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Continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) have become essential for software teams to ship code quickly and reliably. CI/CD automation helps developers integrate code changes frequently, build and test applications efficiently, and deploy updates seamlessly.
With so many CI/CD tools now available, it can be challenging to determine which solution is the best fit for your needs. This article evaluates the top 20 CI/CD tools based on features, integrations, ease of use, and other factors. I‘ve also provided an overall recommendation and links to help you learn more.
1. Jenkins
Jenkins is the most widely used open source CI server. It provides over 1000 plugins to support building, deploying, and automating any project.
Key Features
- Easy installation as a Java WAR file or Docker container
- Supports pipelines as code for configuring jobs in a Jenkinsfile
- Scales well by distributing work across multiple machines
- Extensive ecosystem of plugins for integrations and customization
- Active community provides plugins for most languages and frameworks
With its flexibility and extensive capabilities, Jenkins is my top recommendation for most teams. It has a steeper learning curve but rewards you with unlimited options as your needs grow.
2. GitHub Actions
GitHub Actions provides free CI/CD pipelines deeply integrated with GitHub. It allows you to automate your software workflow from within your GitHub repo.
Key Features
- Tight integration with GitHub Pull Requests and issues
- No server is needed – it runs GitHub hosted runners
- Uses YAML syntax to define workflows and jobs
- Contains over 5000 actions for common tasks
- Supports matrix builds to test across multiple environments
For teams using GitHub extensively, GitHub Actions is an easy choice for CI/CD. The integration and simplicity make it shine for web development teams.
3. CircleCI
CircleCI is a flexible cloud-based CI/CD tool supporting automated testing and deployment. It offers convenient GitHub integration and auto-scaling of parallel jobs.
Key Features
- Fast parallel processing with intelligent caching
- Convenient pipelines with workflows and orbs
- Strong security protection and admin controls
- Powerful insights through Test Insights
- Integrates with AWS, Google Cloud, and other platforms
CircleCI is a top choice if you need speed and security. The convenience, uptime, and insights make it easy to use for teams small and large.
4. GitLab CI/CD
GitLab CI/CD is a built-in CI service offering complete pipelines within GitLab. It allows you to build, test, deploy, and monitor software all from GitLab.
Key Features
- Tight integration as a built-in GitLab service
- Straightforward configuration using GitLab YAML
- Docker executors provide isolated build environments
- Deploy via GitLab environments using approvals and manual actions
- Seamlessly tracks deployments and monitors production
For existing GitLab users, GitLab CI/CD is an easy way to automate your processes without adding new tools. The CI visibility within GitLab makes it powerful.
5. Travis CI
Travis CI offers convenient GitHub integration with flexible CI pipelines. It provides test parallelization and builds matrix to help test across multiple runtimes.
Key Features
- Easy-to-use YAML builds configured from GitHub repos
- Integrates tightly with GitHub commits and pull requests
- Builds matrix feature aids testing across environments
- Parallelization available for faster test execution
- Free for open source projects
If your team uses GitHub heavily and needs an integrated solution, check out Travis CI. It provides a lighter-weight cloud CI service that augments your processes.
6. AWS CodeBuild
AWS CodeBuild integrates directly with other AWS services to provide a scalable CI solution through AWS. It eliminates infrastructure provisioning yet still allows customization.
Key Features
- Native integrations with AWS toolchain
- Manages build environments automatically
- Secure access with granular IAM permissions
- Pay only for the build time used
- Supports Docker images for runtimes
For teams invested in AWS, CodeBuild merits strong consideration by leveraging other services you use. It handles the build scaling so you can set up pipelines conveniently.
7. Bitbucket Pipelines
Bitbucket Pipelines provides CI/CD directly within Bitbucket Cloud. It automatically builds, tests, and deploys code based on your Bitbucket repo configuration.
Key Features
- Tight integration as a built-in Bitbucket Cloud feature
- Simple configuration uses YAML file in the repo
- Consistent environments with Docker containers
- Caching support improves build performance
- Free for public and private repos
If your organization standardizes on Bitbucket Cloud, Bitbucket Pipelines deserves a close look. The seamless integration, consistency, security, and generous free tier make it appealing.
8. Semaphore
Semaphore emphasizes providing the fastest CI/CD platform through innovations like clustered build processing. It aims to help teams get rapid feedback.
Key Features
- Very fast pipeline execution via intelligent clustering
- Supports wide range of languages and platforms
- Integrates with GitHub, Docker, and Kubernetes
- Offers convenient promotion from CI into CD
- Provides test insights across pipelines
Semaphore is built expressly for speed. If fast feedback for developers is critical, evaluate Semaphore as a rapid CI/CD engine.
9. TeamCity
TeamCity from JetBrains focuses on empowering .NET and Java teams with CI/CD. The professional server toolset integrates across the entire lifecycle.
Key Features
- Strong support for .NET (including .NET Core) and Java apps
- Powerful diagnostic capabilities
- Integrated code coverage
- Build chain visualization
- Clustering support enables scaling
For dev teams working extensively in .NET or Java ecosystems, TeamCity warrants consideration. It offers especially deep support through advanced functionality.
10. Bamboo
Bamboo from Atlassian provides capabilities for advanced CI/CD workflows. It focuses on enterprise teams with complex release processes.
Key Features
- Advanced release management capabilities
- Integrates fully with Jira and Bitbucket
- Parallel stages accelerate pipelines
- Intelligent caching reduces build times
- Agents can auto-scale to meet demands
If your team needs mature CI/CD capabilities, consider Bamboo. It brings together professional features, integrations, security, and scaling to meet enterprise needs.
11. Drone.io
Drone.io offers a container-native, open-source CI platform for automating pipelines using Docker. It provides role-based access control and tenant separation for security.
Key Features
- Open source and self-hosted option available
- Uses Docker environment for builds
- Secures pipelines through RBAC
- Links issues to CI workflows
- Integrates fully with GitHub and GitLab
For teams wanting robust security controls or preferring self-managed open source, Drone warrants evaluation. Its container approach brings consistency while meeting enterprise policies.
12. Codeship
Codeship emphasizes security as an enterprise CI solution. It integrates role-based access control with an immutable infrastructure to enable compliance.
Key Features
- Integrates Jet role-based access control
- Leverages immutable and ephemeral infrastructure
- Supports testing frameworks like Selenium
- Integrates with Slack, Jira, GitHub
- Suitable for regulated industries
If your team needs to meet strict security and compliance requirements, check out Codeship. The sophisticated access policies and controls provide assurances many teams need.
13. Buildkite
Buildkite differentiates itself with agent-based distributed pipelines. It utilizes self-hosted agents to provide elastic scaling and hybrid solutions.
Key Features
- Hybrid model works on-premise and in cloud
- Scales dynamically via self-hosted agents
- Supports all major languages and frameworks
- Integrates fully with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
- Free for small teams then pay-as-you-go pricing
Consider Buildkite if your organization needs flexible hosting options or requires hybrid topologies. The build distribution and open integrations make it appealing.
14. Azure Pipelines
Azure Pipelines from Microsoft provides cloud CI/CD pipelines tightly integrated with Azure DevOps. It allows implementing pipelines as code for configuration flexibility.
Key Features
- Tight integration with Azure DevOps
- Implement via YAML pipelines as code
- 10 free parallel jobs for open source
- Integrates fully with GitHub and Bitbucket
- Cloud and self-hosted agents available
Microsoft-centric teams benefit greatly from Azure Pipelines by tapping into Azure DevOps. The mix of convenience, scalability, and configuration options make it a go-to choice alongside Azure.
15. Buddy
Buddy offers a friendly CI/CD platform aiming to lower barriers to entry. It provides prebuilt pipelines so you can automate delivery quickly.
Key Features
- Easy pipeline configuration in minutes
- 120+ prebuilt actions spanning DevOps
- Supports popular languages and frameworks
- Integrates fully with Git providers
- Generous free tier helps teams start
Buddy works well for teams needing a fast path to basic CI/CD automation. The convenience prebuilt actions allow you to achieve continuous delivery quickly.
16. Strider CD
Strider provides an extensible, open source CI/CD platform. It aims for broad technology support through a plugin model and integration ecosystem.
Key Features
- Extensible via plugin system
- Open source under Mozilla Public License
- Supports major languages and platforms
- Integrates with GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket
- Self-hosted on-premises or in cloud
Technologically diverse teams can set up Strider‘s flexibility to meet their needs. If an open source, customizable workflow is preferred, Strider is worth exploring.
17. GoCD
GoCD touts itself as a CI/CD server to model and visualize complex workflows. It takes a different approach by modeling deployment pipelines.
Key Features
- Models pipelines for visualization
- Open source and self-hosted options
- Supports Docker containers
- Plugin extensions available
- Integrates with GitHub, Bitbucket, GitLab
If you appreciate substantial pipeline modeling capabilities, check out the open source GoCD. Its workflow concepts and extensibility through plugins provide unique appeal.
18. CodeFresh
CodeFresh emphasizes providing a GitOps-native CI/CD platform through extensive integrations with Git providers and Kubernetes. It aims to streamline end-to-end workflows.
Key Features
- Native GitOps integrations
- Specializes in Docker and Kubernetes
- Integrates with Helm charts
- Includes app release dashboard
- Offered as SaaS and on-premises
Look at CodeFresh if you use GitOps workflows on Kubernetes and want something purpose-built around that stack. It brings together the tools for your environment and processes.
19. Harness
Harness positions itself as a Continuous Efficiency platform combining capabilities for CI, CD, feature flags, and cloud cost management. Its scope covers more ground.
Key Features
- Combines CI, CD, feature flags, and cloud cost management
- Integrates tightly with Kubernetes
- Supports infrastructure as code
- Provides release health dashboard
- Managed as SaaS offering
If having multiple capabilities managed in one place appeals to your team, check out Harness. Its broader platform aims to help teams achieve goals beyond just continuous integration and delivery.
20. CloudBees Core
CloudBees Core offers a versatile CI/CD server built on Jenkins. It adds enterprise-grade enhancements surrounding security, scaling, and compliance.
Key Features
- Robust RBAC security policies
- Scales consistently via Kubernetes
- High availability configurations
- Rich auditing and reporting
- Fully supported with SLAs
For larger Jenkins installations requiring more stringent controls, CloudBees Core is tailored to meet those needs. The enterprise-grade capabilities build on Jenkins strengths.
The CI/CD landscape offers an extensive collection of solutions for teams to choose from. Consider your team‘s size, technologies, hosting requirements, integrations, pricing, and other factors as you evaluate options.
Many leaders like Jenkins and GitHub Actions can serve smaller organizations well. Larger enterprises often gravitate toward robust tools like Bamboo, CloudBees Core, and Azure Pipelines.
Matching your unique requirements to the strengths of different tools is key. I hope evaluating this list of top 20 CI/CD solutions provides a helpful starting point on your journey. Reach out if you have any other questions!