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Buildkite vs npm

Buildkite logo

Buildkite

Software

CI/CD pipelines that run on your own compute

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
npm logo

npm

Software

Package manager for JavaScript

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Buildkite free plan caps at 5 users and 10 concurrent jobs, with 2,000 Linux vCPU minutes per month and 30 day build retention; npm private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Buildkite and npm actually diverge.

Attributes where Buildkite and npm differ
AttributeBuildkitenpm
PlatformsWebWindows, Macos, Linux
FoundedUnknown2014

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

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in Buildkite

Nothing recorded that npm does not also cover.

Only in npm

  • Package installation
  • Dependency management
  • Version management
  • Script running
  • Package publishing
  • Security auditing
  • Package discovery
  • CLI interface

What people use each for

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

Buildkite

No use cases recorded yet. See the Buildkite review.

npm

  • Package managementnot Buildkite
  • Dependency installationnot Buildkite
  • Project scaffoldingnot Buildkite
  • Build automationnot Buildkite
  • Package publishingnot Buildkite
  • Version controlnot Buildkite

Where each one falls short

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

Buildkite

  • Free plan caps at 5 users and 10 concurrent jobs, with 2,000 Linux vCPU minutes per month and 30 day build retention
  • Pro plan is $30 per active user per month, capped at 50 users, with only 10 of the up to 250 concurrent agents included before extra usage
  • Enterprise plan enforces a 30 user minimum even though pricing itself is custom
  • Hosted compute beyond included minutes is metered at $0.004 per vCPU minute on Linux and $0.02 per vCPU minute on Mac

npm

  • Private packages require a paid user or organization account; the free registry publishes publicly only

Pricing, plan by plan

Buildkite

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Buildkite review.

npm

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Unlimited public packages
    • Package discovery
    • npm CLI
  • Pro$7/month
    • Unlimited private packages
    • Package analytics
    • Support
  • Teams$7/month
    • Team management
    • Organization packages
    • Audit logs

Which should you pick?

Choose Buildkite if

  • You want to start without paying.
Buildkite review

Choose npm if

  • You need package installation.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Windows, Macos, Linux.
  • You also want dependency management.
npm review

Questions people ask

Is Buildkite or npm better?
Neither clearly leads. Buildkite starts at Free and npm at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Buildkite or npm?
Buildkite starts at Free and npm at Free.
Does Buildkite or npm run on more platforms?
Buildkite runs on Web. npm runs on Windows, Macos, Linux.
Can I use Buildkite for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What can Buildkite do that npm cannot?
npm covers Package installation, Dependency management, Version management, Script running.
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