6 self-hosted options
Open-source alternatives to GitHub Actions / CircleCI
The best open-source alternatives to GitHub Actions / CircleCI are Woodpecker CI, Jenkins and Drone.
About GitHub Actions / CircleCI: Hosted continuous integration services that build and test code on every push.
Every option below is free to self-host and ranked by GitHub stars, so you can move off GitHub Actions / CircleCI without giving up the features you rely on.
Top picks
- Rank 1:
Woodpecker CI
woodpecker-ci/woodpecker
Simple yet powerful container-based CI/CD engine.
CI/CD & DeploymentGoDocker - Rank 2:
Jenkins
jenkinsci/jenkins
The leading open-source automation server for building, testing and deploying software.
CI/CD & DeploymentJavaDocker - Rank 3:
Drone
harness/harness
Container-native continuous integration platform.
CI/CD & DeploymentGoDocker
Why switch
Why teams move off GitHub Actions / CircleCI
Self-hosting is not only about saving money. These are the reasons people make the switch.
Own your data
Your data lives on a server you control, not on GitHub Actions / CircleCI's infrastructure. No surprise policy changes and no lock-in.
No per-seat pricing
Open-source alternatives to GitHub Actions / CircleCI are free to run for as many users as your server can handle. A small VPS often costs less than a single subscription.
Customize and extend
Read the code, add plugins, connect it to your own tools and automate it through open APIs. When you need a feature, you can build it or fund it.
Full ranking
All 6 GitHub Actions / CircleCI alternatives
Ranked by GitHub stars. Open any app for live stats, license details and a deploy option.
- 1
Woodpecker CI
Simple yet powerful container-based CI/CD engine.
CI/CD & DeploymentDocker - 2
Jenkins
The leading open-source automation server for building, testing and deploying software.
CI/CD & DeploymentDocker - 3
Drone
Container-native continuous integration platform.
CI/CD & DeploymentDocker - 4
GitLab
DevOps platform with Git hosting, CI/CD, issue tracking and security scanning in one app.
Project ManagementDocker - 5
OneDev
All-In-One DevOps Platform. With Git Management, Issue Tracking, and CI/CD. Simple yet Powerful.
Project ManagementDocker - 6
Gitea
Git with a cup of tea! Painless self-hosted all-in-one software development service, including Git hosting, code review, team collaboration, package registry and CI/CD.
Project ManagementDocker
What is the best open-source alternative to GitHub Actions / CircleCI?
Woodpecker CI is the most popular open-source alternative to GitHub Actions / CircleCI, with 7,957 GitHub stars. Jenkins and Drone are also strong choices. Compare features, license and recent activity to find the best fit for your team.
Is there a free alternative to GitHub Actions / CircleCI?
Yes. All 6 apps on this page are open source and free to self-host, so you can run a GitHub Actions / CircleCI replacement without per-user fees. You only pay for the server, and a small VPS is usually enough for personal use or a small team.
Can I self-host an alternative to GitHub Actions / CircleCI?
Yes. Woodpecker CI, Jenkins and Drone ship a Docker image, so you can run them on a home server or VPS with Docker Compose in a few minutes. Your data then stays on hardware you control.
How do I migrate from GitHub Actions / CircleCI?
Start by exporting your data from GitHub Actions / CircleCI, then check the import options of the app you pick, since many projects ship importers for popular formats. Run both side by side for a week before you switch so nothing is lost.