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Infrastructure as code

AWS CDK

An AWS-native framework for defining constructs in supported languages and synthesizing them to CloudFormation stacks.

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Editorial verdict

Choose AWS CDK when AWS-native constructs are worth AWS and CloudFormation coupling, bootstrap permissions, and construct-version lifecycle.1591011

Best for

  • AWS-only or AWS-centered infrastructure
  • Reusable AWS constructs
  • Teams already operating CloudFormation and IAM
1591011

Not ideal for

  • Multi-provider IaC
  • Teams avoiding CloudFormation semantics
  • Organizations without controlled bootstrap and deployment permissions
1591011
Main trade-off

Productive AWS abstractions trade against AWS/CloudFormation coupling, abstraction defaults, construct lifecycle, and bootstrap permissions.1591011

Product boundary

Whether code-first AWS constructs and CloudFormation synthesis fit the organization's IaC workflow.

AWS CDK authors and synthesizes CloudFormation stacks. AWS resources, bootstrap assets, CI/CD runners, CloudFormation extensions, and support retain separate behavior and cost.910

For: AWS developers and platform teams with supported-language, account, region, IAM, and CloudFormation maturity

  • Infrastructure spans providers beyond AWS.
  • CloudFormation semantics or bootstrap IAM are unacceptable.
  • Higher-level application components matter more than broad AWS constructs.

Why teams consider AWS CDK

  • Supported-language authoringDevelopers define AWS resources through language libraries and constructs.9
  • Construct compositionLow- and high-level constructs support reusable infrastructure patterns.9
  • AWS-native deploymentCDK synthesizes to CloudFormation stacks and uses AWS account and region controls.9

Pricing

AWS CDK has no additional framework charge; provisioned AWS resources, bootstrap storage/registry, CI/CD, extensions, logs, and support are billed separately.1011

Framework adoption

No additional AWS CDK charge

Verified 2026-07-25: pay for provisioned AWS resources and supporting bootstrap/deployment services under their own pricing.1011

Framework fee
No additional charge for AWS CDK1011
Actual cost
Provisioned resources, bootstrap assets, CI/CD, extensions, logs, and support1011
Pricing checked View official pricing

AWS CDK vs alternatives

Terraform

Choose when
Choose it for provider-neutral declarative infrastructure.
Compared with AWS CDK
HCL, state, provider lifecycle, and licensing boundaries.13

Pulumi

Choose when
Choose it for code-first infrastructure across providers.
Compared with AWS CDK
Program and optional Cloud complexity without CloudFormation-native operation.57

SST

Choose when
Choose it for higher-level application components and local workflow.
Compared with AWS CDK
More framework abstraction and provider/version coupling.1214

Resources and sources

Official product, policy, and pricing

  • AWS CDK core concepts
    Open
  • AWS CDK bootstrapping
    Open
  • AWS CDK cost FAQ
    Open
  1. 1
    What is Terraform

    IBM HashiCorp · Accessed Official

  2. 2
    Core Terraform workflow

    IBM HashiCorp · Accessed Official

  3. 3
    IBM HashiCorp product pricing

    IBM HashiCorp · Accessed Official

  4. 4
    Terraform core source and license

    IBM HashiCorp · Accessed Official

  5. 5
    Pulumi Infrastructure as Code

    Pulumi · Accessed Official

  6. 6
    Pulumi state and backends

    Pulumi · Accessed Official

  7. 7
    Pulumi pricing

    Pulumi · Accessed Official

  8. 8
    Pulumi core source and license

    Pulumi · Accessed Official

  9. 9
    AWS CDK core concepts

    Amazon Web Services · Accessed Official

  10. 10
    AWS CDK bootstrapping

    Amazon Web Services · Accessed Official

  11. 11
    AWS CDK cost FAQ

    Amazon Web Services · Accessed Official

  12. 12
    SST documentation

    SST · Accessed Official

  13. 13
    SST providers

    SST · Accessed Official

  14. 14
    SST Console and pricing

    SST · Accessed Official

  15. 15
    SST current major-version migration

    SST · Accessed Official