Tekton vs GitHub Actions
type: Article
description: Tekton is a cloud-native, Kubernetes-based CI/CD framework offering maximum flexibility and portability across platforms, while GitHub Actions is a tightly integrated GitHub-native CI/CD solution optimized for GitHub repositories with simpler setup and lower operational overhead.
language: en-US
date published: 2026-06-22T08:42:33.071Z
date created: 2026-06-22T08:42:33.071Z
date modified: 2026-06-22T08:42:33.124Z
content reference time: 2026-06-22T08:42:33.124Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
about: Tekton
about: GitHub Actions
abstract: Tekton is a cloud-native, Kubernetes-based CI/CD framework offering maximum flexibility and portability across platforms, while GitHub Actions is a tightly integrated GitHub-native CI/CD solution optimized for GitHub repositories with simpler setup and lower operational overhead.
text: Platform Lock-in. Setup Complexity. Free Tier Minutes. GitHub Integration. Learning Curve. Ecosystem Maturity. Multi-Repository Support
conclusion text: Choose Tekton if you need cloud portability, multi-repository orchestration, unlimited execution, or work in complex Kubernetes environments where vendor lock-in is a concern. Choose GitHub Actions if you're already in the GitHub ecosystem, want minimal setup overhead, need quick CI/CD without infrastructure management, or prefer GitHub's native integration and marketplace ecosystem.
additional property: Setup Time to First Pipeline
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 120-240 minutes | GitHub Actions: 5-15 minutes
  value reference: GitHub Actions
additional property: Free Tier Execution Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Unlimited (self-hosted) | GitHub Actions: 2,000-3,000
additional property: Supported Git Providers
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, Bitbucket | GitHub Actions: GitHub (primary), limited others
  value reference: Tekton
additional property: Marketplace Actions/Extensions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Hub with ~500 Tekton tasks | GitHub Actions: 18,000+ actions
  value reference: GitHub Actions
additional property: Enterprise Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Red Hat, Google, IBM, Shopify | GitHub Actions: Microsoft, GitHub, 60% of public repos
additional property: Self-Hosted Option
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Native self-hosted | GitHub Actions: Self-hosted runners available
additional property: Default Sync Interval
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Community Task Library Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 200+ community tasks | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Kubernetes Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Required | GitHub Actions: Not required
additional property: Web UI Dashboard
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Dashboard not included | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Typical Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 4-6 hours | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Industry Adoption Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 25% of K8s CI/CD users | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: CNCF/Linux Foundation Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 31% of K8s CI/CD users | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Reusable Tasks Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 200+ (Tekton Hub) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Initial Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 3-5 days (YAML syntax) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Multi-Cluster Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Requires orchestration | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Git Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Optional (webhook-based) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Minimum Kubernetes Version
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 1.18+ | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Primary Controller Language
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Go | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: ~3,000 stars | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Available Plugins/Tasks
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: ~50-80 official tasks | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Market Share (CI/CD Tools)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: ~3-5% market share | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Kubernetes Native Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Built-in, runs as CRDs | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Container Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Every step containerized | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Project Age
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: ~5 years (2019 release) | GitHub Actions: 6 years (since 2019)
  value reference: GitHub Actions
additional property: YAML/Declarative Pipeline Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Primary (CRDs) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Setup Complexity (1-10, lower is easier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 8/10 (Kubernetes expertise required) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Entry-Level Product Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: $25 (basic socket set) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Typical Premium Product Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: $280 (1/2-inch impact wrench) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Product Weight (Typical)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 850 (18V drill) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Warranty Coverage Period (Hand Tools)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Lifetime | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Learning Curve (Hours to Competency)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 2-5 (basic tool use) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Video Recording Resolution
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: Not applicable | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Operating Temperature Range
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: -10 to 50°C (tool dependent) | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Product Lifespan (Professional Use)
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: 10-20 | GitHub Actions: N/A
additional property: Free Tier Monthly Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 3,000 (public repos)
additional property: Supported VCS Platforms
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 1 (GitHub only)
additional property: Maximum Parallel Jobs
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 256 concurrent
additional property: Setup Time for New Projects
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 5 minutes
additional property: Community Actions/Orbs Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 20,000+ actions
additional property: Enterprise Support SLA
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Standard support available
additional property: Self-Hosted Runner Capability
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Supported with basic controls
additional property: Estimated Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 1-2 weeks
additional property: Initial Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 15 minutes to first workflow
additional property: Available Plugins/Actions
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 10000+ actions
additional property: Free Monthly Build Minutes
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 2000 minutes (GitHub-hosted runners)
additional property: Platform Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: GitHub only (primary)
additional property: Configuration Complexity
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Low - Simple YAML syntax
additional property: Deployment Model Options
  type: PropertyValue
  value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Cloud-hosted and self-hosted
interactivity type: active
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/tekton
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/tekton
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/entity/github-actions
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/alternatives/github-actions
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/answer/tekton-vs-github-actions
significant link: https://www.aversusb.net/api/v1/schema/tekton-vs-github-actions
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/argocd-vs-tekton
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/github-actions-vs-buildkite
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
related link: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/flux-vs-tekton
teaches: How to choose between Tekton and GitHub Actions
genre: Software

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

A Versus B
type: Organization

Tekton
type: SoftwareApplication
language: en-US
description: Budget-friendly hand and power tool brand owned by Lowe's Companies offering wrenches, sockets, drills, and fastening equipment.
subject of: Tekton vs GitHub Actions

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: Tekton vs GitHub Actions
image: ImageObject
  caption: GitHub Actions

Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Structured Comparison Data
type: Dataset
description: Machine-readable comparison dataset for Tekton vs GitHub Actions. Contains 117 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: 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: Supported Git Providers
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Flexibility
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: Default Sync Interval
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Performance
variable measured: Community Task Library Size
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Kubernetes Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Infrastructure
variable measured: Web UI Dashboard
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: User Experience
variable measured: Typical Setup Time
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Industry Adoption Rate
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Market
variable measured: CNCF/Linux Foundation Adoption
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Reusable Tasks Available
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Initial Learning Curve
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Multi-Cluster Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Scalability
variable measured: Git Requirement
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Architecture
variable measured: Minimum Kubernetes Version
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Requirements
variable measured: Primary Controller Language
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Technical
variable measured: GitHub Stars
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Community
variable measured: Available Plugins/Tasks
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ecosystem
variable measured: Market Share (CI/CD Tools)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Industry Adoption
variable measured: Kubernetes Native Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Integration
variable measured: Container Integration
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Containerization
variable measured: Project Age
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Maturity
variable measured: YAML/Declarative Pipeline Support
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Configuration
variable measured: Setup Complexity (1-10, lower is easier)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Ease of Use
variable measured: Entry-Level Product Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Typical Premium Product Price
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Cost
variable measured: Product Weight (Typical)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Portability
variable measured: Warranty Coverage Period (Hand Tools)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Support
variable measured: Learning Curve (Hours to Competency)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Usability
variable measured: Video Recording Resolution
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Capability
variable measured: Operating Temperature Range
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Operating Conditions
variable measured: Product Lifespan (Professional Use)
  type: PropertyValue
  value reference: Durability
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)
variable measured: Free Tier Build Minutes/Month
variable measured: Learning Curve (Beginner to Productive)
variable measured: Concurrent Workflows (free tier)
variable measured: GitHub Repository Integration
variable measured: Data Residency Control
variable measured: Starting Cost (Monthly)
variable measured: Free Build Minutes Monthly
variable measured: Maximum Job Duration
is based on: https://www.aversusb.net/compare/tekton-vs-github-actions

Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary
type: DefinedTermSet
language: en-US
description: Taxonomy of attribute categories used to classify comparison data for Tekton vs GitHub Actions.
has defined term: Ease of Use
has defined term: Cost
has defined term: Flexibility
has defined term: Ecosystem
has defined term: Enterprise Use
has defined term: Pricing
has defined term: Performance
has defined term: Infrastructure
has defined term: User Experience
has defined term: Market
has defined term: Community
has defined term: Usability
has defined term: Scalability
has defined term: Architecture
has defined term: Requirements
has defined term: Technical
has defined term: Industry Adoption
has defined term: Integration
has defined term: Containerization
has defined term: Maturity
has defined term: Configuration
has defined term: Portability
has defined term: Support
has defined term: Capability
has defined term: Operating Conditions
has defined term: Durability
has defined term: Extensibility
has defined term: Implementation
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: Execution
has defined term: Storage
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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Market
type: DefinedTerm
term code: market
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Community
type: DefinedTerm
term code: community
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

Requirements
type: DefinedTerm
term code: requirements
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Technical
type: DefinedTerm
term code: technical
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Industry Adoption
type: DefinedTerm
term code: industry-adoption
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Containerization
type: DefinedTerm
term code: containerization
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Configuration
type: DefinedTerm
term code: configuration
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Portability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: portability
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

Capability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: capability
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Operating Conditions
type: DefinedTerm
term code: operating-conditions
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

Durability
type: DefinedTerm
term code: durability
in defined term set: Tekton vs GitHub Actions — Attribute Category Vocabulary

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

faq
type: FAQPage
language: en-US
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
date modified: 2026-06-22T08:42:33.124Z
author: A Versus B
publisher: A Versus B
is part of: tekton-vs-github-actions
main entity: Can I use Tekton without Kubernetes?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: No. Tekton is fundamentally built on Kubernetes and requires a running Kubernetes cluster (v1.17+) to function. It uses Kubernetes Custom Resource Definitions (CRDs) and relies on Kubernetes operators for execution. If you don't have Kubernetes infrastructure, GitHub Actions or traditional CI/CD tools are better choices.
    language: en-US
main entity: What are the actual costs of running Tekton vs GitHub Actions at scale?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Tekton costs depend on your Kubernetes infrastructure (compute, storage, networking) but offers unlimited pipeline executions. GitHub Actions at scale costs $0.008 per minute for Linux runners beyond free tier limits. A team running 10,000 minutes/month would pay ~$64/month on GitHub Actions. Tekton's cost is typically the Kubernetes cluster itself, which might range $100-500/month depending on workload sizing.
    language: en-US
main entity: Can GitHub Actions workflows migrate to Tekton?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Partially. Both use YAML workflows but have different syntax and concepts. GitHub Actions uses 'jobs' and 'steps' while Tekton uses 'Tasks,' 'Pipelines,' and 'PipelineRuns.' Simple workflows can be adapted in 1-2 hours, but complex workflows with GitHub-specific actions may require significant rewriting since Tekton tasks aren't directly compatible with GitHub Actions.
    language: en-US
main entity: Which platform handles multi-repository CI/CD pipelines better?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Tekton is superior for multi-repository orchestration. It natively supports triggering pipelines across multiple Git repositories and providers (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket) using webhooks and can manage dependencies between repos. GitHub Actions is repository-centric and excels within a single repo but struggles coordinating across multiple repositories.
    language: en-US
main entity: Does GitHub Actions work with non-GitHub repositories?
  type: Question
  accepted answer: Answer
    text: Minimally. GitHub Actions can be triggered by webhooks from external Git platforms (GitLab, Bitbucket) but requires custom webhook configuration and loses GitHub's native integration benefits. Tekton handles multi-Git-provider scenarios natively, making it the better choice for organizations using GitLab or other non-GitHub platforms.
    language: en-US

How to Choose Between Tekton and GitHub Actions
type: HowTo
description: Tekton is a cloud-native, Kubernetes-based CI/CD framework offering maximum flexibility and portability across platforms, while GitHub Actions is a tightly integrated GitHub-native CI/CD solution optimized for GitHub repositories with simpler setup and lower operational overhead.
language: en-US
total time: PT3M
step: Consider: Platform Lock-in
step: Consider: Setup Complexity
step: Consider: Free Tier Minutes
step: Consider: GitHub Integration
step: Consider: Learning Curve
step: Consider: Ecosystem Maturity
step: Consider: Multi-Repository Support
tool: A Versus B Comparison Guide
tip: HowToTip
  text: Choose Tekton if you need cloud portability, multi-repository orchestration, unlimited execution, or work in complex Kubernetes environments where vendor lock-in is a concern. Choose GitHub Actions if you're already in the GitHub ecosystem, want minimal setup overhead, need quick CI/CD without infrastructure management, or prefer GitHub's native integration and marketplace ecosystem.

Consider: Platform Lock-in
type: HowToStep
position: 1
text: Platform Lock-in: Tekton has Cloud-agnostic, runs on any Kubernetes cluster, while GitHub Actions has GitHub-only, requires GitHub repository.

Consider: Setup Complexity
type: HowToStep
position: 2
text: Setup Complexity: Tekton has Requires Kubernetes expertise and cluster management, while GitHub Actions has YAML file in repo, no infrastructure setup needed.

Consider: Free Tier Minutes
type: HowToStep
position: 3
text: Free Tier Minutes: Tekton has Unlimited (self-hosted only), while GitHub Actions has 2,000 minutes/month for public repos, 3,000 for private.

Consider: GitHub Integration
type: HowToStep
position: 4
text: GitHub Integration: Tekton has Requires manual webhook configuration, while GitHub Actions has Native GitHub integration with automatic triggers.

Consider: Learning Curve
type: HowToStep
position: 5
text: Learning Curve: Tekton has Steep - requires Kubernetes, CRDs, and pipeline concepts, while GitHub Actions has Gentle - familiar YAML syntax, GitHub-native.

Consider: Ecosystem Maturity
type: HowToStep
position: 6
text: Ecosystem Maturity: Tekton has 9 years old (since 2015 as Jenkins X), CNCF sandbox project, while GitHub Actions has 6 years old (launched 2019), owned by Microsoft.

Consider: Multi-Repository Support
type: HowToStep
position: 7
text: Multi-Repository Support: Tekton has Native support across any Git provider, while GitHub Actions has Primarily GitHub, limited third-party repo support.

claimreview
type: ClaimReview
is accessible for free: true
conditions of access: Free
claim reviewed: Tekton vs GitHub Actions
review body: Tekton is a cloud-native, Kubernetes-based CI/CD framework offering maximum flexibility and portability across platforms, while GitHub Actions is a tightly integrated GitHub-native CI/CD solution optimized for GitHub repositories with simpler setup and lower operational overhead.
review rating: Rating
  rating: 5
  worst rating: 1
  best rating: 5
  alternate name: Verified Comparison
author: A Versus B
item reviewed: Tekton vs GitHub Actions

Scalability Ceiling
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Limited by GitHub account quotas

Enterprise Support Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: $231/user/year (GitHub Enterprise)

Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes (Private Repos)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 2,000 minutes

Container Registry Free Storage
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 0.5 GB per project

Marketplace Ecosystem Size
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 11,000+ Actions

Enterprise Security (SAST) Cost
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: $200/month (Advanced Security tier)

Self-Hosted Option Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Enterprise Server tier (paid only, $231+/month)

Built-in Project Management Features
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Issues, basic Boards, limited automation

Native GitHub Integration Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Integrated (GitHub-only)

Maximum Parallel Jobs (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 20 matrix configurations

Available Extensions/Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 13,000+ actions

Monthly Infrastructure Cost (10-developer team)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: $25 (usage-based + GitHub Team)

Free Tier Build Minutes/Month
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 2,000 (private) / unlimited (public)

Learning Curve (Beginner to Productive)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 1 week (YAML basics)

Concurrent Workflows (free tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 20 (GitHub-hosted runners)

GitHub Repository Integration
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Native (zero additional setup)

Data Residency Control
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: No (GitHub cloud default, Enterprise option)

Starting Cost (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: $0 (free tier available)

Free Build Minutes Monthly
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 2,000 (private repos)

Maximum Job Duration
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 360 (6 hours)

Default Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 5

Artifact Retention Period
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 90

GitHub Integration Type
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: Native (built-in)

Marketplace Actions Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 11,000+

Setup Time for First Build
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 5-10 (YAML config only)

Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 2,000 (unlimited for public repos)

Maximum Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 20 concurrent jobs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Monthly Cost (5 Private Repos, 100 builds/month)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: $14.40 (2,000 free min + 1,800 excess min × $0.008)

Default Concurrent Jobs (Free/Base Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 20 concurrent jobs

Supported Git Platforms
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 1 (GitHub only)

Marketplace Integrations Available
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 10,000+ public actions

Default Artifact Storage
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 5GB (per repository)

Initial Setup Time
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 2-3 minutes (GitHub integration native)

Self-Hosted Infrastructure Required
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: No (fully managed by GitHub)

Build Parallelization Ceiling
type: PropertyValue
value: Tekton: N/A | GitHub Actions: 20 jobs maximum per repository

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

GitHub Actions — Wikipedia
type: CreativeWork

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

Monthly Infrastructure Cost (10-developer team)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Tier Build Minutes/Month
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Resources

Learning Curve (Beginner to Productive)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Learning

Concurrent Workflows (free tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Performance

GitHub Repository Integration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Data Residency Control
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Compliance

Starting Cost (Monthly)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Free Build Minutes Monthly
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Maximum Job Duration
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Execution

Default Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Execution

Artifact Retention Period
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Storage

GitHub Integration Type
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Marketplace Actions Available
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Setup Time for First Build
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Usability

Free Monthly CI/CD Minutes
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Maximum Concurrent Jobs (Free Tier)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Parallelization

Available Integrations/Actions
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Cost Per Minute (Overage)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Starting Team Pricing
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Active Community Repositories
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Configuration File Complexity (1-5 scale)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ease of Use

Repository Platform Requirement
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Integration

Free Minutes Per Month (Private Repos)
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

Minimum Paid Plan Cost
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing & Limits

Marketplace Integrations
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Ecosystem

Market Adoption Rate
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Adoption

Linux Runner Cost Per Minute
type: PropertyValue
value reference: Pricing

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