Best 15 CI/CD Tools (2024)

CI/CD Tools are software solutions that streamline the process of code integration and software build development. They allow developers to automate the software development workflow effortlessly. Furthermore, CI/CD tools allow teams to seamlessly integrate with other tools, enhancing team efficiency and collaboration.

Why Trust Our CI/CD Tool Reviews?

Guru99 was started in 2008 by a tech enthusiast and expert, Krishna Rungta, who knows the ins and outs of software and its functionalities. He has created a team of experts who are well-versed in all kinds of tools which include CI/CD software. Hence, our team has been reviewing tools for over a decade.

It takes us countless hours and several days to dive headfirst into using these tools ourselves for the scoop you can trust. Our team of experts has tested over a thousand tools, so we can assure you that each one goes through a rigorous research process to make it to our list. Let’s take a clear-eyed look at CI/CD tools, ensuring you can pick the right one with confidence.

Best CI/CD Tools: Top Picks

Name	Free Trial	Link
Jenkins	Download for Free	Learn More
TeamCity	30-Day Free Trial	Learn More
GoCD	Download for Free	Learn More
Bamboo	30-Day Free Trial	Learn More
Gitlab CI	30-Day Free Trial	Learn More

1) Jenkins

As an expert, I believe that Jenkins is an open-source continuous integration tool.”It is written using the Java programming language. It is one of the best Continuous Integration tools that facilitates real-time testing and reporting on isolated changes in a larger code base.

Features:

Provide support to scale out to a large number of nodes and distribute the workload equally among them
Easily updated with all OS and versions of Linux, Mac OS or Windows
It offers easy installation as Jenkins comes as a WAR file all you need to drop into your JEE container and your setup up ready to run.
Jenkins can be easily set up and configured with the help of its web interface
It’s can easily distribute work across several machines,

Pros

An extensive plugin ecosystem enhances functionality.
Supports complex continuous integration and continuous delivery pipelines.
Highly customizable to fit different workflows.
Robust community support and frequent updates.

Cons

The steeper learning curve for beginners.
Configuration and troubleshooting can be complex.

Download link: https://jenkins.io/download/

2) TeamCity

We highly recommend TeamCity for its robust Continuous Integration capabilities and extensive feature set.

Features:

Extensibility and Customization
Provides better code quality for any project
It maintains CI server healthy and stable even when no builds are running
Configure builds in DSL
Project level cloud profiles
Comprehensive VCS integration
On-the-fly build progress reporting
Remote run and pre-tested commit

Pros

Highly reliable performance consistently meets expectations without issues.
User-friendly interface that is intuitive and easy to navigate.
Excellent customer support; representatives are helpful and knowledgeable.
Effective for continuous integration and deployment, with immediate feedback on code issues.

Cons

Upgrades are time-consuming and manually intensive.
Pipeline visualization is weak and could be improved for better usability.

Download link: https://www.jetbrains.com/teamcity/download/

3) GoCD

In continuous delivery, I find GoCD exceptionally robust for modeling complex workflows with its intuitive visualization tools and artifact management. When pushing new software becomes as important as breathing, turn here. With its talent in performing side-by-side operations easily combined with snap-of-the-fingers setup, deploying programs smoothly has never been simpler or more trustworthy.

Features:

Supports parallel and sequential execution. Dependencies can be easily configured.
Deploy any version, anytime
Visualize end to end workflow in realtime with Value Stream Map.
Deploy to production securely.
Handle user authentication and authorization
Keep orderly configuration
Tons of plugins to enhance functionality.
Active community for help and support.

Pros

User-friendly web interface that is easy to navigate.
Integration with GitHub enhances workflow efficiency.
Allows the use of templates for different pipelines, which streamlines the process.

Cons

The user interface can be complex and overwhelming for new users.
Limited support for plugins compared to competitors like Jenkins.

Download link: https://www.gocd.org/download/

4) Bamboo

I find Bamboo to be a robust CI server, efficiently integrating with JIRA and Bitbucket. You’ll find its compatibility with numerous technologies and codes—think AWS or even Git—truly shines when you’re in the thick of handling non-stop integration needs.

Features:

Run parallel batch tests
Setting up Bamboo is pretty simple
Per-environment permissions feature allows developers and QA to deploy to their environments
It can trigger builds based on changes detected in the repository, push notifications from Bitbucket
Available as hosted or on-premise versions
Facilitates real-time collaboration and integrated with HipChat.
Built-in Git branching and workflows. It automatically merges the branches.

Pros

Seamless integration with Jira and Bitbucket enhances traceability from development to deployment.
Automated workflows streamline the continuous integration and delivery process.
Scalability with reliable performance is maintained as organizational needs grow.

Cons

Initial setup and configuration can be complex and time-consuming.

Download link: https://www.atlassian.com/software/bamboo

5) Gitlab CI

In my expert opinion, GitLab CI excels in Continuous Integration with its robust API and user-friendly interface. As part of GitLab, it seamlessly integrates all features of GitLab, storing its state effectively in a database.

Features:

GitLab Container Registry is a secure registry for Docker images
GitLab offers a convenient way to change metadata of an issue or merge request without adding slash commands in the comment field
It provides APIs for most features, so it allows developers to create deeper integrations with the product
Helps developers to put their idea into production by finding areas of improvement in their development process
It helps you to keep your information secure with Confidential Issues
Internal projects in GitLab allow promoting inner sourcing of internal repositories.

Pros

Offers an all-in-one platform for version control, issue tracking, and continuous integration.
Users find the interface straightforward, enhancing productivity and collaboration among teams.
Strong access management features allow fine-grained control over user roles and project visibility.

Cons

Initial setup and maintenance, including updates, can be cumbersome, especially when deploying on internal servers.

Download link: https://about.gitlab.com/install/

6) CircleCI

“I find Circle CI to be an exceptionally flexible CI tool that operates seamlessly across various environments, such as cross-platform mobile apps, Python API servers, or Docker clusters. Think fewer headaches from bugs and better-running apps – that’s what this does in a nutshell.”

Features:

Allows to select Build Environment
Supports many languages like Linux, including C++, Javascript, NET, PHP, Python, and Ruby
Support for Docker lets you configure customized environment
Automatically cancel any queued or running builds when a newer build is triggered
It split and balance tests across multiple containers to reduce overall build time
Forbid non-admins from modifying critical project settings
Improve Android and iOS store rating by shipping bug-free apps.
Optimal Caching and Parallelism for fast performance.
Integration with VCS tools

Pros

CircleCI offers robust integration with various tools like GitHub, enhancing seamless code merges and commit processes.
Users appreciate the simple setup process and the user interface, which is generally considered intuitive and easy to manage.
The inclusion of detailed test artifacts like screenshots and the ability to customize the whole process through setup scripts are particularly highlighted.

Cons

There are concerns about scalability and pricing, especially as test suites grow, which can make CircleCI quite expensive for larger projects.

Download link: https://circleci.com/

7) CloudBees CodeShip

As a frequent user of CloudBees CodeShip, I find it highly effective for CI, streamlining development and deployment with ease. My automated workflows are triggered seamlessly by repository updates.

Features:

It provides full control of the design of your CI and CD systems.
Centralized team management and dashboards
Easily access debug builds and SSH which helps to debug right from CI environment
Codeship gives complete control over customizing and optimizing CI and CD workflow
It allows encrypted external caching of Docker images
Allows to set up teams and permissions for your organizations and team members
Comes in two versions 1) Basic and 2) Pro

Pros

Flexible CI/CD as a Service for teams to develop various applications.
Allows developers to control setup customization for productivity.
Quick setup with builds and deployments working in under five minutes.
High integration capability with tools, services, and clouds.

Cons

It may require upgrades for full control over the CI/CD setup.
Dedicated AWS instances for performance and security could increase costs.

Download link: https://www.cloudbees.com/products/codeship

8) Buildbot

Using Buildbot, I find an exceptionally versatile open-source framework tailored for automating complex build, test, and release processes in software development. Imagine a system that evolves with your business needs – that’s exactly what this does. Plus, with Python and Twisted Python at its core, compatibility issues are virtually nonexistent. For those projects where exact, automated control over tasks is critical, this flexibility can’t be beaten.

Features:

It provides support for multiple testing hosts with various architectures.
Report kernel crashes of hosts
Maintains a single-source repository
Automate the build
Every commit build on mainline on an integration machine
Automate deployment
It’s Open Source

Pros

Automates all aspects of the software development cycle.
Compatible with multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, and browser interfaces.
Highly customizable to fit complex workflows.
Open source with a strong community for support.

Cons

Setup and configuration can be complex and time-consuming.
Documentation is extensive but can be overwhelming for new users.

Download link: https://buildbot.net/

9) Integrity

Integrity, a continuous integration server, exclusively supports GitHub. When I commit code using this CI tool, it efficiently builds and executes the code while also generating reports and sending notifications.

Features:

This CI tool currently only works with git, but it can easily mirror with other SCM
This CI tool supports numbers of notification mechanisms like AMQP, Email, HTTP, Amazon SES, Flowdock, Shell, and TCP.
HTTP Notifier feature sends an HTTP POST request to the specific URL

Pros

Automatically builds code and runs tests upon commit.
Notifies team members immediately after building completion.
Supports various notification systems including Email, AMQP, and HTTP.

Cons

Potential security risks with private key storage in environment variables.

Download link: http://integrity.github.io/

10) Container Registry

We find that Container Registry, as a CI tool, efficiently automates builds and deploys containers. It stands out as a top Continuous Integration server, creating automated pipelines accessible via the command line interface.

Features:

Fully integrated with Github & Bitbucket
Use Container Registry CLI for faster local iterations
Execute builds concurrently to keep your team moving
Run parallel tests to reduce wait time of your team
Integrate with 100s of external tools
Receive system notification in product and by email

Pros

Simplifies development to production workflow by managing Docker images centrally.
Supports both private and public Docker registry uses, enhancing accessibility and security for image distribution.
Integrated with Oracle IAM for robust authentication and authorization, simplifying user and permissions management.

Cons

Limited to 500 repositories per region, which might be insufficient for larger organizations with extensive needs.

Download link: https://www.oracle.com/cloud/cloud-native/container-registry/

11) Buildkite

Reviewing this product, I find the Buildkite agent to be a dependable and versatile build runner. This CI tool effortlessly handles automated builds on various infrastructures. I primarily use it to execute build jobs and report back the status code and output log efficiently.

Features:

This CI tool runs on a wide variety of OS and architectures
It can run code from any version control system
Allows to run as many build agents as you want on any machine
It can integrate with the tools like Slack, HipChat, Flowdock, Campfire and more
Buildkite never sees source code or secret keys
It offers stable infrastructure

Pros

Offers powerful CI and build automation with a convenient centralized web UI.
Flexible and allows dynamic definition of pipelines and customization.

Cons

Integration aspects with other tools and services could be improved.

Download link: https://buildkite.com/

12) Semaphore

Semaphore is a robust continuous integration tool that allows us to test and deploy code effortlessly with a single click. Imagine something that speaks many coding languages, fits right into any framework we’re using, and hooks up to GitHub for easy testing and quick updates, all on autopilot.

Features:

Easy process for setup
Allows automatic parallel testing
One of the fastest CI available in the market
It can easily cover number of projects of different sizes
Seamless integration with GitHub and Bitbucket

Pros

Shortens the time for build processes considerably.
Efficiently handles projects of varying sizes and complexities.
Responsive and helpful support team.

Cons

It can become expensive as team size and usage increase.

Download link: https://semaphoreci.com

13) CruiseControl

We find CruiseControl to serve as both a CI tool and an extensible framework. It’s adept at building a custom continuous build process. We’re big fans around here of how many different plugins you can find for everything, whether it’s wrangling your source controls or just staying on top of messages.

Features:

Integration with a many different Source Control systems like vss, csv, svn, git, hg, perforce, clearcase, filesystem, etc.
It allows building multiple projects on single server
Integration with other external tools like NAnt, NDepend, NUnit, MSBuild, MBUnit and Visual Studio
Provide support for Remote Management

Pros

CruiseControl supports a wide range of plugins and extensions, allowing for customization to fit specific project needs
Provides robust tools for continuous integration, which can automate the build cycle and improve the software development process
Includes features like Results JSP and a dashboard for effective visualization and monitoring of build statuses

Cons

Setting up and configuring CruiseControl can be complex and might require substantial setup time

Download link: http://cruisecontrol.sourceforge.net/download.html

14) Bitrise

In my experience, Bitrise, a Continuous Integration and Delivery Platform as a Service, excels in offering mobile Continuous Integration and Delivery for any team. Honestly, connecting this thing to go-to’s like Slack or even the techier sides of things, HockeyApp and Crashlytics, is smooth sailing.

Features:

Allows to create and test workflows in your terminal
You get your apps without the need of manual controls
Every build runs individually in its own virtual machine, and all data is discarded at the end of the build
Support for third party beta testing and deployment services
Support for GitHub Pull Request

Pros

Simplifies mobile app CI/CD processes, making builds and deployments straightforward and repeatable.
Quick setup with user-friendly configurations that reduce complexity.
Good customer support with prompt and helpful responses.

Cons

Being relatively new, some aspects of the platform can be unstable or slow.

Download link: https://github.com/bitrise-io/bitrise

15) Urbancode

As per my journey, IBM UrbanCode Deploy is an exceptional CI application, blending robust visibility, traceability, and auditing into one package.

Features:

Increase frequency of software delivery by automated, repeatable deployment processes
Reduce deployment failure
Streamline the deployment of multi-channel apps to all environments whether on-premises or in the cloud
Enterprise level security and scalability
Hybrid cloud environment modeling
This CI/CD Tools provides Drag-and-drop automation

Pros

Extensive plugin ecosystem, reducing the need for manual scripting.
High configurability which can adapt to complex application environments.

Cons

The steep learning curve for new users due to its complexity.

Download link: https://www.ibm.com/cloud/urbancode

What are the CI/CD Tools?

CI/CD Tools are the software applications that help users efficiently integrate the code and develop the software build. These tools help developers to automate the software development process with ease. CI CD tools also allow teams to integrate with other tools for efficient teamwork and collaboration.

Benefits of using CI CD tools

Here’s a concise list of the benefits of using CI and CD tools:

Smaller Code Modifications: Frequent but small updates reduce risk and improve manageability.
Isolation of Faults: Quick identification and resolution of defects.
Shorter Time to Resolution: Accelerated handling of issues.
Increased Test Reliability: Consistent, automated testing increases confidence in the quality of software builds.
Increased Release Rate: Faster and more frequent releases make it possible to improve the product at a quicker pace.
Reduced Backlog: Fewer pending tasks in the product development lifecycle.
Customer Satisfaction: Faster releases and reliable systems lead to happier customers.
Cost Reduction: Automation reduces the need for manual effort and cuts operational costs.
Ease of Updates and Maintenance: Simplified and streamlined process for making changes and updates.

How To Choose CI/CD Tools?

When choosing a Top CI/CD Tools, the following factors should be taken into account:

What Problem Are You Trying to Solve Using CI/CD Tools? Choosing the right Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) tools starts with identifying the specific challenges your development team faces. Do you want to make your testing automatic to cut down on mistakes, speed up how fast you get things out there with smoother deployment, or help coders work better together? Establishing your goals early can guide you towards a tool that addresses these needs effectively.
Who Will Need to Use It? Consider the users of the CI/CD tools—developers, testers, and operations teams. Look for a tool that feels like it was made just for you, one that dovetails with your team’s know-how and plugs effortlessly into the systems you’re already using. Handy tools with solid support and learning materials can make the switch smoother for everyone involved.
What Outcomes Are Important? You could see more frequent updates, quicker changes with less waiting around, and fewer oops moments when things don’t go as planned. A suitable CI/CD tool should provide robust features for automation, monitoring, and reporting to track these metrics successfully.
What is Your Tool Requirements? So, what’s it going to be – keeping things up in the cloud or sticking closer to home with on-premise software? Is there a preference for open-source tools or are commercial products with enterprise support more suitable? Consider also the scalability, security features, and compliance with industry standards. Let’s narrow the sea of CI/CD tools down with these tips, so you can find the one that fits your project like a glove.

Best continuous integration (CI/CD Tools)

Name	Features	Link
Jenkins	• Easily updated with all OS and versions of Linux, Mac OS or Windows • It offers easy installation as Jenkins comes as a WAR file • It’s can easily distribute work across several machines,	Learn More
TeamCity	• You can Create unlimited build configurations • TeamCity Deliver quality software faster • Extensibility and Customization	Learn More
GoCD	• Handle user authentication and authorization • Keep orderly configuration • Active community for help and support.	Learn More

Conclusion:

Each of these CD/CI tools has its strengths and weaknesses, and the best choice depends on your team’s specific requirment.

Jenkins: Jenkins is a robust and versatile tool due to its open-source nature and extensive plugin ecosystem.
TeamCity: TeamCity stands out with its user-friendly interface and out-of-the-box features.
GoCD: GoCD excels in modeling and visualizing complex workflows.

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