick with Terraform:

• Heavily invested in HashiCorp ecosystem

• Using enterprise features not available elsewhere

• Need maximum provider and tooling compatibility

• Comfortable with license terms

The honest take:

Still a solid choice if the license terms work for your organization. Just have an exit strategy.

Getting started: HashiCorp Learn platform has excellent free tutorials.

Pricing: Free (Community edition), Terraform Cloud has free tier, Standard and Plus plans (RUM-based pricing) varies.

6. Pulumi

What it actually does: Infrastructure code using real programming languages

Why developers love it: Because DSLs are annoying

Real talk: Game-changer for teams that think in code

While everyone else argues about YAML vs HCL, Pulumi lets you use actual programming languages. Python, TypeScript, Go, C#, if you can code in it, you can manage infrastructure with it. This isn’t just convenience. Real programming languages mean real programming constructs: loops, conditionals, functions, classes, and all the abstractions that make complex systems manageable.

Why it's different:

• Use languages your team already knows

• Actual programming constructs (loops, functions, classes)

• Superior testing and debugging capabilities

• Native package manager integration

Who should use it:

• Developer-heavy teams tired of learning DSLs

• Complex infrastructure requiring dynamic logic

• Teams that want to test infrastructure code properly

• Organizations standardizing on specific languages

The trade-offs:

• Learning curve for traditional ops teams

• Smaller ecosystem than Terraform/OpenTofu

• Risk of over-engineering infrastructure

• Can be overkill for simple deployments

Getting started: Pick your favorite language and follow their guides. The Python tutorial is particularly good for infrastructure beginners.

Pricing: Free for individuals, Team edition at $0.0005 per Pulumi Credit (resource-hour), Enterprise starts at ~$32,850/year, Business Critical starts at ~$50,000/year

7. AWS CloudFormation

What it actually does: AWS infrastructure the Amazon way

What it actually does: Deepest AWS integration possible

Real talk: Perfect for AWS-only shops, painful for everyone else

If you're all-in on AWS and plan to stay that way, CloudFormation gives you the deepest possible integration. New AWS services often show up in CloudFormation before the APIs are fully documented.

The AWS advantage:

• Immediate support for new AWS services

• No external state management headaches

• Direct AWS support when things break

• Best integration with AWS governance tools

The reality check:

• AWS-only means no multi-cloud flexibility

• YAML/JSON syntax gets ugly fast

• Limited reusability compared to modern tools

• Can't use the same skills elsewhere

When it makes sense:

• Committed to AWS long-term

• Need immediate access to new AWS features

• Want direct AWS support for infrastructure issues

• Prefer vendor-managed solutions

Getting started: AWS documentation is comprehensive. The CloudFormation Designer helps visualize complex templates.

Pricing: Free (AWS service - you only pay for the AWS resources created)

8. Azure Bicep

What it actually does: ARM templates that don't make you cry

Why it exists: Because nobody likes JSON hell

Real talk: What ARM templates should have been from the start

Microsoft looked at ARM templates, saw the mess they created, and built Bicep to fix it. Same functionality, readable syntax, and tooling that doesn't fight you.

Why it's better than ARM:

• Human-readable syntax instead of JSON nightmare

• Strong typing prevents stupid mistakes

• Excellent VS Code integration

• Compiles to ARM so it's not a separate platform

The limitations:

• Still Azure-only

• Smaller community than multi-cloud tools

• Limited third-party tooling

• Need to learn Microsoft's way of thinking

When to choose it:

• Azure-focused organization

• Migrating from ARM templates

• Want modern tooling for Azure infrastructure

• Prefer Microsoft's ecosystem

Getting started: Microsoft Learn modules are actually good. The playground environments let you experiment safely.

Pricing: Free (Open source, compiles to ARM templates)

Configuration Management: Making Servers Do What You Want

9. Ansible

What it actually does: Configuration management that doesn't require a PhD

Why it's popular: No agents, readable YAML, just works

Real talk: The Swiss Army knife of automation

Ansible is what happens when someone builds automation tools for normal humans. No agents to manage, readable playbooks, and it works on pretty much everything.

Why teams love it:

• No software to install on target systems

• YAML that humans can actually read

• Works for both config management and infrastructure provisioning

• Huge library of pre-built modules

Where it struggles:

• Performance isn't great for large deployments

• State management is messy compared to other tools

• Can get complex with dependencies

• Not ideal for infrastructure-heavy workloads

Best use cases:

• Hybrid environments with diverse systems

• Teams that need both config and infrastructure automation

• Organizations that want simple, understandable automation

• Environments where agents aren't practical

Getting started: Community documentation is excellent. Red Hat's training materials are worth the investment.

Pricing: Free (Open source under GPL license)

10. Chef

What it actually does: Enterprise-grade configuration management

Why enterprises use it: Compliance and policy enforcement that actually works

Real talk: Powerful but complex

Chef is the tool you use when configuration management is serious business. It’s Ruby-based, test-driven, and designed for environments where compliance isn’t optional.

Enterprise strengths:

• Robust testing framework for infrastructure

• Comprehensive compliance and audit capabilities

• Detailed reporting and audit capabilities

• Mature ecosystem for complex environments

The complexity cost:

• Steep learning curve requiring Ruby skills

• Complex architecture with multiple moving parts

• Higher overhead than simpler alternatives

• Can be overkill for straightforward needs

When it makes sense:

• Large, complex environments

• Strict compliance requirements

• Teams with Ruby expertise

• Organizations that need comprehensive reporting

Getting started: Progress Chef's training programs are comprehensive. Community cookbooks provide good starting points.

Pricing: Free tier available, Commercial plans start around $189/node/year (contact for enterprise pricing)

11. Puppet

What it actually does: Keeps thousands of systems in line

Why it's still relevant: State management at scale

Real talk: Old but reliable

Puppet has been around forever in infrastructure terms, but it’s still relevant because it solves state management really well across large environments.

What it does well:

• Manages desired state across thousands of systems

• Automatic dependency resolution

• Comprehensive reporting on system state

• Mature ecosystem with extensive modules

The operational reality:

• Complex setup and ongoing maintenance

• Resource-intensive master/agent architecture

• Learning curve for Puppet's DSL

• Can be overwhelming for smaller environments

Best fit scenarios:

• Large environments requiring state consistency

• Teams with existing Puppet expertise

• Organizations needing detailed compliance reporting

• Environments where centralized control is important

Getting started: Puppet Education provides structured paths. Puppet Forge has modules for common scenarios.

Pricing: Free (Open source version), Enterprise pricing varies (contact for quote)

Kubernetes and Cloud-Native Tools

12. Crossplane

What it actually does: Kubernetes-native infrastructure management

Why it matters: Everything-through-Kubernetes approach

Real talk: Complex but powerful for Kubernetes-centric orgs

If your world revolves around Kubernetes, Crossplane turns your cluster into a universal control plane for infrastructure. It’s not simple, but it unifies how you manage everything.

The Kubernetes advantage:

• Manage infrastructure using familiar Kubernetes patterns

• Strong GitOps integration

• Unified APIs across cloud providers

• Perfect for platform engineering approaches

The complexity trade-off:

• Requires deep Kubernetes knowledge

• Complex setup and operations

• Limited value outside Kubernetes environments

• Steep learning curve for traditional infrastructure teams

When it makes sense:

• Kubernetes-centric organization

• Platform engineering initiatives

• Teams already deep in cloud-native patterns

• Need for unified infrastructure APIs

Getting started: CNCF docs are comprehensive. Start with simple examples before attempting complex compositions.

Pricing: Free (Open source under Apache 2.0 license)

13. AWS CDK

What it actually does: AWS infrastructure using real programming languages

Why developers like it: Familiar syntax, deep AWS integration

Real talk: Great for AWS, vendor lock-in for everything else

AWS CDK lets you define infrastructure using the same languages you use for applications. It's not just convenience, it's a fundamentally different approach to infrastructure definition.

Developer benefits:

• Use languages your team already knows

• Excellent IDE support and debugging

• Strong typing prevents configuration errors

• Natural patterns for complex logic

The AWS reality:

• Deep integration with AWS services

• Vendor lock-in by design

• Can't easily migrate to other clouds

• AWS-specific patterns and constructs

Best scenarios:

• AWS-committed organizations

• Developer-heavy teams

• Complex infrastructure requiring programming logic

• Teams wanting modern development patterns

Getting started: AWS workshops are well-designed. Language-specific guides provide good starting points.

Pricing: Free (AWS service – you only pay for the underlying AWS resources)

Security and Specialized Tools

14. Trivy

What it actually does: Finds vulnerabilities in everything

Why security teams like it: Comprehensive scanning that actually works

Real talk: Essential for container and infrastructure security

Trivy scans containers, filesystems, Git repositories, and infrastructure code for vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. It's fast, accurate, and finds things that matter.

Comprehensive coverage:

• Container image vulnerabilities

• Infrastructure code misconfigurations

• Filesystem and dependency scanning

• Secret detection in code repositories

Why it's practical:

• Fast scanning with minimal false positives

• Easy CI/CD integration

• Constantly updated vulnerability database

• Works well in automated workflows

Integration reality:

• Simple to set up and use

• Can generate noise without proper filtering

• Requires workflow integration for maximum value

• Works best as part of comprehensive security strategy

Getting started: Installation is straightforward. CI/CD examples help with workflow integration.

Pricing: Free (Open source under Apache 2.0 license)

15. env0

What it actually does: IaC automation with cost focus

Why finance teams like it: Actual cost visibility and control

Real talk: Good for teams serious about cloud spend

env0 provides automation and governance for multiple IaC tools, with strong emphasis on cost optimization and financial operations.

Cost management strengths:

• Detailed cost estimation before deployment

• Policy enforcement around spending

• Multi-cloud cost optimization

• Integration with FinOps workflows

Platform capabilities:

• Support for multiple IaC tools

• Workflow automation and governance

• Policy enforcement and compliance

• Cost tracking and optimization

Commercial considerations:

• Pricing reflects enterprise focus

• Learning curve for policy configuration

• May be overkill for cost-insensitive environments

• Best value for teams with complex cost requirements

Getting started: Free tier provides good evaluation capabilities. Cost optimization guides are practical.

Pricing: Free tier available, paid plans start around $399/month (contact for enterprise pricing)

16. DNSControl

What it actually does: DNS management that doesn't suck

Why it matters: Because DNS outages take down everything

Real talk: Simple tool that solves a specific problem well

DNS management through web interfaces is terrible. DNSControl treats DNS like code, with version control, testing, and automation for critical infrastructure.

Why it's essential:

• Version control for DNS changes

• Testing and validation before deployment

• Multi-provider management from single source

• Automation for complex DNS scenarios

Simplicity advantage:

• Focused on DNS, does it well

• Clear syntax for DNS records

• Good provider support

• Straightforward to learn and use

Scope limitations:

• Only handles DNS use cases

• Smaller community than general tools

• Requires DNS knowledge for complex setups

• Limited to DNS automation scenarios

Getting started: Documentation includes practical examples. Migration guides help move from existing DNS setups.

Pricing:

Free (Open source under MIT License)

Building an IaC Strategy That Actually Works

The tools matter, but strategy matters more. Here's how to build infrastructure automation that doesn't create more problems than it solves:

Start with the Pain Points

• Fix Code Review First Most teams are still reviewing infrastructure code manually. Tools like CodeAnt AI solve the fundamental scalability problem with infrastructure review. Start here before optimizing other parts of the workflow.

• Address Security Early Security scanning with tools like Checkov should be part of your workflow from day one, not bolted on later. The cost of implementing security review early is nothing compared to cleaning up after a breach.

• Plan for Complexity Most organizations end up with multiple IaC tools. Tools like Spacelift become essential once you have more than one team or more than one tool in production.

Match Tools to Reality

• Team Skills Trump Features Choose tools your team can actually use effectively. Pulumi makes sense for development teams. OpenTofu/Terraform work for mixed teams. Ansible fits operations-focused environments.

• Cloud Strategy Determines Tools Single cloud? Use native tools for deepest integration. Multi-cloud? Stick with community standards like OpenTofu. Kubernetes-focused? Consider cloud-native approaches like Crossplane.

• Size Affects Everything Small teams need tools that just work. Large organizations need governance, policy enforcement, and coordination capabilities. Don't over-engineer for scale you don't have.

Avoid Common Mistakes

• Don't Try to Standardize Everything Different teams have different needs. Forcing everyone onto the same tool often creates more problems than it solves.

• Security Isn't Optional 73% of enterprises had AI-related security incidents last year. Security review and scanning need to be built into workflows, not added later.

• Plan for Change The Terraform licensing situation showed that depending on a single vendor for critical tools is risky. Choose tools and strategies that give you options.

The Real Talk Summary

Infrastructure as Code in 2025 isn't about choosing the "best" tool, it's about building workflows that scale with your team and protect against the risks that come with rapid, AI-assisted development.

What's actually changed in 2025:

• AI-powered code review has become essential, not optional

• OpenTofu's momentum is real, 20% of new projects start there

• Security scanning needs to be built into workflows from the start

• Multi-tool orchestration platforms solve real coordination problems

What hasn't changed:

• Team skills matter more than tool features

• Simple solutions beat complex ones for most use cases

• Security bolted on later doesn't work

• Tool choices should align with cloud strategy

The bottom line:

Start with tools that solve your biggest pain points first. For most teams in 2025, that means intelligent code review, comprehensive security scanning, and infrastructure provisioning that doesn't lock you into a single vendor's roadmap.

The Bottom Line: Choose Tools That Actually Work Together

After diving into 16 different IaC tools, here's what matters most: your infrastructure is only as secure as your weakest review process. You can have the best provisioning tools in the world, but if you're missing critical security issues during code review, you're setting yourself up for expensive problems later.

The smart teams we see aren't just picking one perfect tool—they're building workflows where security, provisioning, and configuration management actually work together. They're using AI to catch what manual reviews miss, choosing open-source tools like OpenTofu for long-term flexibility, and implementing comprehensive scanning before anything hits production.

Start with what's broken first. For most teams, that's the one that never happens.

Ready to see what intelligent infrastructure code review looks like? Try CodeAnt AI free for 14 days and watch it catch the security issues your team would otherwise miss. No setup headaches, no credit card required, just connect your repo and see the difference AI-powered review makes.

Because the best infrastructure security incident is the one that never happens.