Cloud Secrets Management Services -- Akeyless Alternatives

Best Cloud Secrets Management Services in 2026

Cloud-native secrets management services are fully managed by your cloud provider, requiring zero infrastructure overhead. They integrate deeply with your cloud ecosystem and scale automatically. These services are ideal for teams that are committed to a single cloud provider and want the simplest possible operations.

Our Recommendations

1

AWS Secrets Manager

$0.40/secret/month + $0.05/10k API calls

The best choice for AWS-native teams. Built-in rotation for RDS, Redshift, and DocumentDB with seamless IAM integration and pay-per-use pricing.

2

Azure Key Vault

Secrets: $0.03/10k operations / Keys: from $1/key/month

The best choice for Microsoft and Azure organizations. Deep Active Directory integration, HSM-backed key storage, and low-cost secrets operations.

3

Google Cloud Secret Manager

Free for 6 active versions + $0.06/10k access ops

The best choice for GCP workloads. Simple API, generous free tier, and automatic versioning with strong IAM-based access control.

Detailed Tool Profiles

AWS Secrets Manager

Cloud-Native
4.5

Native AWS secrets management service with automatic rotation

Pricing

$0.40/secret/month + $0.05/10k API calls

Best For

Teams already on AWS who want native integration

Key Features
Automatic secret rotationFine-grained IAM policiesNative AWS service integrationCross-account secret sharing+4 more
Pros
  • +Seamless AWS integration
  • +Fully managed, zero infrastructure
  • +Built-in rotation for RDS, Redshift, DocumentDB
Cons
  • AWS lock-in
  • Limited to AWS ecosystem
  • Can get expensive at scale
Cloud

Azure Key Vault

Cloud-Native
4.4

Microsoft Azure's managed secrets, keys, and certificate service

Pricing

Secrets: $0.03/10k operations / Keys: from $1/key/month

Best For

Microsoft and Azure-centric organizations

Key Features
HSM-backed key storageCertificate lifecycle managementAzure AD integrationManaged HSM pools+4 more
Pros
  • +Deep Azure and Microsoft 365 integration
  • +HSM-backed security
  • +Low cost for secrets operations
Cons
  • Azure lock-in
  • Complex permission model
  • Limited multi-cloud support
Cloud

Google Cloud Secret Manager

Cloud-Native
4.3

GCP-native secrets storage with versioning and audit

Pricing

Free for 6 active versions + $0.06/10k access ops

Best For

Teams running workloads on Google Cloud Platform

Key Features
Automatic secret versioningIAM-based access controlAudit logging with Cloud Audit LogsCustomer-managed encryption keys+4 more
Pros
  • +Simple and intuitive API
  • +Generous free tier
  • +Strong GCP integration
Cons
  • GCP lock-in
  • Fewer rotation features than AWS
  • Smaller ecosystem
Cloud

Akeyless Alternatives Feature Comparison

Compare all 3 Akeyless alternatives side-by-side across pricing, deployment, and key capabilities.

Feature
AWS Secrets Manager
4.5/5
Azure Key Vault
4.4/5
Google Cloud Secret Manager
4.3/5
Pricing ModelPer-secretPer-operationPer-operation
Open Source------
Cloud-Hosted+++
Self-Hosted------
Best ForTeams already on AWS who want native integrationMicrosoft and Azure-centric organizationsTeams running workloads on Google Cloud Platform
Key Features
  • Automatic secret rotation
  • Fine-grained IAM policies
  • Native AWS service integration
  • Cross-account secret sharing
  • HSM-backed key storage
  • Certificate lifecycle management
  • Azure AD integration
  • Managed HSM pools
  • Automatic secret versioning
  • IAM-based access control
  • Audit logging with Cloud Audit Logs
  • Customer-managed encryption keys
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Cloud Secrets Management Services FAQ

What is cloud-native secrets management?

Cloud-native secrets management refers to fully managed services provided by cloud platforms (AWS, Azure, GCP) for storing, managing, and accessing secrets. These services are built into the cloud ecosystem, require no infrastructure management, and integrate natively with other cloud services like compute, databases, and identity management.

Should I use my cloud provider's secrets manager or a third-party tool?

Use your cloud provider's secrets manager if you're committed to a single cloud and want the simplest operations with native integration. Choose a third-party tool like HashiCorp Vault or Doppler if you need multi-cloud support, want to avoid vendor lock-in, or need features your cloud provider doesn't offer (like a developer-friendly UI or advanced rotation policies).

How much do cloud secrets management services cost?

Cloud secrets managers use pay-per-use pricing. AWS Secrets Manager charges $0.40 per secret per month plus $0.05 per 10,000 API calls. Azure Key Vault charges $0.03 per 10,000 operations for secrets. GCP Secret Manager offers 6 free active secret versions and charges $0.06 per 10,000 access operations. Costs can scale quickly with many secrets or high API volume.

Can I use multiple cloud secrets managers together?

While technically possible, using multiple cloud-native secrets managers adds complexity. If you're in a multi-cloud environment, consider a cloud-agnostic tool like HashiCorp Vault or Doppler instead, which can manage secrets across all clouds from a single interface. If you must use multiple cloud-native services, tools like External Secrets Operator for Kubernetes can help unify access.

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