GitHub Actions vs Buildkite
type: Article
description: GitHub Actions is a free CI/CD solution integrated directly into GitHub with pay-per-minute pricing for private repos, while Buildkite is a self-hosted platform offering greater customization and control with a subscription-based model starting at $50/month. GitHub Actions suits teams already on GitHub seeking simplicity, while Buildkite excels for enterprises needing dedicated infrastructure and complex workflows.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-06-23T12:00:18.744Z
date created: 2026-06-23T12:00:18.744Z
date modified: 2026-06-23T12:00:18.801Z
content reference time: 2026-06-23T12:00:18.801Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: GitHub Actions
about: Buildkite
abstract: GitHub Actions is a free CI/CD solution integrated directly into GitHub with pay-per-minute pricing for private repos, while Buildkite is a self-hosted platform offering greater customization and control with a subscription-based model starting at $50/month. GitHub Actions suits teams already on GitHub seeking simplicity, while Buildkite excels for enterprises needing dedicated infrastructure and complex workflows.
text: Pricing Model. Hosting. GitHub Integration. Workflow Configuration. Concurrent Jobs. Job Execution Time Limits. Artifact Storage
conclusion text: Choose GitHub Actions if you want a quick, zero-setup CI/CD solution for open-source projects or small teams already on GitHub—the free tier and native integration eliminate overhead. Choose Buildkite if you need complete control over build infrastructure, unlimited concurrent jobs, longer execution times, or operate in regulated industries requiring self-hosted solutions.
additional property: Free Tier Monthly Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 3,000 (public repos) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Supported VCS Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 1 (GitHub only) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Maximum Parallel Jobs
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 256 concurrent | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Setup Time for New Projects
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 5 minutes | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Community Actions/Orbs Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 20,000+ actions | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Support SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Standard support available | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Self-Hosted Runner Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Supported with basic controls | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Estimated Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 1-2 weeks | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Initial Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 15 minutes to first workflow | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Available Plugins/Actions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 10000+ actions | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Free Monthly Build Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 2000 minutes (GitHub-hosted runners) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Platform Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: GitHub only (primary) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Configuration Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Low - Simple YAML syntax | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Deployment Model Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Cloud-hosted and self-hosted | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Scalability Ceiling
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Limited by GitHub account quotas | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Support Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: $231/user/year (GitHub Enterprise) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes (Private Repos)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 2,000 minutes | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Container Registry Free Storage
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 0.5 GB per project | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Marketplace Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 11,000+ Actions | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Security (SAST) Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: $200/month (Advanced Security tier) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Self-Hosted Option Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Enterprise Server tier (paid only, $231+/month) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Built-in Project Management Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Issues, basic Boards, limited automation | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Native GitHub Integration Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Integrated (GitHub-only) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Maximum Parallel Jobs (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 20 matrix configurations | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Available Extensions/Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 13,000+ actions | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Monthly Infrastructure Cost (10-developer team)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: $25 (usage-based + GitHub Team) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Build Minutes/Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 2,000 (private) / unlimited (public) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve (Beginner to Productive)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 1 week (YAML basics) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Concurrent Workflows (free tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 20 (GitHub-hosted runners) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: GitHub Repository Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Native (zero additional setup) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Data Residency Control
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: No (GitHub cloud default, Enterprise option) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Setup Time to First Pipeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 5-15 minutes | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Execution Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 2,000-3,000 | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Kubernetes Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Not required | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Supported Git Providers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: GitHub (primary), limited others | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Project Age
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 6 years (since 2019) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Marketplace Actions/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 18,000+ actions | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Enterprise Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Microsoft, GitHub, 60% of public repos | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Self-Hosted Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Self-hosted runners available | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Starting Cost (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: $0 (free tier available) | Buildkite: $50
  value reference: GitHub Actions
additional property: Free Build Minutes Monthly
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 2,000 (private repos) | Buildkite: Unlimited (with free tier agent)
additional property: Maximum Job Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 360 (6 hours) | Buildkite: Unlimited
additional property: Default Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 5 | Buildkite: Unlimited
additional property: Artifact Retention Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 90 | Buildkite: Configurable (unlimited with your storage)
additional property: GitHub Integration Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: Native (built-in) | Buildkite: Third-party (API/webhooks)
additional property: Marketplace Actions Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 11,000+ | Buildkite: Plugin-based ecosystem (~500+ plugins)
  value reference: GitHub Actions
additional property: Setup Time for First Build
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 5-10 (YAML config only) | Buildkite: 30-60 (includes agent setup)
  value reference: GitHub Actions
additional property: Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 2,000 (unlimited for public repos) | Buildkite: N/A
additional property: Maximum Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: GitHub Actions: 20 concurrent jobs | Buildkite: N/A
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/github-actions
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/github-actions
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/buildkite
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/buildkite
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/github-actions-vs-buildkite
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/github-actions-vs-buildkite
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/github-actions-vs-buildkite)
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/jenkins-vs-buildkite
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/github-actions-vs-gitlab
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/github-actions-vs-jenkins
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tekton-vs-github-actions
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/github-actions-vs-bitbucket
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/github-actions-vs-travis-ci
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/circleci-vs-github-actions
teaches: How to choose between GitHub Actions and Buildkite
genre: Software

primaryImage
type: ImageObject
width: 1200
height: 630
caption: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Side-by-side comparison on A Versus B

A Versus B
type: Organization

GitHub Actions
type: Thing
alternate name: GA
alternate name: Github Actions
language: en-US
description: Free CI/CD automation platform natively integrated with GitHub repositories.
image: ImageObject
  caption: GitHub Actions
subject of: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite
image: ImageObject
  caption: GitHub Actions

Buildkite
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Enterprise CI/CD platform with self-hosted agents and unlimited parallelization.
subject of: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite

GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for GitHub Actions vs Buildkite. Contains 99 attribute comparisons, 5 FAQ pairs.
language: en-US
license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
creator: A Versus B
distribution: JSON-LD knowledge graph
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json+ld
distribution: Raw comparison JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Structured FAQ pairs JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: AI Answer API (citation-ready)
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
distribution: Related comparisons JSON
  type: DataDownload
  encoding format: application/json
variable measured: Free Tier Monthly Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Supported VCS Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Maximum Parallel Jobs
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Setup Time for New Projects
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Community Actions/Orbs Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Extensibility
variable measured: Enterprise Support SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Self-Hosted Runner Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Estimated Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Initial Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Implementation
variable measured: Available Plugins/Actions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Free Monthly Build Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Platform Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Configuration Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Deployment Model Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Scalability Ceiling
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Enterprise Support Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes (Private Repos)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing & Limits
variable measured: Container Registry Free Storage
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Storage & Infrastructure
variable measured: Marketplace Ecosystem Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Enterprise Security (SAST) Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Security & Compliance
variable measured: Self-Hosted Option Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Deployment
variable measured: Built-in Project Management Features
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Project Management
variable measured: Native GitHub Integration Required
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Platform Integration
variable measured: Maximum Parallel Jobs (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Available Extensions/Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Features
variable measured: Monthly Infrastructure Cost (10-developer team)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Free Tier Build Minutes/Month
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Resources
variable measured: Learning Curve (Beginner to Productive)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Learning
variable measured: Concurrent Workflows (free tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: GitHub Repository Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Data Residency Control
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Compliance
variable measured: Setup Time to First Pipeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Free Tier Execution Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Kubernetes Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Supported Git Providers
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Flexibility
variable measured: Project Age
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: Marketplace Actions/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Enterprise Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Enterprise Use
variable measured: Self-Hosted Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Starting Cost (Monthly)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Free Build Minutes Monthly
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Maximum Job Duration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Execution
variable measured: Default Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Execution
variable measured: Artifact Retention Period
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Storage
variable measured: GitHub Integration Type
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Marketplace Actions Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Setup Time for First Build
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing & Limits
variable measured: Maximum Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Parallelization
variable measured: Available Integrations/Actions
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Cost Per Minute (Overage)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing & Limits
variable measured: Starting Team Pricing
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing & Limits
variable measured: Active Community Repositories
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Configuration File Complexity (1-5 scale)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Repository Platform Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Free Minutes Per Month (Private Repos)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Minimum Paid Plan Cost
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing & Limits
variable measured: Marketplace Integrations
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Market Adoption Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Adoption
variable measured: Linux Runner Cost Per Minute
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Pricing
variable measured: Multi-Platform Git Support
variable measured: Setup Time for First Workflow
variable measured: OS Runner Support
variable measured: Free Tier Monthly CI Minutes
variable measured: Pay-As-You-Go Execution Cost
variable measured: Docker Layer Caching Speed Improvement
variable measured: Artifact Storage Max Size
variable measured: SSH Debug Into Failed Jobs
variable measured: Setup Time (GitHub Repo)
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/github-actions-vs-buildkite

GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for GitHub Actions vs Buildkite.
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: Implementation
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: Pricing & Limits
has defined term: Storage & Infrastructure
has defined term: Security & Compliance
has defined term: Deployment
has defined term: Project Management
has defined term: Platform Integration
has defined term: Features
has defined term: Resources
has defined term: Learning
has defined term: Compliance
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Flexibility
has defined term: Maturity
has defined term: Enterprise Use
has defined term: Execution
has defined term: Storage
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Parallelization
has defined term: Adoption
has defined term: Compatibility
has defined term: Pricing & Quotas
has defined term: Storage & Limits
has defined term: Kubernetes Features
has defined term: Integration Quality
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Operational Efficiency
has defined term: Operations
has defined term: Security
has defined term: Pricing & Value

Pricing
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Performance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: performance
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ease of Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ease-of-use
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Extensibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: extensibility
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Support
type: DefinedTerm
term code: support
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: infrastructure
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Implementation
type: DefinedTerm
term code: implementation
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Ecosystem
type: DefinedTerm
term code: ecosystem
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Architecture
type: DefinedTerm
term code: architecture
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing & Limits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-&-limits
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Storage & Infrastructure
type: DefinedTerm
term code: storage-&-infrastructure
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security & Compliance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security-&-compliance
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Deployment
type: DefinedTerm
term code: deployment
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Project Management
type: DefinedTerm
term code: project-management
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Platform Integration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: platform-integration
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: features
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Resources
type: DefinedTerm
term code: resources
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Learning
type: DefinedTerm
term code: learning
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compliance
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compliance
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Cost
type: DefinedTerm
term code: cost
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Flexibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: flexibility
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Maturity
type: DefinedTerm
term code: maturity
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Enterprise Use
type: DefinedTerm
term code: enterprise-use
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Execution
type: DefinedTerm
term code: execution
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Storage
type: DefinedTerm
term code: storage
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Usability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: usability
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Parallelization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: parallelization
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: adoption
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Compatibility
type: DefinedTerm
term code: compatibility
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing & Quotas
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-&-quotas
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Storage & Limits
type: DefinedTerm
term code: storage-&-limits
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Kubernetes Features
type: DefinedTerm
term code: kubernetes-features
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Integration Quality
type: DefinedTerm
term code: integration-quality
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

User Experience
type: DefinedTerm
term code: user-experience
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Scalability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: scalability
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operational Efficiency
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operational-efficiency
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operations
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operations
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Security
type: DefinedTerm
term code: security
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Pricing & Value
type: DefinedTerm
term code: pricing-&-value
in defined term set: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite — Attribute Category Vocabulary

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-06-23T12:00:18.801Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: github-actions-vs-buildkite
main entity: Which is cheaper for a small team with 10-20 private repositories?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: GitHub Actions is significantly cheaper. With 2,000 free build minutes monthly included on GitHub Free plans, most small teams stay within the free tier. At typical usage (100-200 minutes/month per repo), costs remain $0. Buildkite costs $50/month minimum regardless of usage, making it uneconomical unless you exceed 6,250 build minutes monthly or need self-hosted infrastructure.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can I run Buildkite on AWS/Kubernetes infrastructure?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Yes. Buildkite agents run on any infrastructure you control—AWS EC2, Kubernetes clusters, on-premise servers, or hybrid setups. You install the agent binary and it connects to Buildkite's cloud platform. GitHub Actions only offers GitHub-hosted runners; you cannot self-host them or run custom infrastructure.
    language: en-US
main entity: What happens if my build takes 7 hours?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: On GitHub Actions, the build fails after 360 minutes (6 hours) with a timeout error. On Buildkite, there is no enforced limit—the job runs as long as needed on your self-hosted agent. This makes Buildkite essential for long-running workloads like large-scale testing, data processing, or compilation jobs.
    language: en-US
main entity: How many pre-built integrations does each platform offer?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: GitHub Actions has 11,000+ community-maintained actions in its marketplace covering Docker, testing, deployment, and cloud services. Buildkite has ~500 official plugins plus community contributions. GitHub Actions' larger ecosystem makes onboarding faster for common tasks; Buildkite's focused plugin set emphasizes stability over quantity.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which is better for compliance-heavy industries (healthcare, finance)?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Buildkite is the clear choice. Self-hosted agents let you maintain air-gapped networks, meet data residency requirements, and achieve HIPAA/FedRAMP compliance. GitHub Actions runs builds on GitHub's infrastructure, which violates many compliance frameworks requiring complete data isolation. Buildkite's on-premise model aligns with regulated industry requirements.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between GitHub Actions and Buildkite
type: HowTo
description: GitHub Actions is a free CI/CD solution integrated directly into GitHub with pay-per-minute pricing for private repos, while Buildkite is a self-hosted platform offering greater customization and control with a subscription-based model starting at $50/month. GitHub Actions suits teams already on GitHub seeking simplicity, while Buildkite excels for enterprises needing dedicated infrastructure and complex workflows.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Pricing Model
step: Consider: Hosting
step: Consider: GitHub Integration
step: Consider: Workflow Configuration
step: Consider: Concurrent Jobs
step: Consider: Job Execution Time Limits
step: Consider: Artifact Storage
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose GitHub Actions if you want a quick, zero-setup CI/CD solution for open-source projects or small teams already on GitHub—the free tier and native integration eliminate overhead. Choose Buildkite if you need complete control over build infrastructure, unlimited concurrent jobs, longer execution times, or operate in regulated industries requiring self-hosted solutions.

Consider: Pricing Model
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Pricing Model: GitHub Actions has Free for public repos; $0.008/minute for private repos (2,000 free minutes/month included), while Buildkite has Subscription-based: $50/month base + usage costs; free tier available.

Consider: Hosting
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Hosting: GitHub Actions has GitHub-hosted runners only (cloud-based), while Buildkite has Self-hosted agents required; you control infrastructure.

Consider: GitHub Integration
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: GitHub Integration: GitHub Actions has Native, built-in integration with GitHub UI, while Buildkite has Third-party integration via webhooks and API.

Consider: Workflow Configuration
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: Workflow Configuration: GitHub Actions has YAML-based, stored in .github/workflows directory, while Buildkite has YAML-based, stored in repository with greater flexibility.

Consider: Concurrent Jobs
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Concurrent Jobs: GitHub Actions has 5 concurrent jobs (free tier); unlimited with enterprise, while Buildkite has Unlimited concurrent agents with self-hosted infrastructure.

Consider: Job Execution Time Limits
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Job Execution Time Limits: GitHub Actions has 360 minutes (6 hours) per job maximum, while Buildkite has No enforced limits; depends on your infrastructure.

Consider: Artifact Storage
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Artifact Storage: GitHub Actions has 90-day retention; 10GB per repository default, while Buildkite has Configurable; depends on self-hosted storage.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite
review body: GitHub Actions is a free CI/CD solution integrated directly into GitHub with pay-per-minute pricing for private repos, while Buildkite is a self-hosted platform offering greater customization and control with a subscription-based model starting at $50/month. GitHub Actions suits teams already on GitHub seeking simplicity, while Buildkite excels for enterprises needing dedicated infrastructure and complex workflows.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: GitHub Actions vs Buildkite

Available Integrations/Actions
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 10,000+ | Buildkite: N/A

Cost Per Minute (Overage)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: $0.008 | Buildkite: N/A

Starting Team Pricing
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: $0 (free tier available) | Buildkite: N/A

Active Community Repositories
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 750,000+ | Buildkite: N/A

Configuration File Complexity (1-5 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 4 (complex YAML, matrix builds) | Buildkite: N/A

Repository Platform Requirement
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: GitHub only | Buildkite: N/A

Free Minutes Per Month (Private Repos)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 3,000 minutes | Buildkite: N/A

Minimum Paid Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: $0 (free tier available) | Buildkite: N/A

Marketplace Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 10,000+ verified actions | Buildkite: N/A

Market Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 42% of CI/CD users (2024) | Buildkite: N/A

Linux Runner Cost Per Minute
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: $0.008 | Buildkite: N/A

Multi-Platform Git Support
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: GitHub only | Buildkite: N/A

Setup Time for First Workflow
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 5 minutes (native UI) | Buildkite: N/A

OS Runner Support
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 3 (Linux, Windows, macOS) | Buildkite: N/A

Free Tier Monthly CI Minutes
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 2,000 (public repos only) | Buildkite: N/A

Pay-As-You-Go Execution Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: $0.008/minute | Buildkite: N/A

Docker Layer Caching Speed Improvement
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: Standard caching (1x baseline) | Buildkite: N/A

Artifact Storage Max Size
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 400 GB | Buildkite: N/A

Community Actions/Orbs Available
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 15,000+ actions | Buildkite: N/A

SSH Debug Into Failed Jobs
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: Not supported | Buildkite: N/A

Setup Time (GitHub Repo)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 2-3 minutes (native) | Buildkite: N/A

Free Tier Limits
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 2,000 minutes/month | Buildkite: N/A

Managed Service Cost (monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: $0.008 per minute | Buildkite: N/A

Kubernetes CRD Support
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: Requires plugins | Buildkite: N/A

Setup Time (initial)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 1-2 hours | Buildkite: N/A

Free Tier Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: Free (2,000 min/month included) | Buildkite: N/A

Free Monthly Build Minutes
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 2,000 (public: unlimited) | Buildkite: N/A

Marketplace Actions/Plugins
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 20,000+ | Buildkite: N/A

Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 20 | Buildkite: N/A

Overage Cost per 1,000 Minutes
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: $0.24 | Buildkite: N/A

Native Jira Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: Via third-party actions (workaround) | Buildkite: N/A

Years Since Launch
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 6 years (2019) | Buildkite: N/A

Repository Host Lock-in
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: GitHub only | Buildkite: N/A

Monthly Cost (5 Private Repos, 100 builds/month)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: $14.40 (2,000 free min + 1,800 excess min × $0.008) | Buildkite: $50 (base) + $50 (2 agents) = $100
value reference: GitHub Actions

Default Concurrent Jobs (Free/Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 20 concurrent jobs | Buildkite: 1 concurrent job (base)
value reference: GitHub Actions

Supported Git Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 1 (GitHub only) | Buildkite: 4 (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Generic Git)
value reference: Buildkite

Marketplace Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 10,000+ public actions | Buildkite: 500+ plugins
value reference: GitHub Actions

Default Artifact Storage
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 5GB (per repository) | Buildkite: Unlimited with external storage integration

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 2-3 minutes (GitHub integration native) | Buildkite: 30-45 minutes (requires agent provisioning)
value reference: GitHub Actions

Self-Hosted Infrastructure Required
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: No (fully managed by GitHub) | Buildkite: Yes (mandatory for agents)

Build Parallelization Ceiling
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: 20 jobs maximum per repository | Buildkite: Unlimited (scales with agent fleet)

Setup Time (First Build)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: N/A | Buildkite: 15-30 minutes

Base Annual Cost (50 users)
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: N/A | Buildkite: $12,000-18,000

Available Integrations/Plugins
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: N/A | Buildkite: 200+

Infrastructure Maintenance Burden
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: N/A | Buildkite: 0 hours/month (managed)

Agent Auto-Scaling
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: N/A | Buildkite: Elastic auto-scaling with spot instances

UI Framework
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: N/A | Buildkite: Modern React with real-time updates

Deployment Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: N/A | Buildkite: SaaS only (agents can run anywhere)

Security Compliance Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: N/A | Buildkite: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001, HIPAA ready

Free Tier Monthly Credits
type: PropertyValue
value: GitHub Actions: N/A | Buildkite: Unlimited (self-hosted)

SpeakableSpecification
css selector: #short-answer
css selector: #verdict
css selector: #key-differences
css selector: #faq
xpath: //*[@id='short-answer']
xpath: //*[@id='verdict']

GitHub Actions — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Buildkite — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

Compare GitHub Actions vs Buildkite
type: Action
additional type: CompareAction
target: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/github-actions-vs-buildkite
object: GitHub Actions
object: Buildkite

Multi-Platform Git Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compatibility

Setup Time for First Workflow
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

OS Runner Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Free Tier Monthly CI Minutes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Quotas

Pay-As-You-Go Execution Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Quotas

Docker Layer Caching Speed Improvement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Artifact Storage Max Size
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage & Limits

Community Actions/Orbs Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

SSH Debug Into Failed Jobs
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Features

Setup Time (GitHub Repo)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Free Tier Limits
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Managed Service Cost (monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Kubernetes CRD Support
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Kubernetes Features

Setup Time (initial)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Implementation

Free Tier Monthly Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Monthly Build Minutes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Marketplace Actions/Plugins
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Overage Cost per 1,000 Minutes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Native Jira Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration Quality

Years Since Launch
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Maturity

Repository Host Lock-in
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Flexibility

Monthly Cost (5 Private Repos, 100 builds/month)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Default Concurrent Jobs (Free/Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

Supported Git Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Marketplace Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Default Artifact Storage
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Self-Hosted Infrastructure Required
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Deployment

Build Parallelization Ceiling
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

Setup Time (First Build)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Operational Efficiency

Base Annual Cost (50 users)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Available Integrations/Plugins
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Infrastructure Maintenance Burden
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Operations

Agent Auto-Scaling
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Scalability

UI Framework
type: PropertyValue
value reference: User Experience

Deployment Flexibility
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Infrastructure

Security Compliance Certifications
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Security

Free Tier Monthly Credits
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Value