Jenkins vs CircleCI: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Jenkins and CircleCI 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:
Jenkins
Open-source automation server
Best for you if:
- • You need something completely free
- • You need api tools features specifically
- • The original open-source CI/CD server with complete flexibility
- • 1,800+ plugins integrate with virtually any tool or service
CircleCI
Continuous integration and delivery
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.4/10 vs 8.3/10)
- • You need testing & qa features specifically
- • CircleCI is a continuous integration platform that automates building, testing, and deploying code
- • It runs pipelines on every commit with parallelism, caching, and Docker support
| At a Glance |  Jenkins |  CircleCI |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free + Paid |
Best For | API Tools | Testing & QA |
Rating | 83/100 | 84/100 |
| Feature | Jenkins | CircleCI |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Freemium |
| Editorial Score | 83 | 84 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | API ToolsHosting & Deployment | Testing & QACI/CD |
How Jenkins and CircleCI Compare
Jenkins
Open-source automation server
Free · 83/100 score
CircleCI
Continuous integration and delivery
Free tier available · 84/100 score
Jenkins is a api tools tool. CircleCI is in testing & qa.
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Jenkins is free. CircleCI is freemium.
Go with: Jenkins
Want the highest-rated option?
Jenkins: 83/100. CircleCI: 84/100.
Go with: CircleCI
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: CircleCI
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Jenkins is free. CircleCI is freemium. Go with Jenkins if free matters most.
What's your use case?
Jenkins is a api tools tool. CircleCI is in testing & qa. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
CircleCI scores higher: 84/100 vs 83/100.
Key Takeaways
CircleCI
- Higher score: 84/100 vs 83
- Free tier available
- Our pick for this comparison
Jenkins
- Completely free
- Better fit for api tools
The Bottom Line
CircleCI (84/100) is our pick. That said, Jenkins is free — hard to beat on price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Jenkins or CircleCI better?
CircleCI scores 84/100 in our evaluation. Jenkins is free and CircleCI is freemium.
What are Jenkins and CircleCI used for?
Jenkins: Open-source automation server. CircleCI: Continuous integration and delivery.
What does Jenkins cost vs CircleCI?
Jenkins is completely free. CircleCI is freemium (free tier + paid plans). Visit their websites for detailed pricing.