Azure Pipelines vs GitHub Actions:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, GitHub Actions had more branded searches than Azure Pipelines among CI/CD tools in New Zealand. GitHub Actions had about 270 branded searches, while Azure Pipelines had 40. GitHub Actions made up 45.8% of all CI/CD tool searches we track, and Azure Pipelines accounted for 6.8%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about CI/CD tools, GitHub Actions appeared in all five answers and Azure Pipelines in three. GitHub Actions was mentioned before Azure Pipelines in every answer.
Who do people search for more?
GitHub Actions, about 7 searches for every 1 for Azure Pipelines
Who does AI mention more?
GitHub Actions, mentioned in every answer we collected
Who does AI recommend more?
GitHub Actions, named ahead of Azure Pipelines in every answer
Follow Azure Pipelines vs GitHub Actions 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 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. Azure Pipelines 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 Azure Pipelines in every answer.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
- GitHub Actions1st
GitLab CI2nd
Jenkins3rd
Azure Pipelines4th
Bitbucket Pipelines5th
CircleCI6th
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
Asked ChatGPT
“Which CI/CD tool should I use in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best CI/CD tools in New Zealand?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best CI/CD tool in New Zealand for a software team?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ci cd tools”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“ci cd software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 20, 2026.
Is Azure Pipelines or GitHub Actions more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Azure Pipelines 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.
Share of searches by month for GitHub Actions, Azure Pipelines. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | GitHub Actions | Buildkite | CircleCI | Azure Pipelines | Jenkins | GitLab CI | Bitbucket Pipelines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 53.2% | 11.3% | 11.3% | 8.1% | 4.8% | 6.5% | 4.8% |
| Nov 2025 | 51.6% | 12.5% | 14.1% | 6.3% | 6.3% | 4.7% | 4.7% |
| Dec 2025 | 55.9% | 15.3% | 8.5% | 6.8% | 5.1% | 6.8% | 1.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 50.9% | 9.4% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 11.3% | 7.5% | 1.9% |
| Feb 2026 | 47.6% | 16.7% | 8.3% | 4.8% | 14.3% | 6% | 2.4% |
| Mar 2026 | 42.6% | 12.8% | 9.6% | 5.3% | 20.2% | 7.4% | 2.1% |
| Apr 2026 | 44.6% | 14.9% | 8.1% | 4.1% | 18.9% | 5.4% | 4.1% |
| May 2026 | 42.1% | 18.4% | 9.2% | 5.3% | 15.8% | 6.6% | 2.6% |
| Jun 2026 | 50% | 13.6% | 10.6% | 6.1% | 10.6% | 6.1% | 3% |
| Jul 2026 | 46.5% | 15.5% | 9.9% | 4.2% | 14.1% | 7% | 2.8% |
| Aug 2026 | 46% | 19.5% | 12.6% | 5.7% | 10.3% | 3.4% | 2.3% |
| Sep 2026 | 45.8% | 20.3% | 11.9% | 6.8% | 6.8% | 5.1% | 3.4% |
How has the Azure Pipelines and GitHub Actions comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- GitHub Actions 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 in New Zealand moved from 8.1% to 6.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 50 to 40.
- 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
In September 2026, Azure Pipelines overtook Jenkins to rank 4th among CI/CD tools in New Zealand, with 6.8% of the searches.
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?
3 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Azure Pipelines’ 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.
Azure Pipelines
1 branded search term
- azure pipelines
GitHub Actions
2 branded search terms
- github actions
- githubactions
Other head-to-heads among CI/CD tools
Put your own brand in this comparison
Brandwave tracks your branded demand next to the rival you actually watch, with your campaigns, spend and outcomes on the same timeline.