Softwr

Software · head to head

Bitbucket vs Argo CD

Bitbucket logo

Bitbucket

Software

Git code management for professional teams

From
Free
Rated
-
A

Argo CD

Software

A declarative, GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes

From
Free
Rated
-

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Bitbucket limited build minutes compared to GitHub Actions - free tier capped at 50 minutes/month vs unlimited on GitHub; Argo CD licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (argoproj/argo-cd LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Bitbucket and Argo CD actually diverge.

Attributes where Bitbucket and Argo CD differ
AttributeBitbucketArgo CD
Pricing modelUnknownopen-source
PlatformsWeb, Data CenterWeb
Founded2008Unknown

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

Bitbucket

  • Hosting Git repositories for a software teamnot Argo CD
  • Running CI and deployments with Bitbucket Pipelinesnot Argo CD
  • Code review with branch permissions and access controlsnot Argo CD
  • Linking commits to Jira issues and updating their status automaticallynot Argo CD
  • Security scanning through Snyk and partner integrationsnot Argo CD

Argo CD

No use cases recorded yet. See the Argo CD review.

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

Bitbucket

  • Limited build minutes compared to GitHub Actions - free tier capped at 50 minutes/month vs unlimited on GitHub
  • Reliability issues with frequent outages reported by users
  • No native way to execute Bitbucket Pipeline YAML files locally for testing
  • Smaller ecosystem and community compared to GitHub

Argo CD

  • Licensed under Apache License 2.0 per the project's GitHub repository (argoproj/argo-cd LICENSE); as open source software it has no paid tier or vendor price to compare
  • The quick start installation requires the --server-side and --force-conflicts flags due to CRD size limitations, per argo-cd.readthedocs.io, a constraint the documentation states explicitly

Pricing, plan by plan

Bitbucket

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 5 users
    • Unlimited repositories
    • 1 GB storage
  • Standard$3.65/month
    • 2,500 pooled build minutes
    • All Bitbucket features
  • Premium$7.25/month
    • 3,500 build minutes
    • Merge checks
    • IP allowlisting

Argo CD

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Argo CD review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Bitbucket if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Data Center.

Choose Argo CD if

  • You want to start without paying.

Questions people ask

Is Bitbucket or Argo CD better?
Neither clearly leads. Bitbucket starts at Free and Argo CD at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Bitbucket or Argo CD?
Bitbucket starts at Free and Argo CD at Free.
Does Bitbucket or Argo CD run on more platforms?
Bitbucket runs on Web, Data Center. Argo CD runs on Web.
Can I use Bitbucket for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Bitbucket best used for?
Bitbucket is most often used for hosting git repositories for a software team, running ci and deployments with bitbucket pipelines, code review with branch permissions and access controls, linking commits to jira issues and updating their status automatically. Of those, hosting git repositories for a software team and running ci and deployments with bitbucket pipelines are not what Argo CD is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Bitbucket: Does Bitbucket offer a free tier?

Yes. The Free plan supports up to 5 users with 1 GB of file storage for LFS, 50 build minutes per month, and unlimited public and private repositories. The plan can be upgraded anytime.

Source
Bitbucket: Can I self-host Bitbucket?

Yes. Bitbucket Data Center is available for self-hosted deployments starting at $2,300 per year. It provides teams with complete control of their environments and disaster recovery capabilities.

Source
Bitbucket: How many build minutes do I get with Bitbucket Pipelines?

Free plan includes 50 build minutes per month. Standard plan ($3.65/user/month) includes 2,500 pooled build minutes. Premium plan ($7.25/user/month) includes 3,500 build minutes. Additional minutes can be purchased in $10 packs for 1,000 minutes.

Source
Bitbucket: Does Bitbucket integrate with Jira?

Yes. Bitbucket integrates natively with Jira, allowing you to track associated builds and deployments to Jira work items. It also integrates with Slack, Compass, and VS Code.

Source

Related pages

Other head to heads