How popular isGitLab CI?
In September 2026, people searched for GitLab CI by name about 8,100 times worldwide, a 45.3% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 2% of all global CI/CD tool searches, placing GitLab CI sixth out of eight tools. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CI/CD tools, GitLab CI appeared in all answers and was the third most recommended of the eight.
GitLab CI is the sixth most searched of 8 competitors and the third most recommended in AI answers.
JenkinsShare of searches 50.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
GitHub ActionsShare of searches 22.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Argo CDShare of searches 18.1%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
TeamCityShare of searches 3.1%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
GitLab CIShare of searches 2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
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Top CI/CD tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GitLab CI appeared in all five answers. GitLab CI is the third most recommended of the eight.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Jenkins5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- GitHub Actions5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- GitLab CI5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
CircleCI5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Argo CD3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Buildkite1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Travis CI1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- TeamCity0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about CI/CD tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which CI/CD tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best CI/CD tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best CI/CD tool for software delivery?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ci/cd tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“continuous integration tools”
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Which CI/CD tools compete with GitLab CI?
Share of searches by month for Jenkins, GitHub Actions, Argo CD, TeamCity, Buildkite, GitLab CI. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Jenkins | GitHub Actions | Argo CD | TeamCity | Buildkite | GitLab CI | Travis CI | CircleCI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 53.5% | 19.7% | 18% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 3.2% | 0.96% | 0.03% |
| Nov 2025 | 53.8% | 19.8% | 18.1% | 3.2% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 0.96% | 0.02% |
| Dec 2025 | 56.1% | 20.6% | 15.4% | 2.8% | 1.5% | 2.8% | 0.82% | 0.03% |
| Jan 2026 | 54.1% | 19.9% | 18.2% | 2.7% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 0.97% | 0.02% |
| Feb 2026 | 53.3% | 19.6% | 17.9% | 2.6% | 3.2% | 2.6% | 0.78% | 0.02% |
| Mar 2026 | 48.7% | 26.7% | 16.4% | 2.9% | 2% | 2.4% | 0.87% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 51.9% | 23.2% | 17.4% | 2.6% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.76% | 0.02% |
| May 2026 | 51.7% | 23.1% | 17.4% | 2.5% | 2.5% | 2.1% | 0.61% | 0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 49.4% | 22.2% | 20.3% | 3% | 2% | 2.4% | 0.71% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 50.8% | 22.9% | 18.1% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2% | 0.61% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 47.8% | 26.2% | 17.1% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 0.57% | 0.02% |
| Sep 2026 | 50.8% | 22.9% | 18.1% | 3.1% | 2.5% | 2% | 0.61% | 0.01% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 50.8% | 201K | 0% | +3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 22.9% | 90.5K | -17.7% | -3.3 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 18.1% | 71.7K | 0% | +1.1 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 3.1% | 12.1K | -18.2% | -0.5 points | |
| 5, held 5th | 2.5% | 9.9K | -18.2% | -0.4 points | |
| 6, held 6th | 2% | 8.1K | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 0.61% | 2.4K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 0.01% | 50 | -44.4% | 0 points |
1.
Jenkins50.8%
Held 1st. 201K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +3 points.
22.9%
Held 2nd. 90.5K estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -3.3 points.
3.
Argo CD18.1%
Held 3rd. 71.7K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.
4.
TeamCity3.1%
Held 4th. 12.1K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.
2.5%
Held 5th. 9.9K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.4 points.
2%
Held 6th. 8.1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
0.61%
Held 7th. 2.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
8.
CircleCI0.01%
Held 8th. 50 estimated branded searches, -44.4% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between GitLab CI and its closest rivals
Every comparison with GitLab CI
7 comparisons
How has branded search demand for GitLab CI changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
4 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for GitLab CI worldwide fell from 14.8K to 8.1K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitLab CI’s share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide decreased from 3.2% to 2%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitLab CI’s share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide peaked at 3.2% in October 2025 and was lowest at 1.9% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitLab CI fell from 4th to 6th among CI/CD tools worldwide.
How did search popularity change for CI/CD tools worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Jenkins gained share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide, from 47.8% to 50.8%.
In September 2026, Argo CD gained share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide, from 17.1% to 18.1%.
In September 2026, GitHub Actions lost share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide, from 26.2% to 22.9%.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Buildkite worldwide rose 50% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 9.9K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for CircleCI worldwide fell 64.3% over 12 measured months, from 140 to 50 in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Travis CI worldwide fell 45.5% over 12 measured months, from 4.4K to 2.4K in September 2026.
How are GitLab CI’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitLab CI’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- gitlab ci
Who owns GitLab CI?
GitLab CI is owned by GitLab. Brandwave also tracks GitLab, owned by the same company, worldwide.
Do you work for GitLab CI? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.
Is GitLab CI your brand?
Put your own campaigns, spend and outcomes next to this demand line, so you can see which of your marketing lined up with the movements above.