Buildkite vs glab: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Buildkite and glab comes down to understanding what each tool does best. This comparison breaks down the key differences so you can make an informed decision based on your specific needs, not marketing claims.
By Toolradar Team · Last updated February 28, 2026 · Methodology
Short on time? Here's the quick answer
We've tested both tools. Here's who should pick what:
Buildkite
Build happiness
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.6/10 vs 8.0/10)
- • You need ci/cd features specifically
- • Buildkite is a CI/CD platform that runs on your own infrastructure
- • It provides fast, scalable pipelines with hybrid cloud-agent architecture
glab
A GitLab CLI tool bringing GitLab to your terminal.
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need api tools features specifically
- • Command-line interface for GitLab.
- • Manages issues, merge requests, pipelines, and more from the terminal.
| At a Glance |  Buildkite |  glab |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free + Paid | Free |
Best For | CI/CD | API Tools |
Rating | 86/100 | 80/100 |
| Feature | Buildkite | glab |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Freemium | Free |
| Editorial Score | 86 | 80 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | CI/CDContainer Orchestration | API ToolsTerminal Tools |
How Buildkite and glab Compare
Buildkite
Build happiness
Free tier available · 86/100 score
glab
A GitLab CLI tool bringing GitLab to your terminal.
Free · 80/100 score
Buildkite is a ci/cd tool. glab is in api tools.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
glab is free. Buildkite is freemium.
Go with: glab
Want the highest-rated option?
Buildkite: 86/100. glab: 80/100.
Go with: Buildkite
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Buildkite
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Buildkite is freemium. glab is free. Go with glab if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Buildkite is a ci/cd tool. glab is in api tools. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Buildkite scores higher: 86/100 vs 80/100.
Key Takeaways
Buildkite
- Higher score: 86/100 vs 80
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
glab
- Completely free
- Better fit for api tools
The Bottom Line
Buildkite (86/100) is our pick. That said, glab is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Buildkite or glab better?
Buildkite scores 86/100 in our evaluation. Buildkite is freemium and glab is free.
What are Buildkite and glab used for?
Buildkite: Build happiness. glab: A GitLab CLI tool bringing GitLab to your terminal..
What does Buildkite cost vs glab?
Buildkite is freemium (free tier + paid plans). glab is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.