Colmena
Fastest to get started
Why teams pick it
Easy installation via Nixpkgs or binary cache
Open-source alternatives to Chef
Compare community-driven replacements for Chef in configuration management workflows. We curate active, self-hostable options with transparent licensing so you can evaluate the right fit quickly.
Chef
Chef combines Infrastructure Management (Infra) for consistent, scalable config automation with InSpec to codify and audit compliance, plus Automate for visibility—so teams orchestrate reliable, secure operations across cloud and on-prem.Read more
Key stats
- 5Alternatives
- 5Active development
Recent commits in the last 6 months
- 2Permissive licenses
MIT, Apache, and similar licenses
Counts reflect projects currently indexed as alternatives to Chef.
Start with these picks
These projects match the most common migration paths for teams replacing Chef.
NixOps
AI-powered workflows
Why teams pick it
Organizations able to maintain custom plugins
All open-source alternatives
Colmena
Stateless Rust‑based NixOS deployment tool with parallel execution
Active developmentPermissive licenseFast to deployRust
Why teams choose it
- Stateless design eliminates local state drift
- Parallel deployment across multiple hosts
- Native support for Nix Flakes
Watch for
Limited to NixOS targets
Migration highlight
Tag‑based rollout of web services
Deploys only hosts labeled with `web`, reducing downtime and simplifying staged releases.
NixOps
Declarative multi-cloud deployment for NixOS machines
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsPython
Why teams choose it
- Declarative configuration ensures reproducible deployments
- Local testing on VirtualBox or libvirtd before production
- Multi‑cloud support for AWS, Hetzner, and GCE
Watch for
Low‑maintenance mode; not ideal for brand‑new projects
Migration highlight
Cross‑provider web service cluster
Deploy identical service definitions to AWS and Hetzner, ensuring consistent configuration across regions.
Ansible
Simple, agentless automation for configuration, deployment, and orchestration.
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsPython
Why teams choose it
- Agentless operation over SSH
- Human‑readable YAML playbooks
- Parallel execution across thousands of nodes
Watch for
Performance can lag for very large inventories
Migration highlight
Zero‑downtime rolling application updates
Deploy new versions across load‑balanced servers without service interruption.
Salt
Fast, scalable, event-driven automation for modern IT infrastructure
Active developmentPermissive licenseIntegration-friendlyPython
Why teams choose it
- Event‑driven architecture for real‑time automation
- Cross‑platform support including Windows, macOS, and Linux
- Pluggable modules and customizable state definitions
Watch for
Steeper learning curve for complex state files
Migration highlight
Zero‑downtime OS patching
Automated rollout of patches across thousands of servers with automatic rollback on failure.
Rudder
Automate infrastructure security and compliance across diverse environments
Active developmentIntegration-friendlyAI-powered workflowsScala
Why teams choose it
- Automated security posture management (inventory, patching, vulnerability, hardening)
- Visual policy editor plus YAML for configuration authoring
- Supports Linux, Windows, cloud, hybrid, and on‑premise at 10k+ nodes
Watch for
Full feature set requires a paid subscription
Migration highlight
Automated patch management
Keeps 500+ Linux servers up‑to‑date, reducing exposure to known vulnerabilities.
Choosing a configuration management alternative
Teams replacing Chef in configuration management workflows typically weigh self-hosting needs, integration coverage, and licensing obligations.
- 5 options are actively maintained with recent commits.
Tip: shortlist one hosted and one self-hosted option so stakeholders can compare trade-offs before migrating away from Chef.