How popular issemantic-release?
In September 2026, people searched for semantic-release by name about 4,400 times worldwide, a 45.7% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 1.9% of all global release automation tool searches, placing semantic-release seventh out of 11 tools. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about release automation tools, semantic-release appeared in two of the five answers and was the fourth most recommended of the 11.
semantic-release is the seventh most searched of 11 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.
GitHub ActionsShare of searches 39.8%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Argo CDShare of searches 31.5%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 5th
LaunchDarklyShare of searches 17.8%Mentioned in 0 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
GitLabShare of searches 2.9%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd- semantic-releaseShare of searches 1.9%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Follow semantic-release and get free monthly updates on what changed
By continuing you'll get index updates and occasional product news from Brandwave. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy
Top release automation tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, semantic-release was mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. semantic-release is the fourth most recommended of the 11.
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.
GitHub Actions5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
GitLab5 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
Octopus Deploy3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Harness3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers- Release Please2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- semantic-release2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
- Changesets2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Spinnaker1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
LaunchDarkly0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about release automation tools
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which release automation tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best release automation tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best release automation tool for software deployment?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“deployment automation software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“continuous delivery 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 21, 2026.
Which release automation tools compete with semantic-release?
Share of searches by month for GitHub Actions, Argo CD, LaunchDarkly, GitLab, Octopus Deploy, semantic-release. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | GitHub Actions | Argo CD | LaunchDarkly | GitLab | Octopus Deploy | Release Please | semantic-release | Changesets | Codefresh | Harness | Spinnaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 34.4% | 31.4% | 18.8% | 4.6% | 4.6% | 1.4% | 3.1% | 0.91% | 0.72% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.3% | 34.1% | 13.6% | 5% | 4.1% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 0.99% | 0.66% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Dec 2025 | 40.9% | 30.5% | 15% | 4.5% | 3% | 1.3% | 3% | 1.1% | 0.72% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Jan 2026 | 36.5% | 33.3% | 16.3% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.5% | 2.7% | 0.97% | 0.64% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Feb 2026 | 36.3% | 33.2% | 16.3% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 2.7% | 0.96% | 0.64% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Mar 2026 | 45.1% | 27.7% | 13.5% | 4.9% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 0.8% | 0.54% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Apr 2026 | 41.3% | 31.1% | 15.2% | 3.7% | 3% | 1.7% | 2.5% | 0.9% | 0.6% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| May 2026 | 42.8% | 32.2% | 12.9% | 3.9% | 3.2% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 0.74% | 0.51% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Jun 2026 | 37% | 33.8% | 16.5% | 4% | 3.3% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 0.78% | 0.53% | 0.04% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 39.4% | 31.2% | 17.6% | 3.5% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 0.83% | 0.57% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 45.6% | 29.7% | 13.7% | 2.7% | 3.4% | 1.8% | 1.8% | 0.79% | 0.41% | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Sep 2026 | 39.8% | 31.5% | 17.8% | 2.9% | 2.9% | 1.9% | 1.9% | 0.7% | 0.44% | 0.04% | 0.03% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 39.8% | 90.5K | -17.7% | -5.8 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 31.5% | 71.7K | 0% | +1.8 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 17.8% | 40.5K | +22.4% | +4.1 points | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 2.9% | 6.6K | 0% | +0.2 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 4th to 5th | 2.9% | 6.6K | -18.5% | -0.5 pointsmoved from 4th to 5th | |
| 6, held 6th | 1.9% | 4.4K | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 1.9% | 4.4K | 0% | +0.1 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 0.7% | 1.6K | -15.8% | -0.1 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 0.44% | 1K | 0% | 0 points | |
| 10, held 10th | 0.04% | 100 | -23.1% | 0 points | |
| 11, held 11th | 0.03% | 60 | +20% | 0 points |
39.8%
Held 1st. 90.5K estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -5.8 points.
2.
Argo CD31.5%
Held 2nd. 71.7K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.8 points.
17.8%
Held 3rd. 40.5K estimated branded searches, +22.4% vs prior month. Share +4.1 points.
4.
GitLab2.9%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 6.6K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.2 points.
2.9%
Moved from 4th to 5th. 6.6K estimated branded searches, -18.5% vs prior month. Share -0.5 points.
1.9%
Held 6th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
1.9%
Held 7th. 4.4K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.1 points.
0.7%
Held 8th. 1.6K estimated branded searches, -15.8% vs prior month. Share -0.1 points.
0.44%
Held 9th. 1K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
10.
Harness0.04%
Held 10th. 100 estimated branded searches, -23.1% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
11.
Spinnaker0.03%
Held 11th. 60 estimated branded searches, +20% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between semantic-release and its closest rivals
Every comparison with semantic-release
10 comparisons
- Argo CD vs semantic-release
- GitHub Actions vs semantic-release
- GitLab vs semantic-release
- LaunchDarkly vs semantic-release
- Octopus Deploy vs semantic-release
- Release Please vs semantic-release
- Changesets vs semantic-release
- Codefresh vs semantic-release
- Harness vs semantic-release
- semantic-release vs Spinnaker
How has branded search demand for semantic-release changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
4 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for semantic-release worldwide fell from 8.1K to 4.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, semantic-release’s share of searches among release automation tools worldwide decreased from 3.1% to 1.9%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, semantic-release’s share of searches among release automation tools worldwide peaked at 3.1% in October 2025 and was lowest at 1.8% in August 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, semantic-release fell from 6th to 7th among release automation tools worldwide.
How did search popularity change for release automation tools worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes

In September 2026, LaunchDarkly gained share of searches among release automation tools worldwide, from 13.7% to 17.8%.

In September 2026, Argo CD gained share of searches among release automation tools worldwide, from 29.7% to 31.5%.

In September 2026, GitHub Actions lost share of searches among release automation tools worldwide, from 45.6% to 39.8%.

In September 2026, GitLab rose from 5th to 4th among release automation tools worldwide.

In September 2026, Octopus Deploy fell from 4th to 5th among release automation tools worldwide.
Estimated monthly branded searches for Release Please worldwide rose 22.2% over 12 measured months, from 3.6K to 4.4K in September 2026.
How are semantic-release’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using semantic-release’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.
- semantic release
Do you work for semantic-release? To request corrections or removal please contact us via our support page and we will be happy to assist.

Is semantic-release 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.