Comparison · CI/CD platforms
Buildkite vs GitHub Actions: which is better in 2026?
GitHub Actions ranks higher in our list of CI/CD platforms (#1 against #4, score 92.0 against 85.5).
- 85.5Editorial score92.0
- 1Platforms1
- YesFree to useYes
- NoOpen sourceNo
Which should you choose?
Choose Buildkite if you want
CI on your own infrastructure.
Runs jobs on your own agents or on hosted Linux agents billed per minute, with a Free plan for up to five active users. Pro is $30 per active user a month, and the platform is not open source.
Choose GitHub Actions if you want
Projects already on GitHub.
The default CI for GitHub repositories, free for public repositories and with included minutes by plan. Its workflows depend on GitHub, so it does not help teams that host code elsewhere.
Side by side
 Buildkite |  GitHub Actions | |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 85.5 | 92.0 |
| Rank in list | #4 of 7 | #1 of 7 |
| Price | Free plan, paid upgradesFree plan for up to 5 active users; Pro $30 per active user a month | Free plan, paid upgradesFree for public repositories; included minutes on other plans |
| Free to use | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Platforms | WebWeb | WebWeb |
| Made by | Buildkite Pty Ltd | GitHub |
| Hosting | Your agents or hosted agents | GitHub-hosted or self-hosted runners |
| Best for | CI on your own infrastructure | Projects already on GitHub |
| Strengths |
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| Limits |
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| Links | Visit site | Visit site |
Questions about Buildkite vs GitHub Actions
- Is GitHub Actions better than Buildkite?
- GitHub Actions ranks higher in our list of CI/CD platforms (#1 against #4, score 92.0 against 85.5). Buildkite is best for: cI on your own infrastructure. GitHub Actions is best for: projects already on GitHub.
- Which is cheaper, Buildkite or GitHub Actions?
- Buildkite: Free plan for up to 5 active users; Pro $30 per active user a month. GitHub Actions: Free for public repositories; included minutes on other plans.
- Do Buildkite and GitHub Actions run on the same platforms?
- Buildkite supports Web. GitHub Actions supports Web.