GitHub Actions vs Octopus Deploy:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, GitHub Actions had more branded searches than Octopus Deploy among release automation tools worldwide. GitHub Actions had about 90,500 branded searches, while Octopus Deploy had 6,600. GitHub Actions made up 39.8% of all release automation tool searches we track, and Octopus Deploy accounted for 2.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about release automation tools, GitHub Actions appeared in all five answers and Octopus Deploy in three. GitHub Actions was mentioned before Octopus Deploy in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
GitHub Actions, about 14 searches for every 1 for Octopus Deploy
Who does AI mention more?
GitHub Actions, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
GitHub Actions, named ahead of Octopus Deploy in every answer
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Top release automation tools in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, GitHub Actions appeared in all five answers. Octopus Deploy was mentioned in three out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. GitHub Actions was listed before Octopus Deploy in every answer.
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.
Is GitHub Actions or Octopus Deploy more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for GitHub Actions and Octopus Deploy by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all 11 release automation tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for GitHub Actions, Octopus Deploy. 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% |
How has the GitHub Actions and Octopus Deploy comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- GitHub Actions was ahead of Octopus Deploy in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitHub Actions’ share of searches among release automation tools worldwide moved from 34.4% to 39.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 90.5K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Octopus Deploy’s share of searches among release automation tools worldwide moved from 4.6% to 2.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 12.1K to 6.6K.
How did search popularity change for release automation tools worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

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

In September 2026, Octopus Deploy fell from 4th to 5th among release automation tools worldwide.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using GitHub Actions’ and Octopus Deploy’s 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.
GitHub Actions
1 branded search term
- github actions
Octopus Deploy
1 branded search term
- octopus deploy
Other head-to-heads among release automation tools

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