# AWS Key Management Service vs Clevis: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[AWS Key Management Service](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-key-management-service) is a commercial [key management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/key-management) solution by [Amazon Web Services, Inc](https://cybersectools.com/companies/amazon-web-services-inc). [Clevis](https://cybersectools.com/tools/clevis) is a free [key management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/key-management) solution. Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

Need the answer fast? [Best Key Management Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-key-management-solutions) picks Thales CipherTrust Manager, Fortanix Data Security Manager, Futurex CryptoHub and 3 more.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | AWS Key Management Service | Clevis |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Free |
| Category | Key Management | Key Management |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | – | 1,159 |
| Last commit | – | Mar 2026 |
| Company | Amazon Web Services, Inc. | – |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | AWS Key Management Service | Clevis |
|---|---|---|
| Encryption | Yes | Yes |
| AWS | Yes | – |
| Linux | – | Yes |

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [AWS Key Management Service](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-key-management-service) fits if you want a cloud product.
- [Clevis](https://cybersectools.com/tools/clevis) fits if you need to run it on your own servers, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## AWS Key Management Service vs Clevis FAQ

Common questions when comparing AWS Key Management Service vs Clevis for key management.

### What is the difference between AWS Key Management Service and Clevis?

**AWS Key Management Service**: A cloud-based key management service for encrypting and digitally signing data. Built by Amazon Web Services, Inc.

**Clevis**: Clevis is a pluggable framework that enables automated decryption of data and LUKS volumes through a pin-based plugin system.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes AWS Key Management Service and Clevis?

**AWS Key Management Service** is made by Amazon Web Services, Inc. **Clevis** is open-source with 1,159 GitHub stars. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is AWS Key Management Service a good alternative to Clevis?

Often, yes. AWS Key Management Service and Clevis are both Key Management products, and both cover Encryption. Key differences: AWS Key Management Service is Commercial while Clevis is Free, Clevis is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [AWS Key Management Service vs EPICOM EP543IC](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-key-management-service-vs-epicom-ep543ic)
- [AWS Key Management Service vs AWS CloudHSM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-cloudhsm-vs-aws-key-management-service)
- [AWS Key Management Service vs Alibaba Cloud Cloud Hardware Security Module](https://cybersectools.com/compare/alibaba-cloud-elastic-compute-service-vs-aws-key-management-service)
- [Clevis vs EPICOM EP543IC](https://cybersectools.com/compare/clevis-vs-epicom-ep543ic)
- [Clevis vs AWS CloudHSM](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-cloudhsm-vs-clevis)
- [Clevis vs Alibaba Cloud Cloud Hardware Security Module](https://cybersectools.com/compare/alibaba-cloud-elastic-compute-service-vs-clevis)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all AWS Key Management Service alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/aws-key-management-service)
- [See all Clevis alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/clevis)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-key-management-service-vs-clevis

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-key-management-service.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on AWS Key Management Service and Clevis: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md