# Best open source CI/CD tools

> The best open source CI/CD tool is Drone, with 38,487 GitHub stars, the Apache-2.0 license and a Docker image; Jenkins and GitLab are strong alternatives. The overall ranking weighs GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits across the 4 apps in the CI/CD & deployment category of the appsgit catalog.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Question | What is the best open source CI/CD tool? |
| Picks | 4 |
| Top pick | Drone (38,487 stars) |
| Data as of | Oct 7, 2026 |
| Canonical URL | https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-ci-cd-tools |

## Top picks

4 of the 4 apps in the CI/CD & deployment category, ranked on GitHub stars, commits in the last year, Docker images, open-source licenses and recent commits.

- [Drone](https://appsgit.com/apps/drone) (38,487 stars, Apache-2.0, Go, Docker): Drone has 38,487 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 530 commits in the last year; it replaces GitHub Actions / CircleCI.
- [Jenkins](https://appsgit.com/apps/jenkins) (26,618 stars, MIT, Java, Docker): Jenkins has 26,618 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 1,159 commits in the last year; it replaces GitHub Actions / CircleCI.
- [GitLab](https://appsgit.com/apps/gitlab) (24,555 stars, MIT, Ruby, Docker): GitLab has 24,555 GitHub stars, uses the MIT license, ships a Docker image and had 2,397 commits in the last year; it replaces GitHub Actions / CircleCI.
- [Woodpecker CI](https://appsgit.com/apps/woodpecker-ci) (7,957 stars, Apache-2.0, Go, Docker): Woodpecker CI has 7,957 GitHub stars, uses the Apache-2.0 license, ships a Docker image and had 1,325 commits in the last year; it replaces GitHub Actions / CircleCI.

## How this list was made

- Candidates: the 4 apps in the CI/CD & deployment category. Archived projects and projects with no commit in the last two years are left out.
- Base score: GitHub stars on a log scale plus commits in the last 12 months (log scale, capped at 1,000).
- Bonus points for a published Docker image, an OSI-approved open-source license and a commit in the last 90 days.
- Each "Best for" section re-ranks the same apps with that audience's profile (for example startups add points for permissive licenses, project websites and recent commits; small business for Docker images and deploy guides).
- Source-available apps can rank, but they are labelled and never described as open source.

## FAQ

### Is Drone free?

Yes. Drone is open-source software released under the Apache-2.0 license, so you can self-host it at no cost. You only pay for the server it runs on, and some projects also offer an optional paid cloud plan.

### Can I self-host these CI/CD tools with Docker?

Yes, all of them. Drone, Jenkins and GitLab publish Docker images, so you can run them on a VPS or home server with Docker Compose.

### Are all of these CI/CD tools open source?

All 4 apps on this list are open source. You can self-host and modify each one under its license.

### Which of these CI/CD tools is the most actively developed?

GitLab, with 2,397 commits in the last 12 months. Activity is a good sign that bugs and security issues get fixed.

## Related questions

- [What is the best open source workflow automation tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-workflow-automation)
- [What is the best open source project management tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-project-management)
- [What is the best open source budgeting app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-budgeting-software)
- [What is the best open source CMS?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-cms)
- [What is the best open source team chat app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-team-chat)
- [What is the best open source file sharing app?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-file-sharing)
- [What is the best open source analytics tool?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-analytics)
- [What is the best open source search engine?](https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-search-engines)

## See also

- [All CI/CD & deployment apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/ci-cd)
- [All automation & workflows apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/automation)
- [All project management apps](https://appsgit.com/categories/project-management)
- [Open-source alternatives to GitHub Actions / CircleCI](https://appsgit.com/alternatives/github-actions)
- [Gitea vs GitLab](https://appsgit.com/compare/gitea-vs-gitlab)
- [How to self-host GitLab with Docker Compose](https://appsgit.com/guides/gitlab)

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Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/best/open-source-ci-cd-tools
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