AppBreakup
Submit an app
Semaphore logo

Semaphore

Fast hosted CI/CD with per-minute pricing, plus self-hostable open-source and enterprise editions.

PaidOpen sourceSelf-hostableCI/CD and code hosting platforms
Visit SemaphoreSee 5 alternatives
Verified facts
4 of 4
Alternatives ranked
5
Approved reviews
0
Visits sent from here
0

About Semaphore

Semaphore is a CI/CD platform focused on speed and a clear visual workflow. Pipelines are defined in YAML or a visual builder, run on Linux, macOS and Arm machines, and support promotions to chain deployments, monorepo change detection, test reports, flaky test tracking and self-hosted agents. Beyond the hosted cloud service, Semaphore released its platform as open source in 2025: a Community Edition you can run on Kubernetes for free, and an Enterprise Edition with extra features for larger organisations. The cloud service is pay-as-you-go by machine minute with optional paid support tiers and add-ons such as a dedicated cache server, and annual discounts are available. It connects to GitHub and other Git providers. Compared with GitHub Actions it is a separate service to manage, but it is often noticeably faster and its pipeline visualisation is easier to follow.

Best for: Teams wanting fast hosted CI, with the option to self-host the same platform.

Pros and cons

What works

  • Fast machines with per-minute billing
  • Clear visual pipeline builder and promotions
  • Open-source Community Edition for self-hosting

Why people leave

  • Support tiers cost extra on cloud
  • Smaller ecosystem than GitHub Actions
  • Self-hosting requires Kubernetes

Top Semaphore alternatives

See all 5
  1. 1CircleCI logo
    CircleCI

    Similar hosted CI with a free plan and more machine types.

    66.5
  2. 2GitHub Actions logo
    GitHub Actions

    Built-in CI for GitHub repos with free public usage.

    62.6
  3. 3Buildkite logo
    Buildkite

    Hybrid model keeping builds on your own machines.

    59.6
  4. 4Woodpecker CI logo
    Woodpecker CI

    Lightweight free self-hosted CI if you don't need Kubernetes.

    57.2
  5. 5GitLab logo
    GitLab

    CI/CD integrated with hosting and security scanning.

    55.3

Why people left Semaphore

In reviewers' own words, from reviews of the apps they moved to. These are their opinions, not ours.

No switching stories yet. If you moved away from Semaphore, review the app you switched to and tell us why.

Reviews

No approved reviews yet. How we verify reviewers

Write a review of Semaphore
Your rating of Semaphore

Never shown publicly. A work email helps us verify you.

What did you use it for, and what was good or bad? At least 40 characters.

A GitHub username, your company domain, or say you can send a screenshot. Verified reviews count more.

By submitting, you confirm you're at least 16 and agree to our terms. Your name, rating, review and the date are published; your email isn't. See our privacy policy.

Semaphore: common questions

Is Semaphore free?

No, Semaphore is a paid product. Linux machine price: $0.0075/min (2 vCPU x64) (checked on Semaphore's own site).

Is Semaphore open source?

Yes. The source code is on GitHub at semaphoreio/semaphore. You can also run it on your own server.

What platforms does Semaphore run on?

Semaphore is available for Web and Self-hosted.

What are the best alternatives to Semaphore?

The highest-ranked Semaphore alternatives right now are CircleCI, GitHub Actions and Buildkite. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 5 Semaphore alternatives