# Ansible vs SaltStack

| Attribute | Ansible | SaltStack |
|---|---|---|
| **Vioscale score** | 57.5 (61% (medium)) | 55.4 (69% (medium)) |
| activity.commits_last_30d | 22 | 47 |
| adoption.dependent_repos | 2,140 | 428 |
| adoption.github_stars | 70,473 | 15,637 |
| adoption.package_downloads_weekly | 2,699,011 | 23,112 |
| deployment.options | `{"cloud":true,"self_hosted":true}` | - |
| description.long | Ansible is an open source IT automation engine that automates provisioning, configuration management, application deployment, orchestration, and many other IT processes. It is free to use, and the project benefits from the experience and intelligence of its thousands of contributors. | - |
| features.capabilities | `{"open_source_core":true}` | `{"open_source_core":true}` |
| integrations.count | 22 | - |
| integrations.list | `[{"name":"Terraform"},{"name":"VMware"},{"name":"ServiceNow"},{"name":"AWS"},{"name":"Microsoft Azure"},{"name":"Google Cloud Platform"},{"name":"Cisco"},{"name":"Juniper"},{"name":"F5"},{"name":"HPE"},{"name":"Dell Technologies"},{"name":"NetApp"},{"name":"SAP"},{"name":"Pure"},{"name":"Palo Alto Networks"},{"name":"CyberArk"},{"name":"HashiCorp Vault"},{"name":"Splunk"},{"name":"Dynatrace"},{"name":"Infoblox"},{"name":"Aruba"},{"name":"Windows"}]` | - |
| language.primary | Python | Python |
| license.spdx | GPL-3.0 | Apache-2.0 |
| platform.support | `{"cli":true}` | - |
| pricing | `{"type":"hybrid","plans":[{"free":true,"name":"Ansible (Open Source)","description":"Free open-source project"},{"free":false,"name":"Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform","description":"Enterprise platform with security hardening and support","contactSales":true}],"summary":"Free open-source version or paid enterprise platform","freeTier":true,"sourceUrl":"https://www.ansible.com","retrievedAt":"2026-08-05T14:05:30.789Z"}` | - |
| pricing.free_tier | yes | - |
| pricing.model | commercial | - |
| pricing.price_level | low | - |
| release.cadence_days | - | 5 |
| release.history | `[{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.21.3","date":"2026-08-10T16:46:28Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.21.3"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.20.8","date":"2026-08-10T16:45:07Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.20.8"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.19.12","date":"2026-08-10T16:43:51Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.19.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.18.19","date":"2026-08-10T16:42:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.18.19"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.21.3rc1","date":"2026-08-03T22:47:24Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.21.3rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.20.8rc1","date":"2026-08-03T22:46:13Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.20.8rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.19.12rc1","date":"2026-08-03T22:35:50Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.19.12rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.18.19rc1","date":"2026-08-03T22:35:39Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.18.19rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.21.2","date":"2026-07-13T19:39:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.21.2"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.21.2rc1","date":"2026-07-06T18:32:45Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.21.2rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.21.1","date":"2026-06-18T19:35:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.21.1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.20.7","date":"2026-06-18T19:36:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.20.7"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.19.11","date":"2026-06-18T19:37:59Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.19.11"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.18.18","date":"2026-06-18T19:39:12Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.18.18"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.16.19","date":"2026-06-18T19:40:26Z","type":"stable","version":"v2.16.19"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.21.1rc1","date":"2026-06-11T19:29:45Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.21.1rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.20.7rc1","date":"2026-06-11T19:31:04Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.20.7rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.19.11rc1","date":"2026-06-11T19:32:36Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.19.11rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.18.18rc1","date":"2026-06-11T19:33:53Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.18.18rc1"},{"url":"https://github.com/ansible/ansible/releases/tag/v2.16.19rc1","date":"2026-06-11T19:40:34Z","type":"prerelease","version":"v2.16.19rc1"}]` | `[{"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"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3006.21","date":"2026-02-11T16:11:06Z","type":"stable","version":"v3006.21"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3007.12","date":"2026-02-05T23:17:46Z","type":"stable","version":"v3007.12"},{"url":"https://github.com/saltstack/salt/releases/tag/v3006.20","date":"2026-02-05T23:05:27Z","type":"stable","version":"v3006.20"}]` |
| security.scorecard | 7.5 | 4.8 |
| security.vulnerabilities | `{"count":7,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=pypi&package_name=ansible-core&per_page=100","last_12m":1,"max_severity":"HIGH"}` | `{"count":67,"source":"https://advisories.ecosyste.ms/api/v1/advisories?ecosystem=pypi&package_name=salt&per_page=100","last_12m":2,"max_severity":"CRITICAL"}` |

## Capabilities (Configuration Management Tools)

| Capability | Ansible | SaltStack |
|---|:--:|:--:|
| **Core** |  |  |
| Architecture | - | - |
| Push / pull model | - | - |
| Config language | - | - |
| **Deployment** |  |  |
| Masterless mode | - | - |
| Hosting | - | - |
| **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: Vioscale. Generated 2026-09-01T15:21:05.729Z. "-" = undocumented, not absent.*