Terrateam vs. Atlantis
Terraform automation tools like Terrateam and Atlantis simplify infrastructure-as-code workflows. While both embrace GitOps, they differ in features and target users.
Terrateam builds on the principles of Atlantis-style workflows, offering a more modern, scalable, and feature-rich approach to Terraform automation for today’s enterprise needs.
Below, we break down both tools to help you understand the differences.
Why Compare Terrateam and Atlantis?
Both tools are open-source and simplify Terraform workflows using GitOps. Atlantis introduced key concepts that inspired Terrateam’s design, which expands on them to provide additional capabilities for security, scalability, and ease of use.
Key areas of comparison include:
- Feature Set: Terrateam enhances workflows with enterprise-grade features like RBAC, drift detection, and cost estimation. Atlantis focuses on simplicity and flexibility as a fully open-source tool.
- Deployment Options: Terrateam offers managed services alongside self-hosted options, while Atlantis is exclusively self-hosted.
- Architecture: Terrateam employs a scalable, distributed architecture with a dedicated database for persistence. Atlantis operates as a single-server solution, emphasizing ease of setup.
Key Features at a Glance
| Feature | Terrateam | Atlantis |
|---|---|---|
| Terraform Operations | ✅ Fully integrated with GitHub Actions | ✅ Executes operations directly on the Atlantis server |
| Multi-VCS Support | Optimized for GitHub | GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket |
| Role-Based Access Control | ✅ Yes | ➖ No |
| Drift Detection | ✅ Automated | ➖ Manual or external tools |
| Open-Source | ✅ Open-Core (Free & Paid Tiers) | ✅ 100% Open-Source |
| Scalability | ✅ Horizontal Scalability | ➖ Limited to a single server |
| Cost Estimation | ✅ Yes | ➖ No Equivalent |
| Layered Runs/Dependencies | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
| Automatic Module Detection | ✅ Yes | ➖ Lacks advanced conditions |
| Granular Apply Requirements | ✅ Yes | ➖ Basic |
| Secrets | ✅ GitHub Secrets | ➖ Manual |
| Centralized Repo Configuration | ✅ Yes | ➖ No |
| Gitflow | ✅ Yes | ➖ Not native |
| Isolated Runners | ✅ Yes | ➖ No |
Terrateam Highlights
Open-Source and Transparency
- Open-Core Model: Terrateam builds on the flexibility of open-source while offering enterprise-grade features in premium tiers.
- GitOps-First: Inspired by Atlantis, Terrateam focuses on auditable, pull-request-centric workflows.
- Community Engagement: A growing community actively contributes feedback and improvements to the project.
GitHub-Native Integration
- Deep Integration: Operates within GitHub using Actions, Issues, Secrets, and Environments.
- Pull Requests: Simplifies Terraform workflows with fully auditable PR integrations.
- Advanced Features: Layered runs, dynamic configuration builder, and automatic module detection handle complex workflows with ease.
Enterprise Security and Compliance
- RBAC, SSO, and Audit Trails: Offer enterprise-grade security and compliance.
- OIDC Authentication: Simplifies secure connections to cloud providers.
- SOC 2 Compliance in Progress: Addresses the needs of security-conscious organizations.
Scalability and Support
- Horizontal Scalability: Designed for high availability and large teams.
- Parallel Execution: Accelerates deployment times in complex environments.
- Isolated Environments: Separates operations across development, staging, and production for security and compliance.
How Terrateam Works
Terrateam integrates with GitHub and Terraform to create a GitOps-first workflow for infrastructure management. Here’s an overview of the process:
Atlantis Benefits
Open-Source and Free
- Completely Free: Provides cost-effective automation without licensing fees.
- Community-Driven Development: A passionate open-source community continuously improves the project.
Multi-VCS Support
- Integration Flexibility: Works with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.
Self-Hosted Simplicity
- Complete Control: Ideal for teams with in-house DevOps expertise.
- Cost-Effective: A great fit for budget-conscious organizations.
Security Comparison
| Security Feature | Terrateam | Atlantis |
|---|---|---|
| Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) | ✅ Yes | ➖ No |
| Audit Trails | ✅ Yes | ➖ No |
| OIDC Authentication | ✅ Yes | ➖ No |
| Single Sign-On (SSO) | ✅ Yes | ➖ No |
Ideal Use Cases
| Criteria | Terrateam | Atlantis |
|---|---|---|
| Security Requirements | High (RBAC, SSO, audit trails) | Moderate (user-configured) |
| Ease of Use | GitHub-native | Requires internal expertise |
| Budget | Transparent pricing | Ideal for budget-conscious teams |
Architectures
Terrateam
Terrateam’s distributed, scalable architecture includes:
- Persistent Database: A PostgreSQL backend ensures high availability and fault tolerance.
- Isolated Runners: Securely executes operations in separate environments.
- Horizontal Scalability: Supports growth without bottlenecks.
Atlantis
Atlantis follows a simple, single-server architecture:
- No Persistent Database: Plan files are ephemeral.
- Centralized Design: Easy to set up but limited in scalability.
- Shared Execution: Lacks isolated runners for additional security.
✳️ Atlantis can optionally persist locks to Redis
Addressing Atlantis Pain Points
| Challenge | Terrateam’s Solution |
|---|---|
| Scalability | Built-in horizontal scalability and high availability |
| Drift Detection | Automated drift detection and reconciliation |
| Sensitive Data Exposure | Secrets masking in PR comments and plan outputs |
| Rigid Locking | Configurable locking strategies for different environments |
Conclusion
Atlantis and Terrateam are both valuable tools for Terraform automation. Both tools cater to different needs, offering unique advantages:
- Choose Atlantis: If you prioritize simplicity, a self-hosted open-source solution, and a community-driven approach.
- Choose Terrateam: If you want an open-source, GitHub-native solution with enterprise-grade features, scalable architecture, and dedicated support.
Atlantis introduced the community to GitOps-first Terraform automation, and Terrateam builds upon this legacy to meet the needs of today’s teams.
Learn more about how Terrateam solves common Atlantis pain points.
Get Started with Terrateam
- Check out the ⭐ Terrateam GitHub Repository for source code and setup instructions.
- Launch Terrateam locally using Docker Compose.
- Connect your Terraform repositories and start making pull requests.