Azure Pipelines vs GitLab CI:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, GitLab CI had more branded searches than Azure Pipelines among CI/CD tools worldwide. GitLab CI had about 8,100 branded searches, while Azure Pipelines had 4,400. GitLab CI made up 1.9% of all CI/CD tool searches we track, and Azure Pipelines accounted for 1%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CI/CD tools, GitLab CI appeared in all five answers and Azure Pipelines in three. GitLab CI was mentioned before Azure Pipelines in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
GitLab CI, about 84% more searches than Azure Pipelines
Who does AI mention more?
GitLab CI, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
GitLab CI, named ahead of Azure Pipelines in every answer
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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. Azure Pipelines was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. GitLab CI was listed before Azure Pipelines in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
GitHub Actions1st
Jenkins2nd- GitLab CI3rd
CircleCI4th
Azure Pipelines5th
Argo CD6th
Buildkite7th
Travis CI8th
TeamCity–
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
- Azure Pipelines3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 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
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”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Azure Pipelines or GitLab CI more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Azure Pipelines and GitLab CI by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten CI/CD tools we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for GitLab CI, Azure Pipelines. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Jenkins | GitHub Actions | Argo CD | CircleCI | TeamCity | Buildkite | GitLab CI | Azure Pipelines | Travis CI | Semaphore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 50.2% | 19.1% | 16.9% | 3.8% | 3% | 1.4% | 3% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 0.14% |
| Nov 2025 | 50.5% | 19.2% | 17% | 3.8% | 3% | 1.4% | 2.5% | 1.7% | 0.9% | 0.14% |
| Dec 2025 | 52.7% | 19.9% | 14.5% | 3.9% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 2.6% | 1.4% | 0.77% | 0.14% |
| Jan 2026 | 50.9% | 19.3% | 17.1% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 2.5% | 1.4% | 0.91% | 0.13% |
| Feb 2026 | 50.2% | 19.1% | 16.9% | 3.8% | 2.5% | 3% | 2.5% | 1.3% | 0.73% | 0.13% |
| Mar 2026 | 46.1% | 25.9% | 15.5% | 3.5% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 0.82% | 0.14% |
| Apr 2026 | 49% | 22.4% | 16.5% | 3.7% | 2.4% | 2% | 2% | 1.3% | 0.72% | 0.1% |
| May 2026 | 49% | 22.4% | 16.5% | 3.7% | 2.4% | 2.4% | 2% | 1.1% | 0.58% | 0.09% |
| Jun 2026 | 46.4% | 21.3% | 19.1% | 4.3% | 2.8% | 1.9% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 0.67% | 0.12% |
| Jul 2026 | 48.1% | 22.1% | 17.2% | 3.6% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1.1% | 0.57% | 0.12% |
| Aug 2026 | 45.4% | 25.3% | 16.2% | 3.4% | 3.3% | 2.7% | 1.8% | 0.99% | 0.54% | 0.18% |
| Sep 2026 | 47.8% | 21.9% | 17% | 4.4% | 2.9% | 2.4% | 1.9% | 1% | 0.57% | 0.15% |
How has the Azure Pipelines and GitLab CI comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- GitLab CI was ahead of Azure Pipelines in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Azure Pipelines’ share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide moved from 1.7% to 1%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 8.1K to 4.4K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitLab CI’s share of searches among CI/CD tools worldwide moved from 3% to 1.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 14.8K to 8.1K.
How did search popularity change for CI/CD tools worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes
Estimated monthly branded searches for Azure Pipelines worldwide fell 45.7% over 12 measured months, from 8.1K to 4.4K in September 2026.
Estimated monthly branded searches for GitLab CI worldwide fell 45.3% over 12 measured months, from 14.8K to 8.1K in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Azure Pipelines’ and GitLab CI’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.
Azure Pipelines
1 branded search term
- azure pipelines
GitLab CI
1 branded search term
- gitlab ci
Other head-to-heads among CI/CD tools
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