Originally posted on Northflank’s blog. Read the full breakdown there for a detailed comparison.
Is Jenkins Holding Your CI/CD Back? Look at this quick chart for alternatives:
Jenkins has been around for years. It is still widely used, but for many teams, managing it is a full-time job.
- Plugins break with every update and require constant patching
- Pipelines need frequent troubleshooting to keep builds running
- Security vulnerabilities mean teams must stay on top of every update
- Scaling requires additional configurations that slow down deployments
Cloud-based CI/CD has changed how teams work. Instead of maintaining Jenkins, many are looking at alternatives that provide automation, built-in security, and better cloud integration.
Why Teams Move Away from Jenkins
Jenkins is not built for modern workflows. It was designed in a time when self-hosting was the standard, but most teams now work with cloud-based infrastructure.
- It lacks native cloud integration, requiring additional setup
- Security risks increase with outdated or unmaintained plugins
- Scaling Jenkins means managing agents, which adds complexity
- Teams spend more time fixing issues instead of shipping code
A CI/CD pipeline should speed up development, not create extra work. If your team is spending too much time maintaining Jenkins, it may be time to switch.
The Best Jenkins Alternatives
If Jenkins is not working for your team, here are 10 CI/CD tools to consider.
| Tool | What it offers |
|---|---|
| Northflank | Cloud-native CI/CD, Kubernetes deployments, and preview environments |
| GitHub Actions | CI/CD built into GitHub, great for repo-based workflows |
| GitLab CI/CD | Deep GitLab integration with automation and security scanning |
| CircleCI | Fast cloud-based builds with parallel execution |
| Harness | AI-powered CI/CD with cost and security optimization |
| Travis CI | Simple setup, popular for open-source projects |
| Bitbucket Pipelines | Direct integration with Bitbucket repositories |
| TeamCity | Self-hosted option with customizable build processes |
| AWS CodePipeline | Works well with AWS services and cloud deployments |
| Azure DevOps | Microsoft’s CI/CD solution with broad enterprise support |
Why Northflank Is a Strong Jenkins Alternative
"We needed a CI/CD system that didn't require constant babysitting. With Northflank, we moved from plugin headaches to automated deployments that just work."
— Clock’s story: Scaling 30,000 deployments with Northflank
Northflank provides:
- Cloud-native automation with no self-hosting required
- Built-in Kubernetes support for automated container deployments
- Preview environments to test microservices before going live
- Scalable pipelines that handle testing, builds, and releases in one platform
If your team is spending more time maintaining Jenkins than shipping features, Northflank removes the overhead and lets you focus on building.
Finding the Right CI/CD Tool for Your Team
Jenkins helped shape DevOps, but it is not always the best fit for modern teams. If your team is looking for a faster, more automated CI/CD pipeline, it may be time to switch.
Northflank simplifies the CI/CD process by removing unnecessary complexity.
Read the full breakdown and compare the best alternatives for your team.
What CI/CD tool does your team use? Have you moved away from Jenkins? Share your thoughts in the comments.
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