Terramantle vs Spacelift, Scalr, and env0 registries
Spacelift, Scalr and env0 all ship a private registry as part of the platform, and they're good platforms. The question here is scope. If what you need is module and provider distribution, buying a whole execution platform to get it is a lot of surface area, and a lot of pricing, for one feature.
The registry on its own
This table leaves out everything a TACOS does around the registry and looks only at the registry capability itself, which is what you'd be choosing between if distribution is your problem.
| Registry capability | Bundled in a TACOS | Terramantle |
|---|---|---|
| Modules and providers | Varies by platform | Both |
| State hosting | Yes, part of the platform | Yes |
| Air-gap | Rare | Yes |
| OIDC publish | Varies | Yes, GitHub and GitLab |
| Cross-repo consumer graph | Not typically | Yes |
| Pricing basis | Per-run or per-user | Flat, registry-priced |
Who should buy the platform
A TACOS makes sense if you want remote runs, drift detection, policy-as-code gates, run queues and an approval workflow owned in one place. Spacelift is a strong choice if you want mature policy and self-hosted runners, Scalr if OpenTofu-first execution and cost controls are your priority, and env0 if environment-as-a-service workflows fit how your teams work. In each of those cases the registry is a bonus rather than the reason you're buying, so take the platform and its registry together.
TACOS registry FAQ
Is this saying TACOS platforms are bad?
No. Spacelift, Scalr and env0 are good platforms. If you need remote runs, drift detection and policy, they earn their keep and the registry comes bundled. The argument here is about scope: if distribution is the only thing you need, a full platform is a lot of surface area for one feature.
Their registry is included, so is it not free?
It's included in the platform price, which is usually per-run or per-user. If you're buying the platform for its execution features anyway, the registry is a useful extra. If you'd be buying the platform mainly to get its registry, you're paying execution-platform pricing for module distribution, and that mismatch is worth noticing.
What does a standalone registry give up versus a TACOS?
Execution. A registry doesn't run your plans and applies, own your run queue or detect drift. A TACOS exists to do those things, and Terramantle isn't trying to be one. It's the registry and state layer, and it expects your existing pipelines to keep doing the running.
Can I use Terramantle with a TACOS?
Yes. If you like your TACOS for execution but want a registry with cross-repo consumer graphs, supply-chain scanning and air-gap support that the bundled one doesn't offer, point the platform at Terramantle as the module and provider source. They aren't mutually exclusive.
If distribution is the problem, buy for that.
Terramantle is the registry and state layer without the execution platform. Keep your pipelines, or your TACOS, and add a registry with the lifecycle features.
Last reviewed
Terramantle is a private Terraform and OpenTofu registry. See pricing or read the FAQ.