Introduction

Ansible, supported by Red Hat, is a free software configuration management framework that specializes in automatic software configuration, operating system updates, and application deployment using procedural playbooks in YAML. It is perfect for setting up the current infrastructure.

On the other hand, Terraform is an open-source Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool created by HashiCorp, which describes and manages cloud infrastructure through the use of a declarative HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL). It works great in the development of resources such as virtual machines and networks between providers such as AWS and Azure.

Ansible Vs Terraform: Which should you use? In this blog, we will compare Ansible and Terraform, pointing to their strong sides and significant differences. We will also discuss the use cases at the end of this blog. We will also discuss the similarities among the two, i.e., Ansible and Terraform.

If you’re looking to get comfortable using these tools in real-world scenarios, an Ansible and Terraform course is a great way to gain both hands-on experience and a solid understanding of the concepts behind them.

Before getting into Ansible vs Terraform, let us first discuss what Ansible and Terraform are.

What is Ansible?

Introduced in 2012 when Red Hat released Ansible, this effective open-source software tool has been developed to automate operations across platforms and to orchestrate cross-platform at scale. It is written in Python and simplifies IT work via a command-line interface, with YAML-based playbooks used to manage configuration, manage infrastructure, and provision applications. Being agentless, Ansible can access systems using SSH or WinRM, which sets it as a lightweight and simple tool to implement.

It is supported by a faithful open-source list and Red Hat. It comes with thousands of modules through Ansible Galaxy to automate activities such as software deployment and network configurations. Its procedural methodology and idempotency provide consistent, scalable automation on Linux, Windows, and network equipment.

Key Features of Ansible

Some of the Key features of Ansible are:

• YAML-based: Uses YAML, a simple data format that is easy to read and write.
• Modules: Reusable standalone scripts that perform specific tasks.
• Playbooks: YAML files that define configurations, deployments, and orchestration steps.
• Plays: Defined sets of tasks for specific hosts or host groups.
• Inventories: Files listing all machines Ansible manages with relevant metadata.
• Roles: Organisational units to streamline sharing and reuse of automation code.

Ansible is agentless, using SSH or WinRM to communicate with hosts. Its simplicity, ease of setup, and flexibility make it ideal for configuration management tasks.

What is Terraform?

Terraform was created by HashiCorp and released in 2014 as one of the most popular Infrastructures as Code (IaC) packages of tools to provide, manage, and deploy cloud infrastructure. It is based on a declarative HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL), which allows users to declare the desired state of resources such as virtual machines, networks, and databases. Terraform has an engine which decides the steps to attain that state and has more than 3,000 providers, such as AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud.

It was originally open-source, though in 2023 switched to a Business Source License (BUSL). Terraform helps you build and manage your computer systems. It keeps a record of everything you have built. Before you make a change, it shows you a plan. This lets you see what will happen first. You can then approve the change. You can also create reusable code blocks. This helps you build things faster and keeps your work organized. Terraform works with many cloud services and your own private servers. This allows you to build systems of any size in the same way every time.

Key Features of Terraform

Some of the key features of terraform are:

• State management: Terraform tracks resources and their configuration in a state file.
• Declarative code: Users describe the desired state of their infrastructure, and Terraform manages it.
• Widely adopted: Terraform supports over 3,000 providers.
• Modular structure: You can divide your infrastructure into multiple reusable modules.
• Immutable approach: Designed to replace rather than mutate resources.

Terraform allows teams to version control their infrastructure and manage changes in a structured and predictable manner. It integrates deeply with all major cloud providers, allowing for complete automation of your infrastructure setup.

Despite the similarities, the difference between Ansible and Terraform becomes evident when we dive deeper into each tool’s capabilities and limitations.

Ansible vs Terraform

Below, we have discussed the difference between Ansible and Terraform based on different factors.

Below we will discuss the major points that define the difference between Ansible and Terraform in practice. Let’s explore Ansible vs terraform in detail.

1. Orchestration vs Configuration Management

Orchestration, sometimes known as provisioning, is the activity of generating infrastructure items, including virtual machines, networks, databases, and storage systems, usually in cloud or on-premises settings. It is intended to create the underlying resources needed by applications. Configuration management, in turn, includes the installation and support of software, administration of system upgrades, application of security policies, as well as the implementation of applications over pre-existing infrastructure. It keeps systems uniform, safe, and tuned, as well as managing procedures such as the installation of software, version control, and structuring of networks.

Terraform excels in orchestration. It provisions infrastructure using cloud provider APIs in a systematic, predictable way.

Ansible is primarily geared towards configuration management. While it can provision infrastructure, it lacks the depth Terraform offers in this area. Ansible shines in tasks like installing packages, configuring services, setting permissions, and pushing code.

2. Declarative vs Procedural Language

Terraform uses HashiCorp Configuration Language (HCL), a declarative language that allows the user to specify the desired end state of infrastructure, whether it is virtual machines or networks. When run, it automatically finds the steps to reach this state; there is no need to specify the order of tasks. The modularity of codes that is earned by this declarative style makes them reusable and manageable. The readability and scalability of HCL make it easy to deal with complex infrastructure configurations and make them consistent in their usage in multi-clouds and on-premises and easier maintenance and upgrades.

Ansible relies on the procedural YAML language, where tasks must be laid out in a given order in playbooks. As an example, we need to make a user account prior to the installation of a package, and it must be specified in order to have very specific control over configuration processes.

Declarative code tends to be more readable and scalable. Procedural code gives more control but requires careful ordering.

3. Mutable vs Immutable Infrastructure

Immutable infrastructure means that modifications are not made to established components such as virtual machines or containers to allow reflection of changes, but instead are replaced. This strategy is consistent, minimizes configuration drift and makes rollbacks easy, which is in line with the modern DevOps practice of reliable deployment.

Terraform targets immutable infrastructure, where resources, i.e., virtual machines or networks, are usually not updated in place (i.e., edited) but instead replaced with a new version. This method makes it consistent, reduces configuration drift, and makes rollbacks easier. Terraform fits with state-of-the-art DevOps by recreating resources, which improves reliability and scalability in the multi-cloud and on-premise contexts, making it a perfect choice when it comes to the robust provisioning of infrastructure.

Ansible usually runs on dynamic infrastructure and simply applies changes to existing infrastructure, such as servers or configuration files. This method is flexible and has the disadvantage of experiencing configuration drift, which happens where frequent edits on a configuration file can confuse. Such idempotent playbooks and frequent checkups will also ensure the reduction of drift, thus ensuring that the systems are in the target state, providing effectiveness in using it in configuration management despite these challenges.

While both tools can support either approach, Terraform is better suited for immutability. Ansible, however, can support immutable strategies through image creation workflows.

4. Lifecycle Management

Terraform monitors the full lifecycle of resources with state files, a record of the current state of infrastructure, such as virtual machines and networks. This file makes it possible to detect drift, detect external changes, and suggest updates to keep it consistent. It also kicks up resource dependency, making resource provisioning and changes effective even in multi-cloud settings where infrastructure management is reduced, and ease of scale of the setting is improved.

Ansible operates statelessly by default, and each playbook execution is independent, implementing the changes according to the existing system state. This differs with Terraform that has its own native state file. Nonetheless, state-like behaviour can be approximated with external inventories and variables that follow the configurations. It provides some flexibility in configuration management but not by itself tracking lifecycle, thus easier to use in infrastructure provisioning than Terraform.

5. Packaging and Templating Support

Ansible supports advanced templating using Jinja2, which can dynamically generate a configuration inside the playbooks. It provides complete support for packaging roles and playbooks, enabling automation code that can be reused and organized. The roles, which are distributed through Ansible Galaxy and playbooks, make the complex tasks such as the software setup and system updates simpler. This strength in the ability to template and package offers a very strong flexibility in the configuration management of Ansible across varying environments, boosting the scalability and maintenance.

Terraform is compatible with reusable modules and variables, which allows for simplifying infrastructure management in a multi-cloud environment. Its templating functionality, in turn, is far less robust than Ansible Jinja2 and can be awkward or even untidy with complex logic. Although modules increase scalability, the more complex configuration is forced to be done through workarounds, wherein HCL trades dynamic scripting for declarative simplicity. This contrast between Ansible and Terraform points to the strength of Terraform as modular, but weakness as an advanced template engine.

When configuration needs heavy templating (e.g., dynamic file creation), Ansible is better.

6. Community and Licensing

Ansible is entirely free and open-source, with a community license of GPLv3. It provides a variety of thousands of plugins and modules, accessible in Ansible Galaxy, to realize reusable automation expertise in areas such as configuration management, application deployment, or system orchestration across a variety of environments.

Terraform started out as an open-source project and became a Business Source License (BUSL) in 2023, under which some enterprise scenarios are restricted. Though it is still very much in use, the BUSL restricts commercial uses relative to the former open-source design, which affects the adoption of the new model in certain organizations.

Both tools have strong ecosystems and enterprise versions that offer extended features.

Now that we have a good understanding of Ansible vs Terraform, let us move on to the next section, where we will discuss the use cases of Ansible and Terraform.

Use Cases: When to Use Ansible or Terraform

It is important to understand both terraform and ansible in order to use as per their capabilities.

When to Use Ansible

• Installing software and packages
• Configuring databases, services, or firewalls
• Running CI/CD pipelines
• Managing on-premise infrastructure
• Deploying applications and ensuring idempotency

When to Use Terraform

• Building VPCs, subnets, and cloud networks
• Deploying EC2, RDS, and storage
• Managing DNS, load balancers, and IAM
• Multi-cloud or hybrid-cloud provisioning
• When you need full visibility of infrastructure state

Can Terraform and Ansible Be Used Together?

Yes. Many teams use both tools together to gain the benefits of each.

Typical workflow:

Terraform provisions cloud infrastructure.

Terraform outputs IPs and hostnames.

Ansible uses these to configure applications and services.

This best-of-both-worlds approach supports a clear boundary:

• Terraform handles infrastructure
• Ansible handles software/configuration.

Ansible vs Terraform: Similarities

At a very high level, Terraform and Ansible may appear to do similar things. Both are capable of provisioning infrastructure and configuring it afterward. Here are some of the major similarities:

• Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Both tools allow defining infrastructure in code.
• Agentless: No need to install agents; Ansible uses SSH/WinRM, Terraform uses APIs and SSH.
• Cloud agnostic: Both support all major cloud providers.
• Automation focused: Both aim to automate manual IT processes.
• Declarative possibilities: While Ansible is procedural by default, it can achieve declarative behaviour through idempotent modules.
• Community support: Both are backed by large communities and supported by extensive modules and providers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which is better Ansible or Terraform?

When we compare Ansible Vs Terraform head-to-head, Terraform is often preferred for infrastructure provisioning in cloud environments. At the same time, Ansible is celebrated for its configuration management capabilities and as a cross-domain automation solution.

Q2. Do I need Ansible with Terraform?

Terraform and Ansible complement each other. Using them together can significantly enhance your workflows and simplify the tasks around managing, provisioning, and configuring your infrastructure.

Q3. What is Ansible used for?

Ansible is an open-source automation tool used for IT tasks like configuration management, application deployment, and infrastructure as code (IaC). It simplifies complex tasks by automating them across multiple servers.

Q4. What is Terraform used for?

Terraform is primarily used as an Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tool, enabling users to define and provision infrastructure resources using a declarative configuration language.

Conclusion

Ansible vs Terraform comparison focuses on these competencies in the area of DevOps automation. Terraform is a leading infrastructure provisioning tool based on declarative HCL to deploy instances such as virtual machines and networks to the cloud. Ansible is best suited to configuration management, and its procedural YAML playbooks automate software installations and system changes. As they share capabilities, Terraform is suited to provisioning, and Ansible is suited to configuration. This is highly efficient, and by combining them, Terraform deploys infrastructure, and Ansible configures it. This synergy provides powerful, elastic automation of cloud environments, better architectural decision-making, as well as simplified workflows.