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Testing · head to head

CircleCI vs IAR Embedded Workbench

CircleCI logo

CircleCI

Testing

The leading CI/CD platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
IAR Embedded Workbench logo

IAR Embedded Workbench

Developer Tools

Complete toolchain for embedded software development

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only CircleCI has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: CircleCI the free plan covers 6,000 build minutes and 5 active users a month; IAR Embedded Workbench no pricing information published on product page; prospective customers directed to free trial or sales contact only

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CircleCI and IAR Embedded Workbench actually diverge.

Attributes where CircleCI and IAR Embedded Workbench differ
AttributeCircleCIIAR Embedded Workbench
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
Free tierYesNo
CategoryTestingDeveloper Tools
Founded2011Unknown

Identical on both: platforms (Web), user rating (Not yet rated).

What people use each for

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

CircleCI

  • Continuous integration pipelines for application codenot IAR Embedded Workbench
  • Parallel test execution across containersnot IAR Embedded Workbench
  • Docker-based builds with layer cachingnot IAR Embedded Workbench
  • Deployment pipelines with approval gatesnot IAR Embedded Workbench
  • Self-hosted runners for private infrastructurenot IAR Embedded Workbench

IAR Embedded Workbench

  • Embedded software development and debuggingnot CircleCI
  • Compiler and linker tools for embedded systemsnot CircleCI
  • Multi-architecture embedded development supportnot CircleCI

Where each one falls short

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

CircleCI

  • The free plan covers 6,000 build minutes and 5 active users a month
  • Active users are billed at $15 each beyond the included five, and an active user is anyone who commits to a project
  • Everything runs on credits, so compute, Docker layer caching at 200 credits a job and IP ranges at 450 credits per GB all draw from the same pool
  • Network and storage overage costs 420 credits per GB
  • Free credits expire monthly with no rollover, and paid credits expire after a year
  • Scale is annual billing only

IAR Embedded Workbench

  • No pricing information published on product page; prospective customers directed to free trial or sales contact only
  • Pricing model not specified; customers must request quote or try free trial to understand licensing costs
  • Embedded development tools typically require expensive licenses, but specific IAR costs unavailable online

Pricing, plan by plan

CircleCI

Free
  • FreeFree
    • Up to 6,000 build minutes (small Docker resource class)
    • Up to 5 active users per month
    • 30,000 free credits per month
  • Performance$15/month
    • 30,000 credits included monthly
    • 5 active users included (additional users $15/month each)
    • 80x concurrency
  • Scale$null/year
    • Custom number of credits
    • Customizable user limits
    • Unlimited concurrency

IAR Embedded Workbench

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the IAR Embedded Workbench review.

Which should you pick?

Choose CircleCI if

  • You want to start without paying.
CircleCI review

Choose IAR Embedded Workbench if

Nothing in the data separates IAR Embedded Workbench from CircleCI on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

IAR Embedded Workbench review

Questions people ask

Is CircleCI or IAR Embedded Workbench better?
Neither clearly leads. CircleCI starts at Free and IAR Embedded Workbench at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CircleCI or IAR Embedded Workbench?
CircleCI has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for CircleCI and On request for IAR Embedded Workbench.
Does CircleCI or IAR Embedded Workbench run on more platforms?
Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
Can I use CircleCI for free?
Yes. CircleCI has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. IAR Embedded Workbench starts at On request.
What is CircleCI best used for?
CircleCI is most often used for continuous integration pipelines for application code, parallel test execution across containers, docker-based builds with layer caching, deployment pipelines with approval gates. Of those, continuous integration pipelines for application code and parallel test execution across containers are not what IAR Embedded Workbench is typically brought in for.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

CircleCI: How much does CircleCI Performance plan cost?

CircleCI Performance plan costs $15 USD per month and includes 30,000 credits, 5 active users, 80x concurrency, 5 GB network, and 2 GB storage. Additional users beyond 5 cost $15 each per month.

Source
IAR Embedded Workbench: How much does IAR Embedded Workbench cost?

IAR Embedded Workbench pricing is not published on the product page. Prospective customers are directed to free trials or must contact the sales team to request pricing.

Source
CircleCI: Can I purchase additional credits on CircleCI Performance plan?

Yes, additional credits are available at $15 for every 25,000 credits purchased. Paid credits roll over month to month and expire after one year; free plan credits expire monthly without rollover.

Source
IAR Embedded Workbench: Does IAR Embedded Workbench offer a free trial?

Free trials are available for IAR Embedded Workbench evaluation at https://www.iar.com/embedded-development-tools/free-trials, though specific trial length and limitations are not detailed on the product page.

Source
CircleCI: What is included in the CircleCI free plan?

The free plan includes up to 6,000 build minutes per month (small Docker resource class), 5 active users, 30,000 free credits monthly, 30x concurrency, 1 GB network, 2 GB storage, and community support. No credit card required.

Source
IAR Embedded Workbench: What is the pricing model for IAR Embedded Workbench?

The pricing model is not disclosed on the product page. Customers must contact the sales team to obtain quotes and understand licensing terms.

Source
CircleCI: What are the Scale plan limits and pricing?

CircleCI Scale plan offers custom pricing billed annually with unlimited concurrency, 50 GB network, 200 GB storage, customizable credits and users, enterprise controls, and GPU environment access. Requires contacting sales for a quote.

Source
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