Best DevOps Orchestration Tools Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 16 tools reviewed.
Our one-on-one guidance will help you find the perfect fit.
Building a DevOps pipeline is one thing—keeping it maintainable, reliable, and actually helpful is another. Maybe your workflows are stitched together with scripts and manual handoffs. Maybe you're juggling too many tools that don’t talk to each other. Or maybe things worked fine at a small scale, but now they're falling apart.
I’ve worked with engineering teams of all sizes—from early-stage startups to large-scale enterprises—and tested a wide range of DevOps orchestration tools along the way. I’ve seen what breaks under pressure, what scales smoothly, and what actually simplifies the work. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the best tools to help you automate, coordinate, and manage your DevOps workflows—without the usual headaches.
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Best DevOps Orchestration Tools Summary
This comparison chart summarizes pricing details for my top DevOps orchestration tools selections to help you find the best one for your budget and business needs.
Tool | Best For | Trial Info | Price | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Best for monitoring diverse environments | Free trial + free demo available | From $395/user (billed annually) | Website | |
2 | Best for data testing integration | Free trial available | From $5,747/user | Website | |
3 | Best for multi-cloud deployment | Free plan available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
4 | Best for Kubernetes management | Free demo available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
5 | Best for automation and configuration | Not available | Free to use | Website | |
6 | Best for enterprise Kubernetes | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
7 | Best for native Docker clustering | Not available | Free to use | Website | |
8 | Best for Azure users | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
9 | Best for AWS integration | Free trial available | Pricing upon request | Website | |
10 | Best for Kubernetes management at scale | Not available | Pricing upon request | Website |
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Docker
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.6 -
Pulumi
This is an aggregated rating for this tool including ratings from Crozdesk users and ratings from other sites.4.8 -
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Best DevOps Orchestration Tool Reviews
Below are my detailed summaries of the best DevOps orchestration tools that made it onto my shortlist. My reviews offer a detailed look at the key features, pros & cons, integrations, and ideal use cases of each tool to help you find the best one for you.
Best for monitoring diverse environments
ManageEngine Applications Manager is a comprehensive monitoring tool designed for IT operations and DevOps teams. It provides end-to-end visibility into applications, servers, databases, and more, helping businesses maintain optimal performance.
Why I picked ManageEngine Applications Manager: It excels in monitoring diverse environments, offering features like application performance tracking and real-user monitoring. This tool provides transaction tracing and code-level instrumentation, which are crucial for identifying performance bottlenecks. Its synthetic monitoring simulates user journeys to preemptively detect issues. These features make it ideal for teams needing detailed insights across various platforms.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include customizable dashboards that give your team a real-time view of performance metrics. Smart alerts notify you of potential issues before they escalate. It also supports cloud and virtual environment monitoring, which helps you manage resources effectively.
Integrations include Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud Platform, VMware, Oracle, SAP, IBM WebSphere, Docker, Kubernetes, and Apache.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Monitors diverse environments
- Supports cloud monitoring
- Real-user monitoring included
Cons:
- Requires technical knowledge
- May need frequent updates
QuerySurge is a data testing solution designed for DevOps teams focused on ensuring data quality. It automates the testing of data warehouses and big data, providing accurate insights into data integrity.
Why I picked QuerySurge: It is tailored for data testing integration, offering automated testing capabilities that ensure your data pipelines remain accurate and reliable. Its data validation feature checks your data against source systems to spot discrepancies. The tool provides continuous testing, which is vital for maintaining data quality in dynamic environments. It also offers robust reporting features to help your team analyze data discrepancies effectively.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include an intuitive user interface that makes it easy for your team to set up and execute tests. The tool supports complex data comparisons, allowing you to validate large datasets efficiently. It also offers detailed reporting, helping you identify and resolve data issues quickly.
Integrations include Apache Hadoop, Amazon Redshift, Microsoft SQL Server, Oracle, IBM DB2, SAP HANA, Snowflake, Google BigQuery, Teradata, and MongoDB.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automates data validation processes
- Supports large datasets
- Detailed reporting features
Cons:
- May require technical expertise
- Limited customization options
Nomad is a flexible workload orchestrator designed for DevOps teams that manage applications across multiple cloud environments. It helps deploy and manage containerized and non-containerized applications efficiently.
Why I picked Nomad: It excels in multi-cloud deployment, allowing your team to run workloads across various cloud providers with ease. Its single binary architecture simplifies setup and management, making it accessible for teams of all sizes. The tool supports a wide range of workloads, from containers to legacy applications, ensuring compatibility with existing systems. Nomad's scalability ensures that your applications can grow without the need for complex reconfigurations.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automatic bin packing, which optimizes resource usage across your infrastructure. The tool offers dynamic application scaling, allowing your team to adjust resources based on demand. It also provides a straightforward API that simplifies integration with other tools in your environment.
Integrations include Consul, Vault, Terraform, Prometheus, Grafana, Jenkins, Kubernetes, Docker, AWS, and Azure.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports multi-cloud environments
- Handles non-containerized workloads
- Simple architecture
Cons:
- Requires some learning curve
- Fewer built-in features
Containership is a Kubernetes management platform aimed at DevOps teams looking to simplify container orchestration. It allows for efficient deployment and scaling of applications across cloud environments.
Why I picked Containership: It excels in Kubernetes management, offering automated cluster provisioning and scaling. The tool's user-friendly interface makes managing clusters straightforward for your team. It provides multi-cloud support, enabling seamless operations across different cloud providers. With its built-in monitoring and alerting, you can ensure your applications run smoothly.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated backup and recovery processes, which help protect your data. The tool offers role-based access control to enhance security within your team. It also provides detailed analytics, giving insights into your cluster performance.
Integrations include AWS, Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure, Docker, Kubernetes, Terraform, Prometheus, Grafana, Jenkins, and GitHub.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Supports multi-cloud environments
- Automated cluster provisioning
- Built-in monitoring and alerting
Cons:
- Requires Kubernetes expertise
- Initial setup can be complex
Ansible is an open-source automation tool designed for individuals who need to automate configuration management, application deployment, and task automation. It simplifies complex tasks, allowing teams to manage systems more efficiently.
Why I picked Ansible: It's ideal for automation and configuration, providing a simple way to automate repetitive tasks and manage configurations. Ansible's agentless architecture reduces the overhead on your team and simplifies deployment. With its playbook system, you can define the desired state of your infrastructure, ensuring consistency across environments. The tool's extensive library of modules allows for flexible integration and automation of various tasks.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a straightforward YAML syntax that makes writing and reading automation scripts easy for your team. The tool supports idempotency, ensuring that repeated executions won't alter the system state unexpectedly. Ansible also provides role-based access control, enhancing security in your operations.
Integrations include Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, VMware, Docker, Kubernetes, GitHub, Jenkins, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Cisco.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Agentless architecture
- Extensive module library
- Supports idempotency
Cons:
- Limited GUI options
- Requires YAML knowledge
Red Hat OpenShift is a container orchestration platform designed for enterprises that require a scalable and secure Kubernetes environment. It provides tools for developers and IT operations to build, deploy, and manage containerized applications.
Why I picked Red Hat OpenShift: It's ideal for enterprise Kubernetes, offering a secure and scalable environment for your applications. The platform provides automated operations, reducing the manual tasks your team needs to handle. With integrated developer tools, you can streamline application development and deployment. OpenShift's consistent security and compliance features ensure your enterprise meets industry standards.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a built-in CI/CD pipeline that helps you automate your software delivery process. The platform offers multi-cluster management, allowing you to oversee multiple environments from a single interface. It also provides advanced networking capabilities to enhance your application's connectivity.
Integrations include Jenkins, Prometheus, Grafana, Ansible, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Kubernetes, Docker, GitHub, JBoss, and Apache Kafka.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Strong security and compliance features
- Integrated developer tools
- Automated operations reduce manual tasks
Cons:
- Complex initial setup
- May incur additional costs
Docker Swarm is a container orchestration tool designed for developers and IT operations teams. It simplifies the management of containerized applications, allowing for easy deployment and scaling.
Why I picked Docker Swarm: It is ideal for native Docker clustering, providing a simple way to manage multiple containers as a single system. The tool's built-in load balancing ensures that your applications run smoothly across nodes. Docker Swarm's declarative service model allows you to define the desired state of your services, making it easy to maintain consistency. With its seamless integration with Docker tools, your team can quickly deploy and manage containers without additional complexity.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a straightforward command-line interface that makes it easy for your team to deploy and manage services. The tool offers rolling updates, allowing you to update applications without downtime. It also supports automatic rescheduling, ensuring your containers are always running.
Integrations include Docker Compose, Docker CLI, Docker Hub, Jenkins, Prometheus, Grafana, Kubernetes, AWS Fargate, Azure Container Instances, and Google Cloud Run.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Native Docker integration
- Supports rolling updates
Cons:
- Limited scalability options
- Lacks advanced features
Azure Kubernetes Services (AKS) is a managed Kubernetes service ideal for developers and IT teams working within the Microsoft Azure ecosystem. It simplifies deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications using Kubernetes.
Why I picked Azure Kubernetes Services: It's tailored for Azure users, offering deep integration with Azure's suite of tools and services. AKS handles the complexities of Kubernetes management, reducing the operational workload for your team. The service provides automated upgrades and patching, ensuring your clusters remain secure and up-to-date. With built-in monitoring and logging, you can maintain visibility over your applications and resources.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automated scaling, which adjusts the number of nodes based on demand. The tool offers a user-friendly portal that simplifies cluster management tasks. It also provides network security features to protect your applications and data.
Integrations include Azure Active Directory, Azure Monitor, Azure DevOps, Azure Blob Storage, Azure Virtual Network, Azure Policy, Azure Security Center, Azure Log Analytics, Azure Container Registry, and Azure App Services.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Deep integration with Azure tools
- Automated upgrades and patching
- Supports automated scaling
Cons:
- May require Azure expertise
- Can incur additional Azure costs
Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS) is a managed Kubernetes service designed for developers and IT teams who want to run Kubernetes on the AWS cloud. It simplifies deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications using Kubernetes.
Why I picked Amazon Elastic Kubernetes Service (EKS): It excels in AWS integration, providing seamless connectivity with other AWS services. The tool offers managed control planes, which reduce the operational burden on your team. With built-in security features like IAM for authentication, it ensures your applications are protected. EKS also supports automatic scaling, making it easy to handle varying workloads without manual intervention.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include automatic patching, which keeps your Kubernetes environment up to date without downtime. The tool provides multi-region availability, ensuring your applications are resilient and highly available. It also offers managed node groups, simplifying the process of managing and scaling worker nodes.
Integrations include Amazon VPC, IAM, Amazon CloudWatch, AWS CloudTrail, Amazon RDS, Amazon S3, AWS Lambda, Amazon EC2, AWS Fargate, and Elastic Load Balancing.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Automatic security updates
- Supports multi-region availability
- Managed node groups feature
Cons:
- Initial setup can be complex
- Requires AWS expertise
Rancher is a Kubernetes management platform designed for IT operations and development teams that need to manage Kubernetes clusters at scale.
Why I picked Rancher: It excels in Kubernetes management at scale, offering features that simplify cluster operations for your team. With its centralized management console, you can oversee multiple clusters from a single interface. Rancher's security features ensure your clusters are protected, while its multi-cluster management capabilities allow for efficient resource allocation. The platform also supports a range of deployment environments, giving your team flexibility.
Standout features & integrations:
Features include a user-friendly interface that makes managing Kubernetes clusters straightforward. The platform offers built-in monitoring and alerting to keep your applications running smoothly. It also provides automated upgrades, ensuring your clusters remain up-to-date with minimal effort.
Integrations include GitHub, Jenkins, Docker, Prometheus, Grafana, Helm, AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, and VMware.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Centralized management console
- Strong security features
- Flexible deployment environments
Cons:
- Requires Kubernetes expertise
- Initial setup can be complex
Other DevOps Orchestration Tools
Here are some additional DevOps orchestration tools options that didn’t make it onto my shortlist, but are still worth checking out:
DevOps Orchestration Tool Selection Criteria
When selecting the best DevOps orchestration tools to include in this list, I considered common buyer needs and pain points like scalability and ease of integration. I also used the following framework to keep my evaluation structured and fair:
Core Functionality (25% of total score)
To be considered for inclusion in this list, each solution had to fulfill these common use cases:
- Automating deployment processes
- Managing containerized applications
- Monitoring and logging
- Scaling applications efficiently
- Orchestrating multi-cloud environments
Additional Standout Features (25% of total score)
To help further narrow down the competition, I also looked for unique features, such as:
- Advanced security compliance
- Real-time analytics
- Customizable automation workflows
- AI-driven insights
- Cross-platform compatibility
Usability (10% of total score)
To get a sense of the usability of each system, I considered the following:
- Intuitive user interface
- Clear navigation paths
- Minimal learning curve
- Responsive design
- Accessibility features
Onboarding (10% of total score)
To evaluate the onboarding experience for each platform, I considered the following:
- Availability of training videos
- Interactive product tours
- Access to chatbots
- Comprehensive documentation
- On-demand webinars
Customer Support (10% of total score)
To assess each software provider’s customer support services, I considered the following:
- 24/7 support availability
- Multiple support channels
- Response time
- Access to a knowledge base
- Availability of dedicated account managers
Value For Money (10% of total score)
To evaluate the value for money of each platform, I considered the following:
- Pricing transparency
- Features offered at each pricing tier
- Comparison with similar tools
- Flexibility in pricing plans
- Discounts for long-term commitments
Customer Reviews (10% of total score)
To get a sense of overall customer satisfaction, I considered the following when reading customer reviews:
- Feedback on reliability
- User satisfaction with features
- Comments on ease of use
- Experiences with customer support
- Overall recommendation rate
How to Choose DevOps Orchestration Tool
It’s easy to get bogged down in long feature lists and complex pricing structures. To help you stay focused as you work through your unique software selection process, here’s a checklist of factors to keep in mind:
Factor | What to Consider |
Scalability | Ensure the tool can grow with your team’s needs. Look for solutions that handle increasing workloads without performance dips, especially if you plan to expand. |
Integrations | Check compatibility with your existing systems. The tool should easily integrate with platforms you already use, like Docker, Jenkins, or cloud providers. |
Customizability | Look for options that let you tailor workflows to your specific processes. Custom scripts and automation can make your team more efficient. |
Ease of Use | Choose a tool with an intuitive interface. Your team shouldn’t struggle to navigate or use the basic features—ease of use can save time and reduce frustration. |
Budget | Consider the total cost of ownership, including any hidden fees. Make sure the pricing aligns with your budget, and look for flexible payment plans. |
Security Safeguards | Ensure the tool offers strong security features like encryption and access controls. Protect your data and applications from potential threats. |
Support | Evaluate the availability of customer support. Reliable support can be crucial when issues arise, so consider tools that offer 24/7 assistance. |
Deployment Options | Consider whether the tool offers cloud, on-premises, or hybrid deployment options. Choose based on your team’s infrastructure and compliance needs. |
Trends in DevOps Orchestration Tool
In my research, I sourced countless product updates, press releases, and release logs from different DevOps orchestration tools vendors. Here are some of the emerging trends I’m keeping an eye on:
- AI-Driven Insights: Tools are leveraging AI to provide predictive analytics and insights. This helps teams anticipate issues before they occur. Vendors like Amazon EKS are integrating AI features to enhance decision-making and optimize resource allocation.
- Serverless Capabilities: More tools are incorporating serverless options, allowing for flexible scaling without managing servers. This trend provides a cost-effective way to handle variable workloads, as seen with offerings from Azure Kubernetes Services.
- Enhanced Security Features: Security is becoming more advanced with built-in compliance checks and real-time threat detection. Tools like Red Hat OpenShift are enhancing their security protocols to protect sensitive data and applications.
- Edge Computing Support: As edge computing grows, tools are adding support to manage workloads closer to data sources. This reduces latency and improves performance, with vendors like Rancher leading the way in this area.
- Improved User Interfaces: There's a focus on making interfaces more intuitive and user-friendly. Vendors are revamping their dashboards and navigation to ensure that users can easily access the tools they need, improving overall user experience.
What Are DevOps Orchestration Tools?
DevOps orchestration tools are solutions that automate and manage the deployment and operation of software applications across different environments. IT professionals, developers, and operations teams typically use these tools to improve collaboration, efficiency, and consistency in their workflows.
Automation, scalability, and integration capabilities help streamline deployment processes, manage resources effectively, and ensure smooth operation across platforms. Overall, these tools provide significant value by reducing manual efforts and increasing the reliability of software delivery.
Features of DevOps Orchestration Tools
When selecting DevOps orchestration tools, keep an eye out for the following key features:
- Automation capabilities: Automate repetitive tasks to reduce manual work and increase efficiency.
- Scalability: Easily handle growing workloads and expand resources as needed without performance issues.
- Integration support: Seamlessly connect with existing systems and tools like Docker, Jenkins, or cloud services.
- Security features: Offer encryption, access controls, and compliance checks to protect sensitive data.
- User-friendly interface: Provide an intuitive dashboard that simplifies navigation and access to essential tools.
- Real-time monitoring: Track application performance and resource usage to quickly identify and resolve issues.
- Multi-cloud support: Manage applications across various cloud environments for increased flexibility.
- Role-based access control: Enhance security by allowing specific permissions based on user roles.
- Predictive analytics: Use AI to anticipate potential issues and optimize resource allocation.
- Edge computing support: Process data closer to its source, reducing latency and improving performance.
Benefits of DevOps Orchestration Tools
Implementing DevOps orchestration tools provides several benefits for your team and your business. Here are a few you can look forward to:
- Increased efficiency: Automation capabilities reduce manual tasks, saving time and effort for your team.
- Improved collaboration: Integration support ensures that different tools and teams work together smoothly.
- Enhanced security: Security features like encryption and role-based access control protect your data.
- Greater flexibility: Multi-cloud support allows you to deploy and manage applications across various environments.
- Proactive issue resolution: Real-time monitoring and predictive analytics help identify and fix problems before they affect users.
- Scalability: Easily adjust resources to meet demand, ensuring consistent performance as your business grows.
- Better decision-making: Insights from predictive analytics provide data-driven guidance for resource optimization.
Costs and Pricing of DevOps Orchestration Tools
Selecting DevOps orchestration tools requires an understanding of the various pricing models and plans available. Costs vary based on features, team size, add-ons, and more. The table below summarizes common plans, their average prices, and typical features included in DevOps orchestration tools solutions:
Plan Comparison Table for DevOps Orchestration Tools
Plan Type | Average Price | Common Features |
Free Plan | $0 | Basic automation, limited scalability, and community support. |
Personal Plan | $5-$25 /user /month | Enhanced automation, basic integrations, and limited support. |
Business Plan | $30-$60 /user /month | Advanced integrations, real-time monitoring, and role-based access control. |
Enterprise Plan | $70-$150 /user /month | Full scalability, predictive analytics, dedicated support, and multi-cloud support. |
DevOps Orchestration Tools FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about DevOps orchestration tools:
How do DevOps orchestration tools handle multi-cloud environments?
DevOps orchestration tools often provide support for managing applications across multiple cloud providers. This means you can deploy and manage workloads in different clouds from a single interface. Look for tools that offer integrations with major cloud services like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud to ensure compatibility with your existing infrastructure.
What are the common challenges when implementing DevOps orchestration tools?
When implementing DevOps orchestration tools, you might face challenges like integration with existing systems, complexity in setup, and the learning curve for your team. It’s important to plan thoroughly and provide adequate training to overcome these hurdles. Choosing a tool with good support and documentation can also make the transition smoother.
Can DevOps orchestration tools improve deployment speed?
Yes, DevOps orchestration tools can significantly improve deployment speed by automating repetitive tasks and processes. Automation reduces manual intervention, minimizing errors and speeding up the entire deployment cycle. This allows your team to focus on more strategic tasks rather than getting bogged down in routine operations.
How do security features in DevOps orchestration tools protect applications?
Security features in DevOps orchestration tools protect applications by offering encryption, access controls, and compliance checks. These tools help ensure that only authorized users can access sensitive data and resources. Regular updates and patches also play a crucial role in maintaining security and protecting against vulnerabilities.
What should you consider when choosing a DevOps orchestration tool for a small team?
For a small team, consider a tool that offers ease of use, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. You’ll want something that’s intuitive and doesn’t require extensive training. Also, check if the tool can scale with your team as your needs grow, and ensure it fits within your budget constraints.
How do DevOps orchestration tools support CI/CD processes?
DevOps orchestration tools support CI/CD processes by automating the integration and delivery stages of software development. They help manage code changes, automate testing, and ensure smooth deployment to production. This results in faster release cycles and improved collaboration between development and operations teams.
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