Spinnaker vs Argo CD: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Spinnaker and Argo CD 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:
Spinnaker
Continuous delivery platform for cloud
Best for you if:
- • Spinnaker is an open-source continuous delivery platform for cloud
- • It manages deployments across multiple cloud providers with canary releases
Argo CD
GitOps continuous delivery for Kubernetes
Best for you if:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.7/10 vs 8.0/10)
- • Argo CD is a declarative GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes
- • It automatically syncs cluster state to match Git repositories with rollback support
| At a Glance |  Spinnaker |  Argo CD |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free |
Best For | CI/CD | CI/CD |
Rating | 80/100 | 87/100 |
| Feature | Spinnaker | Argo CD |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| Editorial Score | 80 | 87 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | CI/CDContainer Orchestration | CI/CDContainer Orchestration |
How Spinnaker and Argo CD Compare
Spinnaker
Continuous delivery platform for cloud
Free · 80/100 score
Argo CD
GitOps continuous delivery for Kubernetes
Free · 87/100 score
Who Should Use What?
On a budget?
Both are free. Compare plans on their websites.
Go with: Spinnaker
Want the highest-rated option?
Spinnaker: 80/100. Argo CD: 87/100.
Go with: Argo CD
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Argo CD
3 Questions to Help You Decide
What's your budget?
Both are free. Pricing won't help you decide here.
What's your use case?
Both are ci/cd tools. Compare their specific features to decide.
How important are ratings?
Argo CD scores higher: 87/100 vs 80/100.
Key Takeaways
Argo CD
- Higher score: 87/100 vs 80
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Spinnaker
The Bottom Line
Argo CD (87/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spinnaker or Argo CD better?
Argo CD scores 87/100 in our evaluation. Both are free.
What are Spinnaker and Argo CD used for?
Spinnaker: Continuous delivery platform for cloud. Argo CD: GitOps continuous delivery for Kubernetes.
What does Spinnaker cost vs Argo CD?
Spinnaker is completely free. Argo CD is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.