CircleCI alternatives: 6 apps ranked by verified data
Common reasons people leave CircleCI: credit-based pricing takes effort to predict, and separate tool from your code host. We ranked 6 alternatives by how directly each one replaces CircleCI, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. GitHub Actions currently ranks first.
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Show all 6 alternativesThe best CircleCI alternative for…
The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.
Best CircleCI alternative for most people
GitHub ActionsBuilt into GitHub, so no separate service to manage.
Best CircleCI alternative for a free option
JenkinsFree and self-hosted if you prefer to run CI yourself.
Best CircleCI alternative for a free plan you can upgrade
BuildkiteRun builds on your own infrastructure with a hosted control plane.
Best CircleCI alternative for open source
GitLabCI/CD integrated with code hosting and security scanning.
Best CircleCI alternative for self-hosting
SemaphoreFast hosted CI with per-minute pricing and an open-source edition.
Best CircleCI alternative for working in the browser
Travis CISimple YAML-based hosted CI with broad OS support.
CircleCI alternatives: common questions
What is the best alternative to CircleCI?
GitHub Actions ranks first right now. Built into GitHub, so no separate service to manage. Buildkite and GitLab follow it in our ranking.
Is there a free alternative to CircleCI?
Yes. GitHub Actions (free plan + paid), Buildkite (free plan + paid), GitLab (free plan + paid) and Jenkins (open source) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.
Is there an open-source alternative to CircleCI?
Yes: GitLab, Semaphore and Jenkins. GitLab, Semaphore and Jenkins can also be self-hosted.
Which CircleCI alternatives work on Linux?
Jenkins runs on Linux.
Why do people switch from CircleCI?
The complaints we hear most: credit-based pricing takes effort to predict; separate tool from your code host; config can get complex with orbs and anchors.
How is this list ranked?
Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces CircleCI, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.