AWS CDK vs Crossplane:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, AWS CDK and Crossplane were level in searches among infrastructure as code tools worldwide, with an estimated 12.1K branded searches each, at 2.5% of the total each. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about infrastructure as code tools, AWS CDK appeared in four of the five answers and Crossplane in two. AWS CDK was mentioned before Crossplane in every answer that named either.
Who do people search for more?
AWS CDK and Crossplane are searched for about as often as each other.
Who does AI mention more?
AWS CDK, mentioned in 4 of 5 answers, Crossplane in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
AWS CDK, named ahead of Crossplane in 4 of 4 answers
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Top infrastructure as code tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, AWS CDK was mentioned in four out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Crossplane was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. AWS CDK was listed before Crossplane in every answer that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
OpenTofu1st
Terraform2nd
Pulumi3rd- AWS CloudFormation4th
- AWS CDK5th
Ansible6th
Crossplane7th
Azure Bicep8th
Puppet9th
Chef10th
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Terraform5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- AWS CloudFormation5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- OpenTofu5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Pulumi5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Ansible4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- AWS CDK4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Crossplane2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- Azure Bicep2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Chef2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Puppet2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about infrastructure as code tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which infrastructure as code tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best infrastructure as code tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best infrastructure as code tool for automated cloud setup?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“infrastructure as code tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“iac tool”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 21, 2026.
Is AWS CDK or Crossplane more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for AWS CDK and Crossplane by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten infrastructure as code tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for AWS CDK, Crossplane. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Terraform | Ansible | AWS CloudFormation | OpenTofu | Pulumi | AWS CDK | Crossplane | Azure Bicep | Chef | Puppet |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 51.2% | 28.1% | 7.1% | 3.1% | 4.6% | 3.1% | 2.1% | 0.61% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Nov 2025 | 48.7% | 26.7% | 8.3% | 3.6% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 0.57% | 0.17% | 0.14% |
| Dec 2025 | 50.1% | 27.5% | 7% | 3.7% | 5.5% | 3% | 2.5% | 0.49% | 0.12% | 0.12% |
| Jan 2026 | 49.3% | 27% | 7.8% | 3.6% | 5.4% | 3.6% | 2.4% | 0.58% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Feb 2026 | 49.5% | 27.2% | 7.9% | 3.6% | 5.5% | 3% | 2.4% | 0.72% | 0.12% | 0.08% |
| Mar 2026 | 50.8% | 27.9% | 6.6% | 3.7% | 4.6% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 0.61% | 0.1% | 0.08% |
| Apr 2026 | 49.5% | 27.2% | 7.9% | 3.6% | 5.5% | 3% | 2.4% | 0.72% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| May 2026 | 50.3% | 27.6% | 7.6% | 3.7% | 4.5% | 3% | 2.5% | 0.59% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Jun 2026 | 50.4% | 27.7% | 6.6% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 3% | 2.5% | 0.59% | 0.05% | 0.08% |
| Jul 2026 | 53.5% | 23.9% | 7% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 2.6% | 2.6% | 0.63% | 0.06% | 0.07% |
| Aug 2026 | 48.9% | 26.8% | 7.8% | 5.4% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 0.71% | 0.08% | 0.08% |
| Sep 2026 | 51.1% | 28% | 6.7% | 4.6% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 0.75% | 0.07% | 0.07% |
How has the AWS CDK and Crossplane comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- AWS CDK was ahead of Crossplane in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, AWS CDK’s share of searches among infrastructure as code tools worldwide moved from 3.1% to 2.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 18.1K to 12.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Crossplane’s share of searches among infrastructure as code tools worldwide moved from 2.1% to 2.5%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 12.1K.
How did search popularity change for infrastructure as code tools worldwide in September 2026?
1 change
Estimated monthly branded searches for AWS CDK worldwide fell 33.1% over 12 measured months, from 18.1K to 12.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using AWS CDK’s and Crossplane’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
AWS CDK
1 branded search term
- aws cdk
Crossplane
1 branded search term
- crossplane
Other head-to-heads among infrastructure as code tools
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