# Jenkins vs GitHub Actions

URL: https://softwaredictionary.org/compare/jenkins-vs-github-actions
Last updated: 2026-10-06

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.

## What is the difference between Jenkins and GitHub Actions?

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A common misconception is that Jenkins is obsolete.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 Neither is free of risk: outdated Jenkins plugins and unpinned third-party actions are both common security weak spots.

| Aspect | Jenkins | GitHub Actions |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hosting | Self-hosted on your servers or in your cloud | Hosted by GitHub; self-hosted runners are optional |
| Pipeline definition | A `Jenkinsfile` in a Groovy-based syntax | YAML workflow files in `.github/workflows` |
| Source control | Any Git host and other version control systems | Repositories on GitHub |
| Build machines | Agents you set up: machines, containers or Kubernetes pods | A fresh hosted VM per job, or self-hosted runners |
| Extensions | A large library of plugins | Reusable actions from the GitHub Marketplace |
| Maintenance | Upgrades, security and backups are your job | Handled by GitHub for hosted runners |
| Cost | Free software; you pay for servers and upkeep | Free for public repos; private repos get an allowance, then pay per use |
| Best for | Complex, on-premises or highly customized pipelines | Projects on GitHub that want CI/CD with no setup |

## 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.

## Frequently asked questions

**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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