Which is cheaper, CircleCI or GitHub Actions?

GitHub Actions is 3.8x cheaper than CircleCI. CircleCI starts at $0/mo, GitHub Actions starts at $0/mo.

Does CircleCI have a free tier?

Yes, CircleCI offers a free tier with activeUsers: 5, concurrencyDocker: 30, selfHostedRunners: 5, networkGB: 1, storageGB: 2.

CircleCI has moderate switching cost. GitHub Actions has moderate switching cost. Both have similar switching complexity.

Ci Cd

CircleCI

Flexible usage-based CI/CD platform with Docker, Linux, macOS, Windows, and Arm support

Switching Cost: moderate

GitHub Actions

← More affordable

CI/CD automation platform integrated with GitHub repositories for building, testing, and deploying code

Switching Cost: moderate

You're paying a premium for CircleCI — expect around a 3.8x higher bill compared to GitHub Actions.

Their pricing models diverge: CircleCI uses tiered, while GitHub Actions operates on a per-seat basis.

If budget is your primary constraint, GitHub Actions is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

If budget is your primary constraint, GitHub Actions is the clear winner with its more wallet-friendly pricing structure.

Price Difference

3.8x

GitHub Actions is cheaper by $11/mo

Pricing Model

Different

Tools charge using different pricing philosophies