How to compare Terraform vs Pulumi?

Short answer

Terraform uses a declarative DSL (HCL) and has the largest provider ecosystem. Pulumi uses general-purpose programming languages and offers better abstraction and testing capabilities.

Key differences

• Language: Terraform uses HCL; Pulumi uses TypeScript, Python, Go, or C#.
• Ecosystem: Terraform has more providers and modules.
• Testing: Pulumi supports unit tests; Terraform relies on integration testing.
• State: Both require state management.

When to use each

• Use Terraform for broad provider support and module sharing.
• Use Pulumi for complex logic and team preference for programming languages.

Common issues

• Migrating from Terraform to Pulumi requires effort.
• Both tools have learning curves.
• Provider bugs affect both tools.