Puppet vs Puppet Enterprise: Key Differences in 2024
Puppet is open-source configuration management; Puppet Enterprise adds commercial support, extra features, and a web console, both owned by Perforce.
DevOps engineers often say “just install Puppet” when they actually need the Enterprise license for role-based access and patching, causing budget surprises mid-project.
Key Differences
Puppet is free CLI-only; Puppet Enterprise bundles continuous compliance, node manager, and 24/7 support at $120 per node per year.
Which One Should You Choose?
Startups with 50 nodes use Puppet; regulated firms pick Enterprise for auditing and faster incident SLAs without hiring extra staff.
Can I switch later?
Yes, export your code and buy licenses; the manifests stay identical.
Is Puppet Enterprise cloud-only?
No, it runs on-prem, hybrid, or any major cloud via the same agents.