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Software · head to head

Ansible vs npm

Ansible logo

Ansible

Software

Simple, agentless IT automation

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
npm logo

npm

Software

Package manager for JavaScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Ansible the open source project gives the engine and the language; the automation controller, automation mesh, automation hub, analytics and governance all belong to the paid Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform; npm private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only
  • They diverge on capability: Ansible covers Playbooks, npm covers Package installation.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Ansible and npm actually diverge.

Attributes where Ansible and npm differ
AttributeAnsiblenpm
Pricing modelopen-sourcefreemium
PlatformsLinux, Windows, Mac, ApiWindows, Macos, Linux
Founded20122014

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Ansible

  • Playbooks
  • Inventory management
  • Module library
  • Variables and templating
  • Handlers
  • Roles
  • Async tasks
  • Plugins

Only in npm

  • Package installation
  • Dependency management
  • Version management
  • Script running
  • Package publishing
  • Security auditing
  • Package discovery
  • CLI interface

Both cover

  • Docker

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Ansible

  • Configuration managementnot npm
  • Server provisioningnot npm
  • Application deploymentnot npm
  • Multi-node managementnot npm
  • Orchestrationnot npm

npm

  • Package managementnot Ansible
  • Dependency installationnot Ansible
  • Project scaffoldingnot Ansible
  • Build automationnot Ansible
  • Package publishingnot Ansible
  • Version controlnot Ansible

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Ansible

  • The open source project gives the engine and the language; the automation controller, automation mesh, automation hub, analytics and governance all belong to the paid Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform
  • Event-Driven Ansible and the AI coding assistant are platform features rather than open source ones
  • Red Hat does not publish platform pricing
  • Running open source Ansible at scale means building the control plane the platform otherwise provides

npm

  • Private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only

Pricing, plan by plan

Ansible

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Community edition
    • Unlimited nodes
    • Full functionality
  • Ansible Automation Platform$5000/year
    • Enterprise support
    • Ansible Tower
    • Advanced features

npm

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public packages
    • Package discovery
    • npm CLI
  • Pro$7/month
    • Unlimited private packages
    • Package analytics
    • Support
  • Teams$7/month
    • Team management
    • Organization packages
    • Audit logs

Which should you pick?

Choose Ansible if

  • You need playbooks.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Api.
  • You also want inventory management.
Ansible review

Choose npm if

  • You need package installation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want dependency management.
npm review

Questions people ask

Is Ansible or npm better?
Neither clearly leads. Ansible starts at Free and npm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Ansible or npm?
Ansible starts at Free and npm at Free.
Does Ansible or npm run on more platforms?
Ansible runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Api. npm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use Ansible for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Ansible best used for?
Ansible is most often used for configuration management, server provisioning, application deployment, multi-node management. Of those, configuration management and server provisioning are not what npm is typically brought in for.
What can Ansible do that npm cannot?
Ansible covers Playbooks, Inventory management, Module library, Variables and templating. npm covers Package installation, Dependency management, Version management, Script running. Both handle Docker.
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