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JenkinsvsGitHub Actions

What is the difference between Jenkins and GitHub Actions?

Updated 2 min read8 differences

In short

Jenkins is an open-source automation server you host and extend with plugins; GitHub Actions is CI/CD built into GitHub, with YAML workflows and hosted runners.

DevOps & Cloudp. 35

Jenkins

Jenkins is an open-source automation server that builds, tests and deploys software through pipelines, and one of the oldest and most widely used CI/CD tools.

Read the page on Jenkins
DevOps & Cloudp. 27

GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions is GitHub's built-in automation platform: YAML workflows in a repo run tests, builds and deployments on events like a push or pull request.

Read the page on GitHub Actions

Jenkins and GitHub Actions compared

AspectJenkinsGitHub Actions
HostingSelf-hosted on your servers or in your cloudHosted by GitHub; self-hosted runners are optional
Pipeline definitionA Jenkinsfile in a Groovy-based syntaxYAML workflow files in .github/workflows
Source controlAny Git host and other version control systemsRepositories on GitHub
Build machinesAgents you set up: machines, containers or Kubernetes podsA fresh hosted VM per job, or self-hosted runners
ExtensionsA large library of pluginsReusable actions from the GitHub Marketplace
MaintenanceUpgrades, security and backups are your jobHandled by GitHub for hosted runners
CostFree software; you pay for servers and upkeepFree for public repos; private repos get an allowance, then pay per use
Best forComplex, on-premises or highly customized pipelinesProjects on GitHub that want CI/CD with no setup

The difference, explained

Jenkins is a self-hosted, open-source automation server that grew out of Hudson and took its name in 2011. You install it on your own machines, connect it to any source repository, and define pipelines in a Jenkinsfile written in a Groovy-based syntax. GitHub Actions, generally available since 2019, is the automation platform built into GitHub: workflows are YAML files in .github/workflows that run on events in the repository.

The main difference is who runs the infrastructure. With Jenkins, your team hosts the controller and the agents and is responsible for upgrades, security, backups and plugin compatibility, in exchange for full control over where and how builds run. With GitHub Actions, GitHub provides a fresh Linux, Windows or macOS runner for each job and there is nothing to maintain, though you can still add self-hosted runners for special hardware or private networks.

Both extend through a large ecosystem: Jenkins through its plugins, GitHub Actions through reusable actions from the Marketplace. Jenkins works with any Git host and other version control systems, while GitHub Actions is tied to repositories on GitHub but integrates deeply with its pull requests, checks, issues, releases and packages.

A common misconception is that Jenkins is obsolete. Many large organizations still run it for complex, on-premises or highly customized pipelines, while most new projects hosted on GitHub start with Actions because it needs no setup. Neither is free of risk: outdated Jenkins plugins and unpinned third-party actions are both common security weak spots.

Which one should you use?

Choose Jenkins when…

  • Builds must run on-premises or in a network you fully control.
  • Your code lives outside GitHub, or across several systems.
  • You need deep customization that plugins and scripts provide.
  • You already have mature Jenkins pipelines and people to run them.

Choose GitHub Actions when…

  • Your code is on GitHub and you want CI/CD without running servers.
  • You want pipelines tied to pull requests, checks and releases.
  • You need builds on Linux, Windows and macOS without maintaining machines.

The same build in a Jenkinsfile and a GitHub Actions workflow

Jenkinstext
// Jenkinsfile: Groovy-based, runs on agents of your own Jenkins server
pipeline {
  agent { label 'linux' }
  stages {
    stage('Install') { steps { sh 'npm ci' } }
    stage('Test')    { steps { sh 'npm test' } }
  }
}
GitHub Actionstext
# .github/workflows/ci.yml: YAML, runs on GitHub-hosted runners
name: CI
on: [push, pull_request]
jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - run: npm ci
      - run: npm test

Readers ask

Is GitHub Actions replacing Jenkins?

For many new projects on GitHub, yes, because it needs no servers. Jenkins remains common where pipelines are large, self-hosted or deeply customized, and moving them takes real effort.

Can Jenkins work with GitHub?

Yes. Jenkins can build GitHub repositories when webhooks report a push, and report the results back to pull requests as status checks through its GitHub plugins.

Can GitHub Actions run on my own servers?

Yes. Self-hosted runners let jobs run on your own machines, for example to reach private networks or use special hardware, while GitHub still coordinates the workflows.

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