Brandwave

CircleCI vs GitHub Actions:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, GitHub Actions had more branded searches than CircleCI among CI/CD tools in New Zealand. GitHub Actions had about 270 branded searches, while CircleCI had 70. GitHub Actions made up 45.8% of all CI/CD tool searches we track, and CircleCI accounted for 11.9%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CI/CD tools, GitHub Actions appeared in all five answers and CircleCI in two. GitHub Actions was mentioned before CircleCI in every answer.

Among CI/CD tools in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

GitHub Actions, about 4 searches for every 1 for CircleCI

GitHub Actions 270 searchesCircleCI 70 searches

Who does AI mention more?

GitHub Actions, mentioned in every answer we collected

GitHub Actions in 5 of 5CircleCI in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

GitHub Actions, named ahead of CircleCI in every answer

GitHub Actions first in 5CircleCI 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. CircleCI was mentioned in two out of five: not in any of the three ChatGPT answers, but in both Google AI Overviews. GitHub Actions was listed before CircleCI in every answer.

Most recommended by AI

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

  1. GitHub Actions1st
  2. GitLab CI2nd
  3. Jenkins3rd
  4. Azure Pipelines4th
  5. Bitbucket Pipelines5th
  6. CircleCI6th
  7. Buildkite7th

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
  • Jenkins5 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
  • Bitbucket Pipelines4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Azure Pipelines3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • CircleCI2 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Buildkite1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about CI/CD tools

5 answers

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.

Is CircleCI or GitHub Actions more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for CircleCI and GitHub Actions by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all seven CI/CD tools we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

CircleCI and GitHub Actions among CI/CD tools in New Zealand, by month

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

View monthly share of searches table
MonthGitHub ActionsBuildkiteCircleCIAzure PipelinesJenkinsGitLab CIBitbucket Pipelines
Oct 202553.2%11.3%11.3%8.1%4.8%6.5%4.8%
Nov 202551.6%12.5%14.1%6.3%6.3%4.7%4.7%
Dec 202555.9%15.3%8.5%6.8%5.1%6.8%1.7%
Jan 202650.9%9.4%11.3%7.5%11.3%7.5%1.9%
Feb 202647.6%16.7%8.3%4.8%14.3%6%2.4%
Mar 202642.6%12.8%9.6%5.3%20.2%7.4%2.1%
Apr 202644.6%14.9%8.1%4.1%18.9%5.4%4.1%
May 202642.1%18.4%9.2%5.3%15.8%6.6%2.6%
Jun 202650%13.6%10.6%6.1%10.6%6.1%3%
Jul 202646.5%15.5%9.9%4.2%14.1%7%2.8%
Aug 202646%19.5%12.6%5.7%10.3%3.4%2.3%
Sep 202645.8%20.3%11.9%6.8%6.8%5.1%3.4%

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

3 findings
  • GitHub Actions was ahead of CircleCI in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, CircleCI’s share of searches among CI/CD tools in New Zealand moved from 11.3% to 11.9%, and its estimated monthly branded searches held steady at 70.
  • Across the 12 months ending September 2026, GitHub Actions’ share of searches among CI/CD tools in New Zealand moved from 53.2% to 45.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 330 to 270.

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

2 changes

  1. In September 2026, CircleCI lost share of searches among CI/CD tools in New Zealand, from 12.6% to 11.9%.

  2. GitHub Actions’ share of searches among CI/CD tools in New Zealand has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 50% to 45.8% in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

5 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using CircleCI’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.

CircleCI

3 branded search terms

  • circleci
  • circleci ci cd
  • circleci continuous integration

GitHub Actions

2 branded search terms

  • github actions
  • githubactions

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among CI/CD tools

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