Ansible is now an everyday IT configuration management, automation, and app deployment tool. Being a lone developer, a small business enterprise, or large business organization, it is obligatory to know Ansible pricing plan so as to make an appropriate decision for choosing the optimum plan according to your needs.
Here we will explain the free and for-fee costs of Ansible, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform costs, and drivers of cost within the enterprise.
What is Ansible?
Ansible is free and open-source automation software that DevOps engineers and system administrators utilize to automate work, deploy applications, and manage IT infrastructure in bulk. Ansible is agentless, and there is no software installed on the remote servers, which makes it simple to automate as well as secure.
Why Ansible Is So Popular?
- Ease of Use: YAML-based playbooks supported, thus task automation is readable and simple to execute.
- Agentless Architecture: Contrary to all the other config management systems, Ansible does not need to install agents on the destination hosts.
- Scalability: Scalable very well for small teams and scales well into massive enterprise environments.
- Integration: Interoperate with a very large number of platforms, ranging from Linux, Windows, cloud providers, to network devices.
Let’s talk about the cost model of Ansible.
Ansible Free vs Paid Versions
Ansible offers a free version and a paid version with different features, support, and scalability.
i. Free Version: Ansible Open-Source
Ansible is free to use under the GNU General Public License (GPL). Small developer teams, solo developers, and other users who require automation can use the free open-source version on which there are no license charges.
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Free Version Features
- Ansible core functionality unlimited use
- Windows and Linux host automation
- Open community modules and plugins
- Ansible open-source community support
Free Version Limitations
- No Red Hat enterprise support
- Mature security and compliance features
- No analytics or automation controller
- No large-team governance
ii. Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
For those who require assistance with security, scalability, and official Red Hat support, there is a paid option, the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform. It offers enterprise automation features and integration.
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform Pricing
Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform (AAP) is priced based on an annual subscription rate.
Price Breakdown (2024)
Red Hat does not publicly publish actual Ansible pricing on their website due to business demands and how they affect prices. All of this notwithstanding, based on industry estimates and reports:
| Plan | Estimated Price (Per Year) | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Self-Support | $5,000 – $10,000 | Small teams, non-critical applications |
| Standard | $14,000 – $20,000 | Mid-sized businesses with automation needs |
| Premium | $20,000+ | Large enterprises with complex automation needs |
Note: These are estimates and prices are subject to change. Businesses need to contact Red Hat for a quote.
What Paid Plans Provide
1. Automation Controller (formerly Ansible Tower)
- Web-based job management of Ansible
- Role-based access control (RBAC)
- Job scheduling and monitoring
2. Automation Hub
- Certified Ansible collections
- Pre-configured automation content
3. Red Hat Insights for Ansible
- Analytics for monitoring and optimizing automation use
4. Enterprise Support
- 24/7 customer support
- Security patches and updates
5. Compliance & Governance
- Auditing and logging
- Integration with enterprise authentication systems
Unveiling the Cost Drivers of Ansible Pricing
The cost of operating Ansible is indeed influenced by a multitude of different factors, including:
Number of Nodes
- Ansible pricing generally depends on the number of nodes to be managed (server, VM, or cloud instance).
- The higher the number of nodes to be managed, the higher the cost.
Level of Support Required
- Self-Support Plan: Cheapest but no Red Hat support.
- Standard Plan: Infrequent updates and customer support.
- Premium Plan: 24×7 support, security compliance, etc., are included.
Deployment Mode
- On-Premises Deployment: May include additional infrastructure fees.
- Cloud-Based Deployment: May include cloud provider charges.
Integration Requirements
- Firms deploying Ansible with Kubernetes, AWS, Azure, or hybrid cloud configuration may require extra functionality, and thus the price.
Comparison of Ansible Pricing to Competitors
We will contrast Ansible pricing with competition:
| Tool | Free Version | Paid Pricing (Estimated) | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ansible | Yes | $5,000 – $20,000+ per year | Agentless, YAML-based playbooks, strong community support |
| Puppet | Yes | $100 – $200 per node/year | Declarative language, strong compliance features |
| Chef | Yes | $16,500+ per year | Code-driven configuration management |
| SaltStack | Yes | Custom Pricing | High-speed remote execution |
Why Use Ansible Over Competitors?
- Simplicity: It uses YAML instead of complex scripting languages.
- Agentless Architecture: It has no agent deployment unlike Puppet and Chef.
- Enterprise Scalability: Its commercial version has enterprise-grade automation with security compliance.
Is Ansible Worth the Price?
Who Should Use the Free Version?
- Developers, small teams and start-ups
- People who don’t need enterprise-class support
- Firms that have in-house automation expertise
Who Should Use the Paid Version?
- Large organizations with thousands of nodes
- Organizations needing compliance and security governance
- Teams requiring support, analytics, and RBAC for automation management
Cost vs. Benefit Analysis
If you’re a small team: The free version is enough to handle most automation tasks.
If you’re an enterprise: The Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform provides added value in governance, security, and scalability.
Conclusion
Ansible’s pricing is enterprise-oriented. Open-source is best supported by self-service and small teams, and Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform is best suited for enterprises that need support, scalability, and security.
Key Takeaways
- Free Ansible (Open-Source): Ideal for self-service and small teams.
- Ansible Automation Platform: Ideal for those organizations that need scale-based security and automation.
- Pricing Determiners: It is charged on managed nodes, support level, integrations, and deployment models.
FAQs
1. What is Ansible?
Ansible is an open-source tool for automation that makes IT work like configuration management, application deployment, and infrastructure provisioning easy. It is used for its agentless architecture and the fact that it is easy to use.
2. Is Ansible Free to Use?
Yes, Ansible Core (the open-source edition) is totally free to use. It is best suited for individuals, developers, and small teams who can handle automation without enterprise support.
3. What is the Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform?
The Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform is the enterprise version of Ansible that provides advanced features like an automation controller (previously Tower), role-based access control (RBAC), automation analytics, and official Red Hat support.
