25 Best CI/CD Tools for Sysadmins in 2024

Continuous integration and continuous deployment (CI/CD) tools are essential for modern software development. They automate integrating code changes, running tests, and deploying applications. For sysadmins, choosing the right tool is vital for the efficiency and stability of operations.

This article will list the best CI/CD tools available in 2024. We have selected them based on their features, ease of use, community support, and suitability for different environments.

25 Best CI/CD Tools

Here is a table summarizing the best overall CI/CD tools.

Free CI/CD Tools

Below are the best CI/CD tools that offer robust capabilities for free. While some have paid plans, the free tiers are strong contenders on their own.

1. Jenkins

Jenkins is an automation server for building, testing, and deploying code. It is highly customizable through plugins and supports various programming languages and version control systems. Jenkins also supports distributed builds, making it suitable for large projects that are built and tested across multiple environments.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Jenkins is extensively used in software development environments for continuous integration and deployment, making it suitable for projects of all sizes.

Pros:

• Highly customizable with a vast array of plugins.
• Strong community support.
• Flexible and extensible.

Cons:

• Complex to set up and configure.
• Requires regular maintenance and updates.

Price:

• Open source and free.

2. GitLab CI/CD

GitLab CI/CD automates the software life cycle from development to deployment. It is ideal for teams already using GitLab for version control, as it is a part of their ecosystem. GitLab CI/CD also supports auto DevOps, automatically creating CI/CD pipelines for common frameworks and languages.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: It provides comprehensive pipeline capabilities, making it suitable for teams of all sizes.

Pros:

• Seamless integration with Git repositories.
• Excellent documentation and community support.

Cons:

• Resource intensive.
• Advanced features are behind a paywall.

Price:

• The community edition is free.
• The enterprise edition has a free tier for personal projects, with paid monthly plans starting at $29 per user for increased security, project management, and storage.

3. CircleCI

CircleCI provides robust pipelines for open-source and private projects. It integrates with various version control systems and supports multiple languages. CircleCI also optimizes development by offering advanced caching strategies and insights into build performance.

Supported operating systems: Linux, macOS.

Use cases: CircleCI has fast execution and parallel job capabilities, making it suitable for projects that require quick turnaround times.

Pros:

• Easy setup with GitHub integration.
• Supports multiple platforms.

Cons:

• Limited free tier.
• Complex configuration.

Price:

• Free plan available with 6,000 build minutes.
• Paid plans start at $15 monthly for more minutes, users, and features.
• The highest tier offers dedicated support and self-hosted options with custom pricing.

4. Travis CI

Travis CI is a CI service for building and testing software projects hosted on GitHub. It supports matrix builds, allowing you to test multiple configurations simultaneously.

Supported operating systems: Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Travis CI is ideal for open-source projects.

Pros:

• Easy integration with GitHub.
• Supports multiple programming languages.

Cons:

• Limited support for private repositories in the free tier.
• Relatively slow for large projects.

Price:

• Free for open-source projects.
• Paid for private projects, with pricing plans starting at $66 monthly for individual hobby projects and up to $ 702+ per month for large-scale professional needs.

5. BuildBot

BuildBot is a software development framework for automating the compile and test cycle required by most software projects to validate code changes. It is designed to work with various version control systems and can be configured to perform builds on various worker platforms on demand or on a schedule.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Ideal for developers and teams that require a robust and extendable framework for continuous integration and delivery across diverse development environments.

Pros:

• Highly customizable and extendable through Python scripts.
• Supports multiple concurrent builds.
• Strong integration capabilities with various version control systems.

Cons:

• Configuration and setup can be complex due to its flexibility.
• Requires Python knowledge for setting up and customizing.

Price:

• Free.

6. Jenkins X

Jenkins X is a CI/CD solution for Kubernetes and cloud-native applications. It provides automated CI/CD pipelines and strong community support. Jenkins X simplifies CI/CD for Kubernetes by providing built-in GitOps support and promoting best practices.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use Cases: Ideal for cloud-native applications and Kubernetes environments.

Pros:

• Kubernetes-native.
• Automated CI/CD pipelines.
• Strong community support.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve.
• Requires Kubernetes expertise.

Price:

• Free.

7. GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions automates workflows directly from GitHub repositories. It supports custom scripts and actions, enabling automation of various tasks beyond CI/CD.

Supported operating systems. Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Ideal for developers heavily using GitHub for version control and project management.

Pros:

• Deep integration with GitHub.
• Extensive community-contributed actions.
• Free for public repositories.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve for complex workflows.
• Usage limits on the free tier.

Price:

• GitHub Actions are free for public repositories and self-hosted runners.
• For private repositories, free minutes and storage are included depending on your plan, and you are billed for exceeding the limits.

8. Concourse CI

Concourse CI is a CI/CD system configured via code. It provides a script-driven and flexible approach to automation.

Supported operating systems: Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Ideal for teams looking for highly customizable pipelines that require a code-first approach to CI/CD.

Pros:

• Highly configurable.
• Enables precise pipeline management.
• Scalable architecture suitable for large-scale deployments.

Cons:

• Having no GUI makes the learning curve steeper for inexperienced users.
• Requires familiarity with command-line tools and scripting.

Price:

• Free and open source.

9. GoCD

GoCD is a tool that models and visualizes complex workflows, enabling continuous delivery across multiple teams.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Best suited for organizations that require complex, multi-stream workflows with detailed tracking.

Pros:

• Excellent for visualizing pipeline dependencies in real time.
• Supports complex configurations and parallel execution.

Cons:

• Complex setup and management.
• Overkill for smaller projects or teams.

Price:

• Free and open source.

10. Argo CD

Argo CD is a declarative, GitOps tool for Kubernetes that ensures applications are deployed exactly as specified in Git.

Supported operating systems: Platform-independent (designed for Kubernetes).

Use cases: Ideal for Kubernetes users who adopt GitOps principles for continuous delivery.

Pros:

• Enables automatic, reliable deployment to match the desired state specified in Git.
• Enhances visibility and control over applications with a declarative approach.

Cons:

• Limited to Kubernetes, which might not suit environments using other orchestration tools.
• Requires a good understanding of GitOps and Kubernetes.

Price:

• Free and open source.

11. Spinnaker

Spinnaker is a continuous delivery platform designed to help teams release software changes with high velocity and confidence across different cloud environments.

Supported operating systems: Platform-independent (cloud-based).

Use cases: Ideal for teams that manage complex CD workflows across multiple cloud providers.

Pros:

• Supports multi-cloud environments.
• Strong community support and a rich set of features.

Cons:

• Complex setup and steep learning curve.
• Requires significant resources to manage effectively.

Price:

• Free and open source.

12. Gradle

Gradle is a powerful and flexible build automation tool that automates building, testing, publishing, and deploying software packages or other types of projects, such as generated static websites or documentation.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Ideal for Java, C/C++, Python, and other language developers looking for a robust, scalable build automation system.

Pros:

• High performance with incremental builds that only compile changes since the last build.
• Supports multi-project builds and complex dependency management.

Cons:

• Steep learning curve due to its flexibility and range of functionalities.
• Build scripts become complex in large projects.

Price:

• Free and open source.

Paid CI/CD Tools

The tools below tools offer advanced features, premium support, and scalability. While some have free plans, the paid tiers are built for enterprise environments.

1. Bamboo

Bamboo, developed by Atlassian, is a CI/CD tool for continuous integration and deployment. It offers deep integration with other Atlassian products like JIRA and Confluence, streamlining workflows for teams already invested in the Atlassian ecosystem.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux.

Use cases: Ideal for projects with complex build processes that require parallel execution.

Pros:

• Robust build management features.
• Excellent scalability.

Cons:

• Cost prohibitive for small organizations.
• Requires the Atlassian ecosystem for maximum benefits.

Price:

• Free 30-day trial.
• Starts at $1,200 yearly for one remote agent and goes up to $187,380 for 2000 remote agents.

2. TeamCity

TeamCity, developed by JetBrains, is a CI/CD tool for building and deploying software. It offers a rich feature set and strong support for various technologies. TeamCity also provides detailed build histories and statistics, helping you analyze and optimize build processes.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Ideal for teams who need powerful configuration options and detailed build analytics.

Pros:

• Rich feature set with strong support for various technologies.
• Powerful configuration options.

Cons:

• Complex to set up.
• Expensive for larger teams.

Price:

• TeamCity offers a free tier with limitations, suitable for small teams or personal projects.
• Paid plans are based on build configurations, which define your build and test processes. The more configurations you need, the higher the cost.
• JetBrains provides a pricing calculator to estimate costs.

3. Buildkite

Buildkite is a CI/CD tool designed for scalable and efficient pipeline management. It supports any language and platform and allows you to run builds on your own infrastructure.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Suitable for teams that require control over their build environments.

Pros:

• Supports any language and platform.
• Scales easily with team size.
• Strong security features.

Cons:

• Expensive for larger teams.
• Requires setup and management of own agents.

Price:

• Buildkite offers a free tier that includes 5,000 job minutes per month, 100,000 test executions per month, unlimited concurrency and parallelism, and general email support.
• The Protier includes all the features of the Free tier, plus 40,000 job minutes per month (with additional minutes based on the number of users), 500,000 test executions per month, teams management, SSO, waterfall view, and priority email support. The cost is $20 per user per month.
• The Enterprisetier includes all the features of the Pro tier, plus volume pricing for job minutes and test executions, advanced governance and control features, and service level agreement (SLA) options. You need to contact Buildkite for a custom quote.

4. Azure Pipelines

Azure Pipelines is a CI/CD service by Microsoft used for building and deploying applications. It supports multiple languages and platforms, offers cloud-hosted agents, and can run pipelines on your own infrastructure.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Ideal for teams using Microsoft Azure for cloud services.

Pros:

• Extensive compatibility with diverse development environments and tools.
• Flexible hosting options that accommodate both cloud and on-premises deployments.

Cons:

• Higher costs in paid tiers, especially at scale.
• Primarily optimized for users deeply integrated into the Microsoft ecosystem.

Price:

• Azure Pipelines is free for public projects.
• There is a free tier for private projects that includes 30 hours of pipeline jobs per month.
• There are paid plans for private projects. Azure provides a pricing calculator to calculate costs.

5. AWS CodePipeline

AWS CodePipeline is a fully managed CI/CD service for automating release pipelines. It provides seamless integration with AWS services and various deployment targets and supports integration with third-party tools and services.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Optimal for teams using AWS for their cloud infrastructure.

Pros:

• Integrates seamlessly with AWS services.
• Pay-as-you-go pricing.
• Supports various deployment targets.

Cons:

• Costly with high usage.
• Requires familiarity with the AWS ecosystem.

Price:

• AWS offers a free tier with one active pipeline per month for V1 type pipelines and 100 free action execution minutes per month for V2 type pipelines.
• For paid tiers, AWS provides a pricing calculator to calculate costs.

6. Bitrise

Bitrise specializes in mobile application development, providing automation for testing and deployment.

Supported operating systems: Platform-independent (cloud-based).

Use cases: Perfect for developers working on iOS and Android mobile applications.

Pros:

• Integrates with most major mobile development tools and platforms.
• Quick setup and execution.

Cons:

• Primarily limited to mobile app projects.
• Less customization compared to more general CI/CD platforms.

Price:

• Bitrise offers a free tier with limited features for solo developers.
• Paid plans start at $89 monthly with unlimited builds, team space, and basic infrastructure.
• Enterprise plans have custom pricing.

7. Buddy

Buddy is a CI/CD tool focused on simplicity and speed, offering a user-friendly interface and fast deployment times. It supports parallelism and concurrency, allowing multiple pipelines to run simultaneously.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Ideal for developers who need a quick and easy CI/CD solution.

Pros:

• User-friendly interface.
• Supports a wide range of integrations.
• Fast deployment times.

Cons:

• Limited free plan.

Price:

• Free tier with 300 pipeline GB-minutes, one GB of pipeline cache, and one GB of sandbox storage
• Paid tiers enable more resources and users, starting at €29 monthly and going up to €175.

8. Semaphore

Semaphore is a highly efficient and scalable CI/CD service known for its speed and ease of use. Thanks to its support for parallel execution and straightforward interface, it excels in environments that require high performance. It is well-suited for modern development practices as it fully supports both Docker and Kubernetes.

Supported operating systems: Linux, macOS, Windows.

Use cases: Perfect for teams that demand high-performance CI/CD pipelines capable of handling complex workflows efficiently.

Pros:

• Offers high-performance capabilities with parallel execution.
• Features a simple, user-friendly interface.
• Provides a generous free tier suitable for small teams and hobbyist projects.

Cons:

• The free tier has limited customization options.
• Advanced features come with a higher price tag.

Price:

• Free tier available. It offers up to five users, forty parallel jobs, 7,000 free cloud minutes per month, and access to five self-hosted agents.
• The Startup tier costs $0 per user monthly for the cloud version and $9 for the hybrid version. It offers unlimited users, unlimited concurrency, pay-as-you-go cloud minutes, and priority email support.
• The Scaleup tier has custom pricing for the cloud version and $20 per user monthly for the hybrid version. It includes all features from the Startup tier plus machine usage discounts, advanced access control, SCIM/SAML support, and premium support options.

9. Drone CI

Drone CI is a container-native CI/CD platform built for Kubernetes. It offers easy configuration through YAML files and native Docker support. Drone CI can be integrated with various source control providers and supports a wide range of plugins for extensibility.

Supported operating systems: Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Ideal for projects using containerization and Kubernetes.

Pros:

• Lightweight and scalable.
• Straightforward configuration that enables a quick setup.
• Performs optimally in containerized environments.

Cons:

• Smaller community compared to other tools.
• Limited features in the free version.

Price:

• Free version available.
• The enterprise version starts at $300 monthly for ten developers and goes up to $3000 monthly for one hundred developers.

10. Codefresh

Codefresh is a CI/CD platform that utilizes Docker and Kubernetes, focusing on automation for building, testing, and deploying applications efficiently. It offers built-in support for Helm and is compatible with various Kubernetes deployment strategies.

Supported operating systems: Platform-independent; it operates as a SaaS but can also be configured to run on self-managed Kubernetes clusters.

Use cases: Suitable for teams that utilize Kubernetes extensively and seek integration with cloud-native technologies to streamline their CI/CD processes.

Pros:

• Comprehensive Kubernetes integration supports complex deployment strategies.
• Visual dashboard for simplified pipeline and deployment management.
• Flexible deployment options with both hosted and hybrid models available.

Cons:

• Advanced features are gated behind paid plans, which may be costly.
• The platform’s depth of features requires a familiarity with Kubernetes and Docker, which may present a learning curve.

Price:

• The community plan is free and accommodates up to five developers. Features include modern CI/CD pipelines, hybrid runtime for flexible deployments, 1 week of data retention, and community support.
• The team plan has custom pricing and supports up to fifteen developers. It features advanced deployment strategies like progressive delivery, visualization dashboards for Helm package manager, extended one-month data retention, SLA guarantees, and standard support.
• The enterprise plan has custom pricing and supports unlimited developers. It includes all features from the Team plan plus metrics for DevOps research and assessment (DORA), live dashboard for application monitoring, management of sensitive data (secrets management), performance monitoring tools integration, single sign-on (SSO) for secure access, flexible role-based access control (RBAC), six-month data retention, full support for on-premises deployments, and comprehensive enterprise support.

11. Codemagic

Codemagic is a CI/CD platform optimized for mobile application development, particularly for projects using Flutter. It simplifies the deployment pipeline for both iOS and Android, offering features that support fast builds and straightforward configuration.

Supported operating systems: Platform-independent, it operates primarily as a SaaS (Software as a Service).

Use cases: Ideal for mobile app developers looking for a streamlined solution to automate their Flutter, iOS, and Android application deployments.

Pros:

• Specialized in fast, automated builds for mobile platforms.
• Supports a range of mobile development frameworks with a focus on Flutter.
• Easy setup and minimal configuration required.

Cons:

• Primarily focused on mobile app development, which might not suit web or backend projects.
• Advanced customization features require access to paid plans.

Price:

• Codemagic offers a free plan for personal use. It offers unlimited applications, 500 macOS M1 minutes per month, one parallel build, 30 days of build history and artifact storage, with support through GitHub Discussions.
• They also offer a team plan with two billing options. The pay-as-you-go option is billed monthly based on actual usage. It costs $0.095/minute for macOS M1 and Intel machines and $0.045/minute for Linux and Windows machines. This option includes one parallel build, $49 for additional concurrency, 60 days of build history, and in-app chat support. The fixed price option is billed annually for $3,990 for the first year with a regular rate of $4,788 thereafter. It provides unlimited access to all platforms, three parallel builds (up to 10 with additional $1,500/concurrency), unlimited build history, and in-app chat support.
• The enterprise plan starts at $12,000/year, offering all features with the option for custom configurations. It includes priority support, payment options through wire transfer or AWS Marketplace, SSO login capabilities, signed legal agreements, and dedicated machines upon request.

12. Harness

Harness uses machine learning to automate critical aspects of CI/CD, such as testing, deployments, and failure recovery. This automation improves the reliability and efficiency of software release processes, reducing the potential for errors and enhancing overall security.

Supported operating systems: Platform-independent.

Use cases: Ideal for medium to large organizations that deploy frequently and require robust mechanisms to ensure deployment safety and compliance.

Pros:

• Innovative use of artificial intelligence to predict and prevent deployment failures, significantly reducing rollback events and downtime.
• Strong emphasis on security with features designed to automatically detect and address vulnerabilities.

Cons:

• The advanced features come at a higher price point, which may not be justifiable for smaller projects or teams.
• The platform demands a thorough setup and integration phase, which requires substantial time investment and technical expertise.

Price:

• Harness offers a limited free tier that includes a comprehensive set of tools such as a code repository, continuous integration, continuous delivery and GitOps, feature flags, cloud cost management, and chaos engineering.
• The pricing for the startup plan begins at $10 monthly per developer and goes up to $133 depending on the features. This plan is tailored to be startup-friendly and includes all the features of the free tier, as well as infrastructure-as-code management and an internal developer portal.
• The enterprise plan has custom pricing and allows companies to choose exactly what they need. It offers everything available in the lower tiers plus additional capabilities like service reliability management, security testing orchestration, and software supply.

13. CloudBees CI

CloudBees CI is an enterprise-grade solution built on top of open-source Jenkins, enhancing it with enterprise-level security, scalability, and efficiency. This combination of features makes it suitable for large organizations that require a robust, secure, and scalable CI/CD pipeline integrated with their existing Jenkins environment.

Supported operating systems: Windows, Linux, macOS.

Use cases: Designed for large-scale enterprises and organizations that require an advanced CI/CD platform capable of managing complex workflows and large numbers of builds.

Pros:

• Provides extensive security features, including role-based access control and compliance tracking.
• Offers scalability to handle large numbers of jobs, integration complexity, and a high volume of parallel builds.

Cons:

• More expensive than regular Jenkins.
• Requires significant resources to manage and maintain, particularly in a large, diverse development environment.

Price:

• The community version is free for up to 15 users.
• The team version supports up to 25 users and is geared towards startups that require more features. Pricing plans start at $1,125 monthly and go up to $2000.
• The enterprise plan has custom pricing and supports unlimited developers.

How to Choose a CI/CD Tool?

Here are the key factors to consider when choosing the best CI/CD tools for your organization.

Integration and Compatibility

When choosing a CI/CD tool, evaluate how well it integrates with your existing development stack and whether it is compatible with your infrastructure. Here's what to consider:

• Seamless integration. Ensure the tool integrates smoothly with your version control systems, development environments, and other tools in your software delivery chain. A well-integrated tool minimizes disruptions and maintains a unified workflow.
• Infrastructure compatibility. Assess whether you can easily incorporate the tool into your existing infrastructure without significant changes and downtime. Choose tools that enhance your current setup without causing disruptions.
• Supported platforms. Confirm that the CI/CD tool supports your team's operating systems and development environments.

Learning Curve and Resources

The adoption success of a CI/CD tool depends on its ease of use and the availability of learning resources. Here are the key factors:

• Ease of use. Evaluate how straightforward the tool is to set up and use. Consider its complexity and whether it aligns with your team's technical skills.
• Support and documentation. Check if the tool's vendor offers comprehensive documentation, training, and customer support. These resources are crucial for troubleshooting and efficient use.
• Community and support. Consider the level of community support and the availability of documentation and learning resources. A strong community and comprehensive documentation help resolve issues faster and improve user experience.

Team Fit and Cost

Prioritize tools that fit your team's expertise and budget. Focus on:

• Team familiarity. Determine if your team is already familiar with the tool or will need significant training. A tool that aligns well with your team's existing skills will be easier to adopt.
• Budget considerations. Align your choice with your financial capabilities. Consider both upfront costs and long-term expenses, including licensing fees or subscriptions. Evaluate if the cost is justified by the features and efficiencies it provides.

Trials and Free Tiers

Many CI/CD tools offer free trials or demo versions. Use these opportunities to test the tool in your environment to assess its integration, ease of use, and impact on your existing processes.

This practical experience is instrumental in helping you make an informed decision about the tool's suitability for your project's needs and technical requirements.

Security and Compliance

Only use tools that do not compromise on security. Look for:

• Built-in security features. Look for tools that offer robust security features such as role-based access control, encryption, and secure logging.
• Compliance capabilities. If your industry is regulated, ensure that the CI/CD tool supports compliance with relevant standards and laws to avoid legal issues.

CI/CD: Accelerating and Refining Software Delivery

As organizations ramp up their software development, CI/CD tools become indispensable. They automate integration, testing, and deployment, reducing errors and boosting software quality. Tools like Jenkins, CircleCI, and GitLab CI smooth out development workflows, making them more efficient and reducing the risk of manual mistakes. With these tools in place, teams can push updates quicker, getting new features and fixes to users faster.

However, choosing the right CI/CD tool is critical. It must fit your team's technical needs, workflow complexity, and growth goals. The right tool makes your operations more efficient and strengthens your software delivery process, helping ensure your development cycle is as smooth and productive as possible.