Brandwave

Buildkite vs GitHub Actions:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitHub Actions had more branded searches than Buildkite among CI/CD tools worldwide. GitHub Actions had about 92,200 branded searches, while Buildkite had 9,920. GitHub Actions made up 22.1% of all CI/CD tool searches we track, and Buildkite accounted for 2.4%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CI/CD tools, GitHub Actions appeared in all five answers and Buildkite in one. GitHub Actions was mentioned before Buildkite in every answer.

Among CI/CD tools worldwide in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitHub Actions, about 9 searches for every 1 for Buildkite

GitHub Actions 92.2K searchesBuildkite 9.9K searches

Who does AI mention more?

GitHub Actions, mentioned in every answer we collected

GitHub Actions in 5 of 5Buildkite in 1 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitHub Actions, named ahead of Buildkite in every answer

GitHub Actions first in 5Buildkite never first

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Top CI/CD tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GitHub Actions appeared in all five answers. Buildkite was mentioned in one out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. GitHub Actions was listed before Buildkite in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. GitHub Actions1st
  2. Jenkins2nd
  3. GitLab CI3rd
  4. CircleCI4th
  5. Argo CD5th
  6. Buildkite6th
  7. Travis CI7th
  8. TeamCity–
  9. Semaphore–

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
  • CircleCI5 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
  • 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
  • Semaphore0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about CI/CD tools

5 answers

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.

Is Buildkite or GitHub Actions more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Buildkite and GitHub Actions by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine CI/CD tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.

Buildkite and GitHub Actions among CI/CD tools worldwide, by month

Share of searches by month for GitHub Actions, Buildkite. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthJenkinsGitHub ActionsArgo CDCircleCITeamCityBuildkiteGitLab CITravis CISemaphore
Oct 202551%19.4%17.2%3.8%3.1%1.4%3.1%0.91%0.14%
Nov 202551.3%19.5%17.3%3.8%3.1%1.4%2.5%0.92%0.14%
Dec 202553.5%20.2%14.7%4%2.6%1.4%2.6%0.78%0.14%
Jan 202651.6%19.6%17.4%3.9%2.5%1.4%2.5%0.92%0.13%
Feb 202650.8%19.3%17.1%3.8%2.5%3.1%2.5%0.74%0.13%
Mar 202646.7%26.2%15.7%3.5%2.8%1.9%2.3%0.83%0.14%
Apr 202649.6%22.7%16.7%3.7%2.4%2%2%0.73%0.1%
May 202649.5%22.6%16.6%3.7%2.4%2.4%2%0.58%0.09%
Jun 202646.9%21.6%19.3%4.3%2.8%1.9%2.3%0.68%0.12%
Jul 202648.6%22.4%17.4%3.6%2.9%2.4%2%0.58%0.12%
Aug 202645.9%25.6%16.4%3.4%3.4%2.8%1.8%0.55%0.18%
Sep 202648.3%22.1%17.2%4.4%2.9%2.4%1.9%0.58%0.15%

How has the Buildkite and GitHub Actions comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings
  • GitHub Actions was ahead of Buildkite in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Buildkite’s share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide moved from 1.4% to 2.4%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 6.6K to 9.9K.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitHub Actions’ share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide moved from 19.4% to 22.1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 93.5K to 92.2K.

How did search popularity change for CI/CD tools worldwide in September 2026?

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, GitHub Actions lost share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide, from 25.6% to 22.1%.

  2. Estimated monthly branded searches for Buildkite worldwide rose 49.6% over 12 measured months, from 6.6K to 9.9K in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

6 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Buildkite’s and GitHub Actions’ names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Buildkite

2 branded search terms

  • buildkite
  • buildkite ci cd

GitHub Actions

4 branded search terms

  • github actions
  • github actions app
  • github actions software
  • githubactions

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among CI/CD tools

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