Terraback vs Firefly: codify cloud to Terraform, no SaaS
Same job, different shape
Firefly is a cloud-management platform; codification - turning live resources into Terraform - is one feature inside a broader SaaS that also handles continuous inventory, drift dashboards, and governance. That breadth is valuable for some teams, but it means sending your cloud inventory to a third-party platform and paying a recurring subscription.
Terraback is purpose-built for the codification job. You install a local CLI, point it at an account with read-only credentials, and it reverse-engineers AWS, Azure, and GCP into clean Terraform plus native import blocks. Nothing leaves your machine, and there is no monthly bill.
Terraback vs Firefly comparison
| Feature | Terraback | Firefly |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery model | Local CLI on your machine | SaaS platform |
| Where your data goes | Stays local, read-only credentials | Inventory sent to the vendor's cloud |
| Codify cloud to Terraform | Yes, generates HCL + import blocks | Yes (codification feature) |
| Terraform import blocks | Native Terraform 1.5+ import blocks | Generates import workflow |
| Clouds supported | AWS, Azure, GCP (240+ resource types) | Multi-cloud |
| Continuous drift dashboards | No - focused on scan and codify | Yes (platform features) |
| Setup | pip install, no agents | Account, onboarding, integrations |
| Pricing | $499 one-time | Enterprise SaaS pricing |
The honest tradeoff
If you want an always-on platform with continuous drift detection, governance workflows, and a hosted dashboard, Firefly offers more than Terraback - and charges accordingly. If your goal is to codify existing infrastructure into Terraform quickly, keep credentials and data on your own machine, and avoid a recurring SaaS contract, Terraback gives you that for a one-time $499.
Codify your cloud without a subscription
Generate Terraform and import blocks for AWS, Azure, and GCP - locally, with read-only credentials. $499 once, no SaaS.