Earthly
Earthly: A portable build system with caching, parallel targets, and broad CI integration. Ranked #6 of 34 in Container Build Tools by our editors (8.6/10); pricing: Free plan; best for portable builds with local and remote caching.
At a glance
- Editor score8.6 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forPortable builds with local and remote caching
- Free planYes
- Paid fromFree
- Build methodLocal_daemon
- Facts checked20 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Isolates builds in containers for repeatable local and CI workflows
- Supports parallel targets, layer caching, and persistent remote caching
- Builds multi-platform images plus reusable artifacts and non-image outputs
Where it doesn't
- The official repository says Earthly is no longer actively maintained
- Earthfile syntax adds a dedicated workflow layer to build pipelines
- Remote runners and persistent cloud caching extend the platform beyond local builds
Our verdict on Earthly
Earthly is a containerized build framework for software teams that need consistent workflows across developer machines and continuous integration systems. Teams define build logic in Earthfiles, using syntax influenced by Dockerfiles and Makefiles. It supports isolated builds, parallel targets, Docker images, non-image artifacts, reusable targets, multi-platform builds, cache mounts, and secret injection without persisting secrets in image layers. A free plan is available, and builds can run on Windows, macOS, Linux, and the web through local or cloud-based execution options.
Caching and build composition are the strongest reasons to consider Earthly. Local layer caching and cache mounts can reduce repeated work, while Earthly Cloud Satellites provide remote runners with persistent cache. Independent targets can execute in parallel, and targets, artifacts, and images can be reused across Earthfiles. This makes Earthly a fit for teams standardizing complex build workflows or moving between local development and CI. It also covers both image and non-image outputs, rather than focusing only on container publishing.
Its ecosystem fit is broad: integrations include Jenkins, GitHub Actions, CircleCI, GitLab CI/CD, AWS CodeBuild, and Google Cloud Build. Self-hosted runners are also supported. However, the official repository states that Earthly is no longer actively maintained, which is a significant consideration for teams choosing a long-term build foundation. Earthly suits teams that value portable, cache-aware, containerized builds and can accept that maintenance position; teams prioritizing an actively maintained tool should consider alternatives instead.
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Earthly pricing
Earthly fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | Free |
| Build method | Local_daemon |
| Multi-architecture builds | Yes |
| Build cache backends | Multiple |
| SBOM generation | Not verified |
| Build secret handling | Yes |
| Concurrent builds | Not verified |
| Deployment | Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop |
| Platforms | Web, Windows, macOS, Linux |
| Support | Email, Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 6 integrations: Jenkins, GitHub Actions, CircleCI, GitLab CI/CD, AWS CodeBuild, Google Cloud Build |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | earthly.dev |
| Facts checked | 20 Sep 2026 |
Earthly integrations
Earthly lists 6 integrations on its own site.
- Jenkins
- GitHub Actions
- CircleCI
- GitLab CI/CD
- AWS CodeBuild
- Google Cloud Build
Alternatives to Earthly
- BuildKitA flexible, open-source builder for concurrent, cached, multi-platform container builds.9.4
- Docker BuildxA free BuildKit interface for multi-platform, cached, and attested image builds.9.3
- BuildahA free, daemonless Linux tool for building and managing container images.8.9
See all Earthly alternatives →
Earthly vs the competition
- Earthly vs BuildKit
- Earthly vs Docker Buildx
- Earthly vs Buildah
- Earthly vs Depot
- Earthly vs Kaniko
- Earthly vs Cloud Native Buildpacks Pack
Compare Earthly with any tool side by side →
Also Ranked In
Earthly is ranked in 3 of our directories.
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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
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