# pyinfra vs Salt

| Attribute | pyinfra | Salt |
|---|---|---|
| **vioscaleAI score** | 49.5 (64% (medium)) | 53.3 (76% (high)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 27 | 100 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 22 | 0 |
| adoption.github_stars | 6,032 | 15,714 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | - | 29,742 |
| content.faq | `[{"answer":"An infrastructure automation tool written in Python that runs commands over SSH on multiple servers concurrently and idempotently, without needing agents or configuration files. It is indexed under Configuration Management Tools.","source":"https://pyinfra.com/","question":"What is pyinfra?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"pyinfra is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the MIT licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://pyinfra.com/","question":"Is pyinfra free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"pyinfra supports a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://pyinfra.com/","question":"What platforms does pyinfra support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. pyinfra can be deployed self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://pyinfra.com/","question":"Can pyinfra be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. pyinfra is published under the MIT licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra","question":"Is pyinfra open source?","confidence":0.95}]` | `[{"answer":"An open-source framework that allows teams to automate and manage thousands of systems from a central control plane. It provides remote command execution, configuration management, and infrastructure orchestration capabilities through a master-minion agent architecture. It is indexed under Configuration Management Tools.","source":"https://saltproject.io","question":"What is Salt?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Salt is open source, so it can be self-hosted and used at no licence cost. It is released under the Apache-2.0 licence. Pricing changes often, so verify at source before relying on it.","source":"https://saltproject.io","question":"Is Salt free to use?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Salt supports Windows, macOS, Linux and a command-line interface. Platforms we have not confirmed are simply not listed here rather than ruled out.","source":"https://saltproject.io","question":"What platforms does Salt support?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Salt can be deployed cloud / SaaS and self-hosted, so it does not have to run on the vendor's infrastructure.","source":"https://saltproject.io","question":"Can Salt be self-hosted?","confidence":0.6},{"answer":"Yes. Salt is published under the Apache-2.0 licence, a permissive licence that generally allows commercial use and modification. Licence terms can change between releases, so verify against the repository for the version you intend to use.","source":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt","question":"Is Salt open source?","confidence":0.95}]` |
| deployment.options | `{"self_hosted":true}` | `{"cloud":true,"self_hosted":true}` |
| description.long | An infrastructure automation tool that uses Python to define and execute declarative operations across SSH servers, local machines, and Docker containers with idempotent execution. | A Python-based automation tool and framework designed to deploy, configure, and manage complex IT infrastructure systems, supporting multiple operating systems and maintaining consistent desired state across infrastructure components. |
| features.capabilities | `{"model":"push","hosting":"self","language":"Python","idempotent":true,"architecture":"agentless","desired_state":true,"masterless_mode":true,"open_source_core":true}` | `{"model":"pull","hosting":"self","architecture":"agent","desired_state":true,"windows_support":true,"open_source_core":true,"cloud_provisioning":true,"enterprise_edition":false}` |
| integrations.count | 3 | 1 |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Docker","native":true,"category":"infrastructure"},{"name":"Terraform","native":true,"category":"infrastructure"},{"name":"Vagrant","native":true,"category":"infrastructure"}]` | `[{"name":"Bitnami"}]` |
| language.primary | Python | Python |
| license.spdx | MIT | Apache-2.0 |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true,"linux":true}` | `{"cli":true,"mac":true,"linux":true,"windows":true}` |
| pricing | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://pyinfra.com/","retrievedAt":"2026-08-13T22:42:42.751Z"}` | `{"type":"open_source","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://saltproject.io","retrievedAt":"2026-10-13T15:11:26.897Z"}` |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | yes |
| pricing.model | commercial | open_source |
| pricing.price_level | free | free |
| pricing.transparent | yes | yes |
| release.cadence_days | 34 | 6 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.10.0","date":"2026-07-27T19:51:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.10.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.9.2","date":"2026-06-07T21:05:58Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.9.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.9.1","date":"2026-06-07T20:33:25Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.9.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.9.0","date":"2026-06-07T20:24:16Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.9.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.8.0","date":"2026-05-04T12:28:22Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.8.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.7","date":"2026-03-12T10:55:41Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.6.1","date":"2026-02-02T13:47:28Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.6.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.6","date":"2026-01-05T09:58:18Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.6"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.5.1","date":"2025-10-01T16:11:23Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.5.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.5","date":"2025-09-03T10:26:55Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.5"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.4.1","date":"2025-07-14T20:32:01Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.4.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.4","date":"2025-07-09T14:17:56Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.4"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.3.1","date":"2025-04-29T10:58:25Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.3","date":"2025-04-28T10:55:47Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.2","date":"2025-01-09T21:33:50Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.1.1","date":"2024-09-25T21:41:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.1.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.1","date":"2024-08-18T12:55:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.0.2","date":"2024-07-24T19:43:03Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.0.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.0.1","date":"2024-07-21T18:34:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.0.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/pyinfra-dev/pyinfra/releases/tag/v3.0","date":"2024-07-15T06:16:50Z","type":"stable","version":"v3.0"}]` | `[{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.3","date":"2026-09-30T21:19:42Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3007.15","date":"2026-09-30T21:12:34Z","type":"stable","version":"v3007.15"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3006.28","date":"2026-09-30T20:55:21Z","type":"stable","version":"v3006.28"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.1-2","date":"2026-07-26T01:32:20Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.1-2"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.1-1","date":"2026-07-23T19:43:15Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.1-1"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.2","date":"2026-07-01T19:37:49Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3006.27","date":"2026-07-01T18:54:23Z","type":"stable","version":"v3006.27"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3006.26","date":"2026-06-24T17:16:34Z","type":"stable","version":"v3006.26"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.1","date":"2026-06-11T14:41:31Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.0","date":"2026-05-27T10:36:40Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.0"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.0rc4","date":"2026-05-15T17:27:10Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.0rc4"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.0rc3","date":"2026-05-13T16:48:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.0rc3"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3006.25","date":"2026-05-13T16:42:11Z","type":"stable","version":"v3006.25"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.0rc2","date":"2026-05-06T18:22:06Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.0rc2"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3007.14","date":"2026-04-29T18:00:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v3007.14"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3008.0rc1","date":"2026-04-23T23:59:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v3008.0rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3006.24","date":"2026-04-23T22:26:43Z","type":"stable","version":"v3006.24"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3006.23","date":"2026-02-23T21:17:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v3006.23"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3006.22","date":"2026-02-22T02:37:56Z","type":"stable","version":"v3006.22"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3007.13","date":"2026-02-12T23:09:14Z","type":"stable","version":"v3007.13"}]` |
| reliability.status_page | yes | yes |
| security.scorecard | - | 4.8 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=pypi&package_name=pyinfra&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` | `{"count":0,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=alpine&package_name=salt-syndic&per_page=100","last_12m":0,"max_severity":null}` |

## Capabilities (Configuration Management Tools)

| Capability | pyinfra | Salt |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Architecture | Agentless / SSH-push | Agent-based |
| Push / pull model | Push | Pull |
| Config language | Python | - |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Masterless mode | ✓ | - |
| Hosting | Self-hosted only | Self-hosted only |
| **Correctness** |  |  |
| Idempotent | ✓ | - |
| **Model** |  |  |
| Desired-state declarative | ✓ | ✓ |
| **Ecosystem** |  |  |
| Content registry | - | - |
| **Platform** |  |  |
| Windows support | - | ✓ |
| **Scope** |  |  |
| Cloud provisioning | - | ✓ |
| **Governance** |  |  |
| Policy / compliance | - | - |
| **Commercial** |  |  |
| Enterprise edition | - | ✗ |
| **Licensing** |  |  |
| Open-source core | ✓ | ✓ |

*Source: vioscaleAI. Generated 2026-10-16T19:27:24.864Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*