Jenkins vs GitHub Actions vs GitLab CI
Pick a CI/CD platform for your repo, team size, and deployment target.
| Aspect | 🤖 Jenkins | ⚡ GitHub Actions | 🦊 GitLab CI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hosting | Self-hosted or cloud controller | GitHub-hosted runners + self-hosted option | GitLab.com or self-managed GitLab |
| Config format | Jenkinsfile (Groovy) or UI jobs | YAML in .github/workflows/ | YAML in .gitlab-ci.yml |
| Best when | Complex pipelines, many plugins, on-prem | GitHub-native repos, quick YAML CI | All-in-one Git + CI + registry on GitLab |
| Secrets | Credentials plugin, vault integration | GitHub Secrets, OIDC to cloud | GitLab CI variables, masked/protected |
| K8s deploy | kubectl/helm in agent pod or SSH | Actions + kubeconfig or Helm action | GitLab Agent / kubectl in job image |
| Learning curve | Higher (plugins, Groovy) | Lower for simple workflows | Medium — similar to GHA YAML |
When to use which
Jenkins
You need full control, heavy customization, or already run Jenkins on-prem.
GitHub Actions
Code lives on GitHub and you want CI colocated with PRs and releases.
GitLab CI
You use GitLab for SCM and want integrated registry, security scanning, and environments.