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# CircleCI vs Jenkins Comparison - What are their main differences?

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Pricing

**CircleCI**
Free Trial

**$0.00** Flat Rate Per Month · Free

**$15.00** Flat Rate Per Month · Performance

**$2,000.00** Flat Rate Per Month · Scale

**Contact Vendor for Pricing** · Server

Show more

**Jenkins**
No pricing available

**Pricing Insights**
from reviews

Perceived Cost

**CircleCI**
$$$$$

**Jenkins**
$$$$$

Average Discount

**CircleCI**
7%

**Jenkins**
12%5% more

Uncover valuable pricing insights from real user feedback to improve your shopping experience.
See it for free

Time to Implement

**CircleCI** 6 months
Based on 100 responses

**Jenkins** 6 months
Based on 100 responses

Return on Investment

**CircleCI** 6 months
Based on 100 responses

**Jenkins** 6 months
Based on 100 responses

**Pros & Cons**
from reviews

**CircleCI**

Easy Integrations (4)

Integrations (4)

Complexity (2)

Difficult Configuration (2)

**Jenkins**

Ease of Use (27)

Integrations (20)

Plugin Issues (16)

Confusing Interface (12)

Integrations

**CircleCI**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_8ec3c17e3fb1df25b6a8bd7cc69cf2d1/github.png "Product Avatar Image")

GitHub

](https://www.g2.com/products/github/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/circleci/integrations)

**Jenkins**
[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_cacdec8b8edeace9b3c89e0c2cded695/amazon-ec2.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon EC2

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-ec2/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_5b5ecb6259c4c0d54368899a457a4e08/amazon-ec2-auto-scaling.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon EC2 Auto Scaling

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-ec2-auto-scaling/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_504423766e296a0eeef13491cb738385/amazon-elastic-container-registry-ecr.png "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon Elastic Container...

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-elastic-container-registry-ecr/reviews)[

 ![Product Avatar Image](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/large_detail/large_detail_6f7467a9095411d659210c508d7bb82a/amazon-elastic-kubernetes-service-amazon-eks.jpg "Product Avatar Image")

Amazon Elastic Kubernetes...

](https://www.g2.com/products/amazon-elastic-kubernetes-service-amazon-eks/reviews)[
View all
](https://www.g2.com/products/jenkins/integrations)

Screenshots

**CircleCI**
 ![CircleCI screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/57966/expirable-direct-uploads_2Ff1a4c77e-0a1f-49bf-a6d7-e0260b246f2a_2Fscreencapture-circleci-dashboard.png)

**Jenkins**
 ![Jenkins screenshot](https://images.g2crowd.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=600,height=600,fit=scale-down,format=auto,onerror=redirect,/https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/attachment/file/40847/uploads_2Fb77c2db5-1b8b-4410-9d63-6fa524e60af5_2Fjenkins_screenshot_.png)

**Ratings**
from reviews

Meets Requirements

**CircleCI**

**8.8** /10

Based on 445 responses

**Jenkins**

**8.9** /10

Based on 478 responses

Ease of Use

**CircleCI**

**8.5** /10

Based on 448 responses

**Jenkins**

**8.0** /10

Based on 489 responses

Ease of Setup

**CircleCI**

**8.4** /10

Based on 171 responses

**Jenkins**

**8.0** /10

Based on 268 responses

Ease of Admin

**CircleCI**

**8.3** /10

Based on 163 responses

**Jenkins**

**7.9** /10

Based on 211 responses

Quality of Support

**CircleCI**

**8.2** /10

Based on 321 responses

**Jenkins**

**7.9** /10

Based on 383 responses

Has the product been a good partner in doing business?

**CircleCI**

**8.6** /10

Based on 135 responses

**Jenkins**

**8.4** /10

Based on 165 responses

Product Direction (% positive)

**CircleCI**

**7.9** /10

Based on 443 responses

**Jenkins**

**8.1** /10

Based on 463 responses

**Features**
ratings from reviews

Continuous Delivery

**8.4** /10

Based on 68 responses

**8.6** /10

Based on 161 responses

DevOps Platforms

**8.9** /10

Based on 25 responses

**8.9** /10

Based on 92 responses

Continuous Integration

**8.4** /10

Based on 87 responses

**8.6** /10

Based on 162 responses

User Insights

**Reviewers' Company Size**

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
45.9%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
42.3%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
11.9%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
45.9%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
42.3%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
11.9%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
22.5%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
36.9%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
40.6%

Small-Business(50 or fewer emp.)
22.5%

Mid-Market(51-1000 emp.)
36.9%

Enterprise(\> 1000 emp.)
40.6%

**Reviewers' Industry**

[![CircleCI](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/1487565608/circleci.svg "CircleCI")](https://www.g2.com/products/circleci/reviews)
CircleCI

Computer Software
26.6%

Information Technology and Services
17.7%

Internet
10.1%

Financial Services
4.4%

Marketing and Advertising
3.2%

Other
38.0%

[![Jenkins](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_816e7e27d5ac09363053c4ca43e63c5c/jenkins.png "Jenkins")](https://www.g2.com/products/jenkins/reviews)
Jenkins

Information Technology and Services
27.7%

Computer Software
25.0%

Financial Services
5.6%

Internet
4.7%

Telecommunications
3.4%

Other
33.6%

Alternatives

**CircleCI Alternatives**

 ![GitHub](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_8ec3c17e3fb1df25b6a8bd7cc69cf2d1/github.png "GitHub")

[
GitHub
](/products/github/reviews)

 ![CloudBees](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/87a3b92cea3fbc3b93144f9fd68c968d/cloudbees.svg "CloudBees")

[
CloudBees
](/products/cloudbees/reviews)

 ![Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_7b1e34d1cfcc265beee0d9b4290461fa/red-hat-ansible-automation-platform.jpg "Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform")

[
Red Hat Ansible Automation...
](/products/red-hat-ansible-automation-platform/reviews)

 ![Bitrise Mobile DevOps Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/0ef148f4530b2f9362f49ec3657295c8/bitrise-mobile-devops-platform.svg "Bitrise Mobile DevOps Platform")

[
Bitrise Mobile DevOps Platform
](/products/bitrise-mobile-devops-platform/reviews)

**Jenkins Alternatives**

 ![GitHub](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_8ec3c17e3fb1df25b6a8bd7cc69cf2d1/github.png "GitHub")

[
GitHub
](/products/github/reviews)

 ![CloudBees](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/87a3b92cea3fbc3b93144f9fd68c968d/cloudbees.svg "CloudBees")

[
CloudBees
](/products/cloudbees/reviews)

 ![Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/image/thumb_square/thumb_square_7b1e34d1cfcc265beee0d9b4290461fa/red-hat-ansible-automation-platform.jpg "Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform")

[
Red Hat Ansible Automation...
](/products/red-hat-ansible-automation-platform/reviews)

 ![Harness Platform](https://images.g2crowd.com/uploads/product/hd_favicon/475270ef4d082eb00bedc920f653506d/harness-platform.svg "Harness Platform")

[
Harness Platform
](/products/harness-platform/reviews)

## CircleCI vs Jenkins FAQs

Generated using AI

Last updated: August 14, 2026

### What is the difference between CircleCI vs Jenkins?

CircleCI and Jenkins differ most clearly in their setup experience and support quality, with CircleCI favored for easier setup and Jenkins for its extensive plugin ecosystem.

| [CircleCI](https://www.g2.com/products/circleci/reviews) | [Jenkins](https://www.g2.com/products/jenkins/reviews) |
| --- | --- |
| 4.4/5 (511 reviews) | 4.4/5 (573 reviews) |
| Small-Business | Enterprise |
| 8.4 | 8.0 |
| 8.2 | 7.9 |
| Easy Integrations | Plugins |

### How do the pricing models of CircleCI and Jenkins compare?

CircleCI is rated higher for value, with reviewers expressing greater satisfaction with its pricing compared to Jenkins.

- **CircleCI:** Reviewers appreciate the free entry-level tier and find the pricing model suitable for small to mid-size projects, though some mention that advanced features and larger workloads can become expensive.
- **Jenkins:** Reviewers highlight that Jenkins is open-source and free to use, but note that the cost of ongoing maintenance and plugin management can add up in terms of time and resources.
- **Switching Reason:** Several reviewers mention switching from Jenkins to CircleCI to avoid the burden of self-hosting and to benefit from a managed CI provider.

### What are the best alternatives to CircleCI and Jenkins?

The top 3 alternatives to CircleCI and Jenkins are GitHub, CloudBees, and GitLab.

| Product | G2 Rating (reviews) | Largest Segment | Pricing Insight | Top Reviewer-Cited Strength |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [CircleCI](https://www.g2.com/products/circleci/reviews) | 4.4/5 (511 reviews) | Small-Business | Free entry-level tier, advanced features can be expensive | Easy Integrations |
| [Jenkins](https://www.g2.com/products/jenkins/reviews) | 4.4/5 (573 reviews) | Enterprise | Open-source, free to use, but maintenance can be costly | Plugins |
| [GitHub](https://www.g2.com/products/github/reviews) | 4.7/5 (2399 reviews) | Small-Business | — | Integration with code repositories |
| [CloudBees](https://www.g2.com/products/cloudbees/reviews) | 4.4/5 (621 reviews) | Enterprise | — | Enterprise-grade CI/CD features |

### Which Continuous Integration features should I prioritize when comparing CircleCI and Jenkins?

Buyers should prioritize integration capabilities, ease of setup, automation features, pipeline management, and plugin ecosystem when comparing CircleCI and Jenkins.

- **Integration Capabilities:** CircleCI (2 all-time mentions), Jenkins (20 all-time mentions)
- **Ease of Setup:** CircleCI (8.4), Jenkins (8.0)
- **Automation Features:** CircleCI (2 all-time mentions), Jenkins (14 all-time mentions)
- **Pipeline Management:** Jenkins (11 all-time mentions)
- **Plugin Ecosystem:** Jenkins (18 all-time mentions)

### What are the pros and cons of CircleCI vs Jenkins?

CircleCI's headline strength is easy integration, while Jenkins stands out for its extensive plugin ecosystem and flexibility.

- **CircleCI strengths:** Easy Integrations (4 all-time mentions), Ease of Use (3), Automation (2), Easy Setup (2), Git Integration (2)
- **CircleCI trade-offs:** Complexity (2), Difficult Configuration (2), Expensive (2), Learning Curve (2)
- **Jenkins strengths:** Plugins (18 all-time mentions), Integrations (20), Flexibility (13), Automation (14), Pipeline Management (11), Open-source (8)
- **Jenkins trade-offs:** Plugin Issues (16), Confusing Interface (12), Difficult Setup (9), Outdated Interface (9), Complexity (8)

### Is CircleCI or Jenkins better for small businesses?

CircleCI is the better fit for small businesses, as it is most popular in the Small-Business segment and receives positive sentiment from small-business reviewers.

- **CircleCI:** Largest segment is Small-Business, with reviewers highlighting easy setup, intuitive UI, and a free entry-level tier as advantages for small teams.
- **Jenkins:** Largest segment is Enterprise, with reviewers noting that while Jenkins is powerful and flexible, it often requires more maintenance and setup effort, which can be a challenge for small businesses.

### Which Continuous Integration platform has better integrations?

Jenkins is favored for integrations, with a broader range of reviewer-cited integrations and higher all-time mention counts.

- **CircleCI:** GitHub integration is cited in 143 reviews, with recent reviewers highlighting easy GitHub connectivity and integration with Bitbucket.
- **Jenkins:** Git integration is cited in 109 reviews, GitHub in 39, and Docker in 36, with reviewers emphasizing the extensive plugin ecosystem supporting a wide variety of integrations.

### How do CircleCI and Jenkins compare on customer support?

CircleCI and Jenkins are rated within 0.3 points on Quality of Support, indicating near parity in reviewer satisfaction.

- **CircleCI:** Reviewers frequently mention responsive and helpful support, with a Quality of Support score of 8.2.
- **Jenkins:** Reviewers note strong community and documentation support, with a Quality of Support score of 7.9.

### Which is easier to implement, CircleCI or Jenkins?

CircleCI and Jenkins score within 0.4 points on Ease of Setup, indicating similar implementation experiences.

- **CircleCI:** Reviewers describe CircleCI as easy to set up, with intuitive configuration and minimal initial effort required.
- **Jenkins:** Reviewers report that Jenkins setup is straightforward for experienced users but can be complex due to plugin management and configuration requirements.

### Which product has better Integration?

Jenkins is the stronger product for Integration, with higher all-time mention counts and a broader plugin ecosystem.

- **CircleCI:** Integration Capabilities (2 all-time mentions), Easy Integrations (4), Git Integration (2), Integration dimension score: 8.5
- **Jenkins:** Integrations (20 all-time mentions), Plugins (18), Easy Integrations (12), Integration dimension score: 8.0