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Software · head to head

Packer vs Vault

P

Packer

Software

Build automated machine images

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Vault logo

Vault

Software

Manage Secrets and Protect Sensitive Data

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Packer packer 1.10.0 and later is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1 with IBM Corporation as licensor, not an OSI open source licence; Vault vault 1.15.0 and later is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1, not an OSI open source licence, with IBM Corporation as licensor
  • They diverge on capability: Packer covers Image building, Vault covers Secrets management.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Packer and Vault actually diverge.

Attributes where Packer and Vault differ
AttributePackerVault
PlatformsLinux, Windows, MacLinux, Windows, Mac, Cloud
Founded20132015

Identical on both: starting price (Free), pricing model (open-source), 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 Packer

  • Image building
  • Multi-platform support
  • Provisioners
  • Builders
  • Post-processors
  • Variables
  • Data sources
  • Validation

Only in Vault

  • Secrets management
  • Authentication
  • Authorization
  • Audit logging
  • API access
  • High availability
  • Replication
  • Kubernetes

Both cover

  • Docker
  • Terraform
  • Ansible
  • Encryption
  • On-premise deployment
  • Cloud deployment

What people use each for

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

Packer

  • Building identical machine images for multiple clouds from one templatenot Vault
  • Baking golden AMIs and VM images into a CI pipelinenot Vault
  • Creating immutable infrastructure artifacts consumed by Terraformnot Vault

Vault

  • Centrally storing and rotating secrets, API keys and database credentialsnot Packer
  • Issuing short-lived dynamic credentials to applications instead of static passwordsnot Packer
  • Encryption as a service and PKI certificate issuancenot Packer

Where each one falls short

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

Packer

  • Packer 1.10.0 and later is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1 with IBM Corporation as licensor, not an OSI open source licence
  • The Additional Use Grant forbids offering Packer to third parties on a hosted or embedded basis in a paid product that competes with IBM's paid versions of Packer
  • Each version converts to the MPL 2.0 Change License only four years after that version is first published, and the Change Date is set separately per version
  • Alternative licensing for uses outside the grant must be arranged with the licensor rather than taken under the public licence

Vault

  • Vault 1.15.0 and later is licensed under the Business Source License 1.1, not an OSI open source licence, with IBM Corporation as licensor
  • The Additional Use Grant forbids offering Vault to third parties on a hosted or embedded basis in a paid product that competes with IBM's paid versions of Vault
  • Each version only converts to MPL 2.0 four years after that version is published, and the Change Date is tracked per version
  • Replication, HSM support, namespaces, performance standby nodes, FIPS builds, control group authorisation, multi-factor authentication, secrets sync and lease count quotas all require a Vault Enterprise licence
  • A Vault Enterprise licence must be applied to the cluster before any Enterprise feature can be used

Pricing, plan by plan

Packer

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Multi-platform image building
    • Template-driven
    • Provisioner support

Vault

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Secrets management
    • Encryption as a service
    • Identity management
  • EnterpriseFree
    • Advanced features
    • Premium support
    • Dedicated updates

Which should you pick?

Choose Packer if

  • You need image building.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac.
  • You also want multi-platform support.
Packer review

Choose Vault if

  • You need secrets management.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Mac, Cloud.
  • You also want authentication.
Vault review

Questions people ask

Is Packer or Vault better?
Neither clearly leads. Packer starts at Free and Vault at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Packer or Vault?
Packer starts at Free and Vault at Free.
Does Packer or Vault run on more platforms?
Packer runs on Linux, Windows, Mac. Vault runs on Linux, Windows, Mac, Cloud.
Can I use Packer for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Packer best used for?
Packer is most often used for building identical machine images for multiple clouds from one template, baking golden amis and vm images into a ci pipeline, creating immutable infrastructure artifacts consumed by terraform. Of those, building identical machine images for multiple clouds from one template and baking golden amis and vm images into a ci pipeline are not what Vault is typically brought in for.
What can Packer do that Vault cannot?
Packer covers Image building, Multi-platform support, Provisioners, Builders. Vault covers Secrets management, Authentication, Authorization, Audit logging. Both handle Docker, Terraform, Ansible, Encryption.
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