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Head-to-head · Continuous Integration Software

GitHub Actions vs Jenkins

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score GitHub Actions #1 in Continuous Integration Software 9.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 4 of 4 features Visit GitHub Actions
Jenkins #6 in Continuous Integration Software 8.8/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 4 features Visit Jenkins

GitHub Actions leads on 1 check, Jenkins on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGitHub Actions · 9.4/10
  • Free planboth
  • Most featuresGitHub Actions · 4 of 4

GitHub Actions scores higher on our rubric for continuous integration software: 9.4 against 8.8 out of 10; our editors rank them #1 and #6.

GitHub Actions offers hosted option; Jenkins doesn't.

GitHub Actions is the better fit for gitHub-centered teams. Jenkins is the better fit for customizable self-hosted CI.

  • GitHub Actions fits best

    GitHub-centered teams

  • Jenkins fits best

    Customizable self-hosted CI

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature GitHub Actions 9.4/10 Visit ↗ Jenkins 8.8/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.4 8.8
Ranking #1 in Continuous Integration Software #6 in Continuous Integration Software
Best for GitHub-centered teams Customizable self-hosted CI
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free
Starting price $4/user/mo Free plan
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud, Self-hosted Self-hosted
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, Linux Web, Windows, macOS, Linux
Support Community, Docs Docs
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features GitHub Actions 4/4 · Jenkins 3/4
Hosted option ✓ (best) —
Self-hosted runners ✓ ✓
Pull request checks ✓ ✓
Artifact or dependency cache ✓ ✓
Specs
Parallel jobs 60 jobs Not checked yet
Included build minutes 3000 min/mo Not checked yet
Pipeline configuration Yaml Not checked yet
Our review
Pros
  • Hosted Linux, Windows, and macOS runners plus self-hosted runners
  • Matrix builds, caching, artifacts, secrets, and reusable workflow templates
  • Triggers for pushes, pull requests, issues, releases, and other events
  • Distributed builds across controllers and agents
  • Jenkinsfiles support pipeline-as-code workflows
  • Plugin model connects development and delivery tools
Cons
  • Its strongest fit depends on keeping repositories in GitHub
  • Usage beyond included allowances is metered by runner type
  • Enterprise Cloud pricing is not shown in the published plan details
  • No hosted CI execution option
  • Plugin configuration can add operational complexity
  • Pull-request workflows depend on supported plugins
Our verdict

GitHub Actions is a continuous integration and continuous delivery platform for developers and teams working from GitHub repositories. It automates build, test, deployment, and other repository workflows through YAML workflow files. Jobs…

Read the review →

Jenkins is an open-source automation server for building, testing, delivering, and deploying software. It suits development and operations teams that want to install and operate their own continuous integration and continuous delivery…

Read the review →
  1. GitHub ActionsContinuous Integration Software 9.4Free plan
  2. JenkinsContinuous Integration Software 8.8Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • GitHub Actions — where it wins

    • Hosted Linux, Windows, and macOS runners plus self-hosted runners
    • Matrix builds, caching, artifacts, secrets, and reusable workflow templates
    • Triggers for pushes, pull requests, issues, releases, and other events

    Where it doesn't

    • Its strongest fit depends on keeping repositories in GitHub
    • Usage beyond included allowances is metered by runner type
    • Enterprise Cloud pricing is not shown in the published plan details

  • Jenkins — where it wins

    • Distributed builds across controllers and agents
    • Jenkinsfiles support pipeline-as-code workflows
    • Plugin model connects development and delivery tools

    Where it doesn't

    • No hosted CI execution option
    • Plugin configuration can add operational complexity
    • Pull-request workflows depend on supported plugins

More comparisons

All continuous integration software comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update