Spinnaker vs Concourse: Which Should You Choose in 2026?
Choosing between Spinnaker and Concourse 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:
- • You want the higher-rated option (8.0/10 vs 7.6/10)
- • You need ci/cd features specifically
- • Spinnaker is an open-source continuous delivery platform for cloud
- • It manages deployments across multiple cloud providers with canary releases
Concourse
Container-based CI/CD system
Best for you if:
- • You need workflow automation features specifically
- • Concourse is an open-source continuous integration system built on containers
- • It treats pipelines as code with reproducible builds using isolated container-based workers
| At a Glance |  Spinnaker |  Concourse |
|---|---|---|
Price | Free | Free |
Best For | CI/CD | Workflow Automation |
Rating | 80/100 | 76/100 |
| Feature | Spinnaker | Concourse |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Free | Free |
| Editorial Score | 80 | 76 |
| Community Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Total Reviews | 0 | 0 |
| Community Upvotes | 0 | 0 |
| Categories | CI/CDContainer Orchestration | Workflow AutomationCI/CD |
How Spinnaker and Concourse Compare
Spinnaker
Continuous delivery platform for cloud
Free · 80/100 score
Concourse
Container-based CI/CD system
Free · 76/100 score
Spinnaker is a ci/cd tool. Concourse is in workflow automation.
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. Concourse: 76/100.
Go with: Spinnaker
Value user reviews?
Neither has user reviews yet.
Go with: Spinnaker
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?
Spinnaker is a ci/cd tool. Concourse is in workflow automation. Pick the category that matches your needs.
How important are ratings?
Spinnaker scores higher: 80/100 vs 76/100.
Key Takeaways
Spinnaker
- Higher score: 80/100 vs 76
- Completely free
- Our pick for this comparison
Concourse
- Better fit for workflow automation
The Bottom Line
Spinnaker (80/100) is our pick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Spinnaker or Concourse better?
Spinnaker scores 80/100 in our evaluation. Both are free.
What are Spinnaker and Concourse used for?
Spinnaker: Continuous delivery platform for cloud. Concourse: Container-based CI/CD system.
What does Spinnaker cost vs Concourse?
Spinnaker is completely free. Concourse is completely free. Visit their websites for detailed pricing.