Release Please
Release Please: Focused, open-source release automation for repositories using conventional commits and GitHub. Ranked #7 of 16 in Release Notes Management Software by our editors (6.8/10); pricing: Free plan; best for teams using conventional commits and GitHub releases.
At a glance
- Editor score6.8 / 10
- PricingFree plan
- Best forTeams using conventional commits and GitHub releases
- Free planYes
- Paid fromNone
- Delivery channelsWeb
- Facts checked24 Sep 2026
Where it wins
- Determines release version changes from conventional commits
- Updates changelogs and package version files
- Creates GitHub releases after release pull requests are merged
Where it doesn't
- Not a hosted release-notes publishing service
- GitHub is the listed integration
- Its workflow depends on conventional commits
Our verdict on Release Please
Release Please is an open-source release automation tool maintained by Google. It is aimed at development teams that want repository-based automation for version changes, changelogs, and GitHub releases. Rather than serving as a hosted release-notes publishing platform, it runs as a command-line tool or GitHub Action. Teams working with conventional commits and GitHub releases are the clearest fit; teams looking for a dedicated service to publish release notes should look elsewhere.
Its workflow centers on release pull requests. Release Please analyzes conventional commits to determine version changes, then opens a pull request and generates or updates changelog content and package version files. After that pull request is merged, it can create a GitHub release and publish relevant release artifacts. This connects commit history to release preparation and the resulting GitHub release, with approval occurring through the pull request workflow. The focus is practical repository automation, not broader release-note distribution or audience targeting.
Release Please is free and open source, with community support and documentation. Its delivery formats—the CLI and GitHub Action—make it a fit for teams prepared to run automation in their repository workflow, rather than buyers seeking a hosted publishing interface. GitHub is the listed integration, and conventional commits are central to how it determines releases. Choose it when those conditions match your development process and you want changelog and version-file updates alongside release pull requests. Consider another product if you need a hosted release-notes management service or a workflow not centered on GitHub and conventional commits.
Release Please pricing
Release Please fact sheet
| Free plan | Yes |
|---|---|
| Paid from | None |
| Delivery channels | Web |
| Audience targeting | No |
| Approval workflow | Yes |
| Engagement analytics | No |
| Change sources | Git |
| Custom branding | No |
| API access | Yes |
| Deployment | Self-hosted |
| Support | Community, Docs |
| Built for | Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise (editorial estimate) |
| Integrations | 1 integrations: GitHub |
| Pricing | Free plan |
| Website | github.com |
| Facts checked | 24 Sep 2026 |
Release Please integrations
Release Please lists 1 integrations on its own site.
- GitHub
Alternatives to Release Please
- AnnounceKitA multichannel release hub with branded pages, targeting, analytics, and integrations.9.6
- OlvyA free-to-start release publishing platform with widgets, scheduling, imports, and analytics.8.8
- ReleaseNotesA multi-channel release notes tool with a free tier and project-based paid plans.8.4
See all Release Please alternatives →
Release Please vs the competition
- Release Please vs AnnounceKit
- Release Please vs Olvy
- Release Please vs ReleaseNotes
- Release Please vs FeedBear
- Release Please vs Frill
- Release Please vs Release Drafter
Compare Release Please with any tool side by side →
Used Release Please? Be the first to review it
The editor score above is our own research. What this page doesn't have yet is a reader's view — what you used Release Please for, what worked and what didn't. No stars are seeded and no review is paid for; an editor reads every one before it appears.
Write a reviewTwo minutes · verified accounts only · read by an editor before it appears
Featured on iTechGuides
Release Please is listed in our Release Notes Management Software directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.
<a href="https://www.itechguides.com/products/release-please/"><img src="https://www.itechguides.com/best/badge/release-please.svg" alt="Featured on iTechGuides" width="230" height="46"></a>
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Sep 2026
Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. We may earn a commission when you click some links. It never changes a score or a verdict. How we rank.
Last updated · How we research and update