CI/CD Tools Comparison

Jenkins vs GitHub Actions vs GitLab CI - Choose the right CI/CD tool for your team

Jenkins

4.2

Open source automation server

Free

Pros

  • Highly customizable
  • Large plugin ecosystem
  • Self-hosted
  • Free

Cons

  • Complex setup
  • Maintenance overhead
  • UI feels dated

Best for: Large enterprises with complex workflows

GitHub Actions

4.8

Native CI/CD for GitHub repositories

Free tier + usage-based

Pros

  • Seamless GitHub integration
  • Easy setup
  • Great marketplace
  • YAML-based

Cons

  • Limited to GitHub
  • Can get expensive
  • Less customization

Best for: GitHub-based projects and startups

GitLab CI

4.5

Integrated DevOps platform

Free tier + paid plans

Pros

  • All-in-one platform
  • Built-in security scanning
  • Auto DevOps
  • Docker support

Cons

  • Can be overwhelming
  • Resource intensive
  • Learning curve

Best for: Teams wanting integrated DevOps platform

Quick Decision Guide

Choose Jenkins if:

  • • You need maximum customization
  • • You have dedicated DevOps team
  • • You use multiple SCM systems
  • • Budget is a primary concern

Choose GitHub Actions if:

  • • Your code is on GitHub
  • • You want quick setup
  • • You're a small to medium team
  • • You prefer managed service

Choose GitLab CI if:

  • • You want all-in-one platform
  • • Security is a priority
  • • You need built-in container registry
  • • You want integrated project management