CI/CD tools are critical for helping engineering teams rapidly deliver high-quality software. But with all the tools on the market, it can be hard to figure out what's best for you and your team.
To help make this easier, this article will explore the best 21 CI/CD tools currently available. For each tool, we'll provide a brief overview, core features, and whether they have free versions available so you can try before you buy.
Let's get started!
What is CI/CD?
CI/CD stands for "Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery." It's a core DevOps practice that automates the software development process by frequently merging code changes, automating builds, and testing to find issues early in the development lifecycle. Builds that pass all tests are then deployed which results in faster and more reliable software releases.
How to select CI/CD tools?
Define your problem
Before diving into specific tools, clearly define the challenges and objectives your team faces. Ask questions such as:
- What are the bottlenecks in your current development process?
- Do you need faster build times, better integration with other tools, or enhanced security features?
- Are you looking to improve testing, deployment, or both?
Identifying your specific needs will help you narrow down the tools that best address your pain points rather than getting lost in the sea of options
Integrations
Ensure that the tool you’re evaluating integrates well with your existing workflows. For example, is the tool compatible with GitHub/Gitlab; issue trackers such as Jira, Trello, or Asana; Slack, Microsoft Teams; cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud, or Azure; and container orchestrators such as Kubernetes or Docker.
Community Support:
Community support is invaluable, especially for troubleshooting unique errors that are inevitable in software engineering. A large, active community provides extensive resources, such as forums and discussion boards, where you can find solutions to specific issues. Additionally, communities share best practices, tips, and updates, helping you stay current with the latest features.
CI/CD vs. DevOps
CI/CD focuses on automating code integration, testing, and deployment. DevOps is a cultural shift uniting development and operations teams. Both aim to speed up delivery, improve quality, and enhance efficiency.
Together, CI/CD and DevOps create a foundation for rapid, reliable software delivery in modern development environments.
Best CI/CD tools in 2024
#1: Kapstan
Overview:
Kapstan is an internal developer platform that simplifies infrastructure and application management. Kapstan has built-in CI/CD tools to help companies with automated build, test, and deployment pipelines. It integrates with leading version control system, ensuring rapid, reliable, and consistent delivery of updates while maintaining high-quality development standards.
What makes Kapstan different?
In addition to Kapstan’s full suite of internal developer platform capabilities, here's how Kapstan approaches CI/CD:
- Automation of Pipeline Management: With Kapstan, developers no longer need to manually create or maintain complex CI/CD pipelines. By providing access to the source code repository and defining build, test, and run commands, Kapstan automates the entire process. This reduces manual effort, minimizes errors, and accelerates the development lifecycle.
- Streamlined Deployment Process: Kapstan provides a unified platform for deploying applications across different environments. It simplifies the deployment process in development environments and automates the promotion to higher environments such as staging and production. This ensures consistency and reliability in deployments, reducing the risk of deployment failures and downtime.
- Enhanced Visibility and Control: The "Is My Commit There Yet" (IMCTY) feature allows developers to easily verify if their specific commits are included in any given build. This enhances visibility into the deployment process and provides better control over the software delivery pipeline. Developers can quickly identify and address issues, leading to faster resolution times and improved software quality.
- Increased Productivity: By automating routine tasks and streamlining the deployment process, Kapstan frees up valuable time for developers to focus on writing code and developing new features. This leads to increased productivity and allows development teams to deliver high-quality software faster.
- Consistency and Reliability: Kapstan ensures that the same processes and standards are applied across all environments, from development to production. This consistency reduces the likelihood of environment-specific issues and ensures that applications behave predictably, regardless of the deployment stage.
Does Kapstan offer a free version?
Yes, Kapstan offers a free plan with full features. It’s capped at $500 of cloud resources per month. Kapstan also offers a 30-day free trial for teams that need to manage more than $500 in cloud resources per month.
#2: Azure DevOps
Overview:
Azure DevOps is a Microsoft cloud service that provides a comprehensive DevOps toolchain for developing and deploying software. They offer Git repositories, build pipelines, continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD), automated testing, and project management capabilities.
Features include:
- Azure Boards: Offers agile project management toolsfor tracking work and planning sprints.
- Azure Pipelines: Facilitates continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) with automated build and release pipelines.
- Azure Repos: Provides Git repositories for source control, enabling version control and collaborative development.
- GitHub Advanced Security: Built-in security features and compliance tools to ensure safe and secure development practices.
- Azure Test Plans: Provides a range of testing tools for manual, exploratory, and automated testing to ensure software quality.
- Azure Artifacts: Allows for the creation and sharing of Maven, npm, and NuGet package feeds from public and private sources.
- Extensions Marketplace: Access to a wide range of extensions and integrations to enhance and customize DevOps workflows.
Does Azure DevOps offer a free version?
Yes, Azure DevOps offers free usage across most plans including Azure Pipelines, Azure Artifacts, and the Basic Plan. For the Basic + Test Plan, Azure DevOps offers a 30-day free trial.
#3: GitLab CI/CD
Overview:
GitLab CI/CD is a built-in tool within GitLab that automates software testing, building, and deployment, enhancing the efficiency and reliability of software development.
Features include:
- Unified interface with GitLab repository management.
- Simple YAML file (.gitlab-ci.yml) for defining CI/CD pipelines.
- View, create, and manage codes and project data through branching tools
- Secures apps with container, SAST, DAST & dependency scanning for compliance.
Does GitLab offer a free version?
Yes, Gitlab offers a free plan which includes 400 computer minutes per month and 5 users per top-level group. They also offer a 30-day free trial of GitLab Ultimate.
#4: GitHub Actions
Overview:
GitHub Actions is a built-in tool that lets you automate the software development lifecycle (CI/CD) directly within your GitHub repositories.
Features include:
- GitHub Integration: Native support for GitHub repositories.
- Custom Workflows: Define build, test, and deploy steps using YAML.
- Marketplace: Access pre-built actions to enhance workflows.
- Matrix Builds: Test code across multiple environments.
- Self-hosted Runners: Run workflows on custom infrastructure.
Does GitHub Actions offer a free version?
GitHub Actions is free for GitHub-hosted runners in public repositories and for self-hosted runners.
#5: Jenkins
Overview:
Jenkins is an open-source tool used to build, test, and deploy software. Jenkins supports continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD), making it easier to continuously deliver high-quality software by automating repetitive tasks and integrating code changes efficiently.
Features include:
- Open Source: Free and community-supported.
- Extensive Ecosystem Over 1,800 plugins for customization.
- Distributed Builds: Supports building and testing across multiple machines.
- Integration: Works with numerous tools and services.
Does Jenkins offer a free version?
Jenkins is open-source and free to use.
#6: CircleCI
Overview:
CircleCI shines as a CI/CD tool for GitHub. It boasts impressive flexibility, working with a wide range of version control systems, containerization technologies, and deployment methods. Whether you prefer on-premise hosting or a cloud-based solution, CircleCI can adapt to your CI/CD workflow
Features include:
- Easy Integration: Supports GitHub, Bitbucket, and other version control systems.
- Insights and Metrics: Provides detailed insights and performance metrics.
- Easy Debugging: Debugging through SSH and local builds.
Does CircleCI offer a free version?
CircleCI offers a free plan for up to 6,000 build minutes and 5 active users per month.
#7: TeamCity
Overview:
TeamCity is a CI/CD tool for building and deploying various projects. It runs on Java, integrates with Visual Studio and IDEs, and supports Windows/Linux servers.
Features include:
- Integration: Supports multiple VCS and development tools.
- Customizable Build Pipelines: Define complex workflows with build chains and dependencies.
- Extensive Plugins: Access a wide range of plugins to extend functionality.
- Advanced Reporting: Detailed build and test reports for improved quality control.
Does TeamCity offer a free version?
TeamCity offers a free tier that includes up to 100 build configurations and 3 build agents. They also offer 30-day free trial for on-prem. Users can also try the Evaluation License with unlimited agents for 30-days.
#8: Google Cloud Build
Overview:
Google Cloud Build CI/CD is a fully managed continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) platform that allows developers to build, test, and deploy software at scale. It integrates seamlessly with Google Cloud services and supports multiple environments and configurations.
Features include:
- Fully serverless platform for scale
- Native enterprise source integrations
- SLSA level 3 compliance
Does Google Cloud Build offer a free version?
Yes, Google offers a free plan for the first 2,500 build minutes per month.
#9: AWS CodePipeline
Overview:
AWS CodePipeline is a continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) service that automates the build, test, and deployment phases of application development. CodePipeline integrates with other AWS services and many third-party tools, giving you a flexible and scalable solution for your CI/CD needs.
Features include:
- Fully Managed: No servers to provision or manage.
- Easy to Integrate: Connect to popular code repositories, build tools, testing services, and deployment providers.
- Workflow Visualization: Model and visualize your release process through a graphical interface.
Does AWS CodePipeline offer a free version?
AWS offers a free tier for V1 and V2 pipelines. For V1 type pipelines, companies get one free active pipeline per month. For V2 type pipelines, companies get 100 free action execution minutes per month.
#10: Atlassian Bamboo
Overview:
Bamboo is a continuous integration and delivery server from Atlassian that automates the process of building, testing, and deploying software. It integrates seamlessly with other Atlassian products like Jira, Bitbucket, and Confluence, providing a unified platform for software development and delivery.
Features include:
- Best integration with Atlassian product suite
- Market place of add-ons and plugins
- Container support with Docker agents
- Trigger API for IFTTT functionality
Does Bamboo offer a free version?
There is no free version of Bamboo available, but they do offer a 30-day free trial.
#11: Atlassian Bitbucket Pipelines
Overview:
Bitbucket Pipelines is a continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) service built into Atlassian Bitbucket Cloud. It allows you to automatically build, test, and deploy your code directly from your Bitbucket repository
Features include:
- Pipeline visibility: Track progress, monitor logs, and debug
- Reusable workflows: Connect tools across testing and security
- Hybrid runners: Scaling with Atlassian’s runners or connect to your own runners
- Deployment visibility: See what’s running in each of your environments
- Dynamic pipelines: Orchestrate CI/CD workflows across teams and enforce company-wide policies.
- DORA metrics: Give development teams visibility into key metrics in Jira and Compass so they can improve quality and performance.
Does Bitbucket offer a free version?
Yes, Bitbucket offers a free plan for small teams of up to 5 users which includes 50 build minutes/month. Atlassian also offers a 7-day free trial.
#12: Bitrise
Overview:
Bitrise is a CI/CD platform built by mobile developers, for mobile developers. Unlike generic CI/CD solutions, Bitrise understands the unique challenges of mobile app development, offering pre-built workflows and integrations specifically designed for iOS, Android, React Native, Flutter and more. This laser focus on mobile allows for faster builds, simpler setups, and a more streamlined development process
Features include:
- Mobile-first workflows: Pre-built, customizable workflows for building, testing, and deploying mobile apps.
- Extensive integrations: Seamlessly connect with popular mobile development tools and services.
- Device testing cloud: Test on a vast array of real and virtual devices to ensure flawless app performance.
- Detailed build insights: Track build history, identify bottlenecks, and optimize your development pipeline.
- Dedicated support: Receive expert help from a team deeply invested in mobile development success.
Does Bitrise offer a free version?
Yes, Bitrise offers a Hobby plan iwth limited build minutes and resources. This works well for trying out Bitrise and for open-source projects. They also offer a 30-day free trial.
#13: CloudBees Codeship
Overview:
CloudBees Codeship is a cloud-based CI/CD platform designed to help developers automate and streamline their software delivery process. Unlike solutions requiring extensive configuration and infrastructure management, Codeship focuses on simplicity and ease-of-use, allowing teams to quickly set up CI/CD pipelines and focus on building great software.
Features include:
- Fast Setup: Get started with CI/CD in minutes thanks to Codeship’s intuitive interface and pre-configured build environments.
- Broad Integrations: Connect Codeship to your existing tools and services, including GitHub, Bitbucket, Slack, and more.
- Dedicated Support: Receive expert guidance and troubleshooting assistance from CloudBees' support team.
Does CloudBees offer a free version?
Yes, but their website doesn’t specify limits.
#14: Codefresh (Octopus Deploy)
Overview:
Codefresh is an enterprise-grade, Argo-based GitOps platform for CI/CD. Codefresh embraces a Kubernetes-native approach, allowing developers to define pipelines as code and manage their entire deployment process through Git.
Features include:
- Kubernetes-native: Built specifically for Kubernetes, simplifying containerized application deployments.
- GitOps Driven: Manage configurations and pipelines through Git for increased transparency and traceability.
- Developer Experience: Codefresh is designed around DevOps and engineering best practices, reducing developer friction with log monitoring, visibility into environments, and more.
Does Codefresh offer a free version?
Yes, Codefresh offers the Community plan which is free for up to 5 developers and includes 1,000 cloud credits per month.
#15: Concourse
Overview:
Concourse is an open-source CI/CD system designed for automation of software testing, integration, and deployment. It's built upon resources, tasks, and jobs making it a compelling tool for CI/CD.
Features include:
- Pipeline as Code: Define your entire workflow in YAML for clear visibility and version control.
- Container-First Architecture: Every build and task runs in a clean, isolated container environment.
- Scalability: Architecture supports distributed, scalable execution of pipelines.
- Dashboard: Web-based dashboard makes it easy to visualize and manage pipelines so you can track progress and troubleshoot issues.
- Resource Type: Supports custom resource types which enhances integration flexibility and extensibility.
Does Concourse offer a free version?
Concourse is open-source and free to use.
#16: Harness
Overview:
Harness a comprehensive CI/CD tool that helps companies simplify the developer experience. It offers a CI/CD tool that is designed for both cloud and on-premise projects. Harness helps DevOps engineers to automate testing, deployment, and rollbacks. They also provide pre-built CD pipeline templates while supporting custom templates using YAML code.
Features include:
- AI-Powered Pipelines: Automate and optimize CI/CD workflows using machine learning.
- Continuous Verification: Automatically verify deployments in production.
- GitOps Integration: Manage deployments through Git repositories.
- Security and Compliance: Ensure compliance with built-in security checks.
- Advanced Rollback: Quickly revert to previous versions if issues are detected.
Does Harness offer a free version?
Yes, Harness offers a free plan that includes up to 2,000 cloud credits per month.
#17: JFrog Pipelines
Overview:
JFrog Pipelines is a CI/CD solution that helps teams with DevOps pipeline automation and optimization. It has native integration with the entire JFrog Platform to provide a complete, end-to-end DevOps solution.
Features include:
- Unified Platform: Integrates seamlessly with JFrog Artifactory and other JFrog products.
- Hybrid Deployments: Supports deployments to on-prem, cloud, and hybrid environments
- Comprehensive Security: Offers robust security features, including artifact signing and vulnerability scanning.
- Detailed Reporting & Analytics: Offers insights into pipeline performance and areas for optimization.
Does JFrog offer a free version?
J Frog offers a free plan but their website is unclear on limits.
#18: OpenShift Pipelines
Overview:
OpenShift Pipelines is a CI/CD solution based on Tekton. It allows you to build, test, and deploy applications on OpenShift using Kubernetes-native resources and containerized pipelines.
Features include:
- Kubernetes-native: Leverages Kubernetes concepts like Pods, ConfigMaps, and Secrets for defining pipeline tasks.
- Serverless execution: Scales pipeline workloads on-demand, optimizing resource utilization.
- Flexible and extensible: Integrates with various tools and services through a rich ecosystem of tasks.
- Pipeline visualization: Provides insights into pipeline execution status and logs.
Does Openshift offer a free version?
OpenShift doesn’t offer a free plan. But they do have a 30-day free trial.
#19: Semaphore
Overview:
Semaphore is a CI/CD platform designed to help developers ship code faster with automated testing and deployment workflows. They offer CI/CD for cloud, on-premise, and hybrid deployments.
Features include:
- Workflow builder: Visually model your pipeline and auto-generate YAML files in your connected repository.
- Optimization: Reduce build times using smart caching, triggers, stopping builds, and prioritizing which jobs to run.
- Artifacts: Manage workflow data with secure storage, data retention settings, and tools to discover and use your artifacts.
- Self-hosted Agents: Run workflows in your own infrastructure. Comprehensive
- Integrations: Supports popular languages, frameworks, and tools. Secure
- Infrastructure: Ensures code and data security with encrypted environments.
Does Semaphore offer a free version?
Semaphore offers a free plan with a max of 5 users, concurrency of up to 40 parallel jobs, free 7,000 cloud minutes/month, and access to up to 5 self-hosted agents.
#20: Spinnaker
Overview:
Spinnaker is an open-source continuous delivery platform originally developed by Netflix. It's designed to handle complex multi-cloud deployments with ease.
Features include:
- Multi-cloud Deployments: Deploy seamlessly across various cloud platforms like AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, and more.
- Automated Release Management: Orchestrate sophisticated deployment strategies like canary releases, blue/green deployments, and rolling updates.
- Built-in Best Practices: Leverage pre-built pipelines and integrations with popular tools like Jenkins, Git, and Prometheus.
Does Spinnaker offer a free version?
Spinnaker is an open-source project and is free to use.
#21: Travis CI
Overview:
Travis CI is a CI/CD platform that automates the software development process, from code commits to deployment. Travis CI supports many build configurations and 30+ programming languages like PHP, Python, Node, Java, and Perl.
Features include:
- Multi-environment testing: Run and test across environments.
- Debugging: Find bugs and fix them fast.
- Secret management: Store your environment variables with Travis CI or via the Hashicorp Vault integration.
- Multi-language Build Matrix: Travis CI supports over 30 programming languages.
- Lean engineering: Control the number of builds so you can save on costs.
Does Travis CI offer a free version?
Travis CI only offers paid plans, but they do offer a 30-day free trial.
Wrapping up
CI/CD tools are essential for companies seeking to automate their build, test, and deploy capabilities. As you can see from this article, there are dozens of tools available.
The CI/CD solutions we covered are the leading solutions in the market. Ultimately, your decision will come down to your requirements, existing tech stack, and budget.
Interested to learn how Kapstan can help solve your CI/CD challenges? Reach out to speak to one of our founding engineers!
