Software · head to head
Fig vs Terraform
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Fig shut down on 1 September 2024. Amazon acquired Fig in August 2023 and folded it into Amazon Q Developer, which now carries the terminal autocomplete; Terraform hCL syntax requires learning a domain-specific language with limited GUI alternatives
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Fig and Terraform actually diverge.
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 Fig
Nothing recorded that Terraform does not also cover.
Only in Terraform
- Infrastructure as code
- Resource graph
- Plan & apply
- State management
- Provider ecosystem
- Modules
- Workspaces
- Remote backends
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Fig
No use cases recorded yet. See the Fig review.
Terraform
- Multi-cloud provisioningnot Fig
- Infrastructure automationnot Fig
- Environment replicationnot Fig
- Disaster recoverynot Fig
- Compliance automationnot Fig
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Fig
- Shut down on 1 September 2024. Amazon acquired Fig in August 2023 and folded it into Amazon Q Developer, which now carries the terminal autocomplete
- The standalone desktop app is no longer available or supported
- The completion specs remain open source on GitHub, but the product that consumed them is gone
Terraform
- HCL syntax requires learning a domain-specific language with limited GUI alternatives
- State file management is complex, especially at scale with multiple workspaces
- terraform import workflow is fiddly and must be done one resource at a time
- No native error handling or try-catch capabilities like traditional programming languages
- No automatic rollback capability - must manually delete and re-run if needed
Pricing, plan by plan
Fig
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Fig review.
Terraform
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Terraform review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Terraform if
- You need infrastructure as code.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- You also want resource graph.
Questions people ask
- Is Fig or Terraform better?
- Neither clearly leads. Fig starts at Free and Terraform at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Fig or Terraform?
- Fig starts at Free and Terraform at Free.
- Does Fig or Terraform run on more platforms?
- Fig runs on Web. Terraform runs on Linux, macOS, Windows.
- Can I use Fig for free?
- Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
- What can Fig do that Terraform cannot?
- Terraform covers Infrastructure as code, Resource graph, Plan & apply, State management.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Terraform: Is there a free tier?
Yes. The free tier supports up to 500 managed resources and 1 concurrent run. The legacy free tier ends March 31, 2026; remaining organizations auto-convert to the enhanced free tier.
SourceTerraform: What clouds does Terraform support?
Terraform supports AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform, Oracle Cloud, Docker, and HashiCorp's own HCP Terraform managed service, with over 2000 providers available.
SourceTerraform: Do I need HCP Terraform Cloud or can I run locally?
Terraform runs locally by default, storing state on your machine. For team collaboration and production use, remote backends like S3, Azure Storage, or HCP Terraform are recommended for locking and security.
SourceTerraform: Is HCL hard to learn?
HCL is designed to be human-readable and sits between JSON and YAML. It supports comments, variables, functions, and conditional logic. While beginners can get started quickly, mastering advanced features takes practice.
SourceRelated pages
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