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Testing & QA · head to head

CircleCI vs PocketBase

CircleCI logo

CircleCI

Testing & QA

The leading CI/CD platform

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
PocketBase logo

PocketBase

API Management

Open-source backend with REST API, real-time subscriptions and Admin UI

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: CircleCI the free plan covers 6,000 build minutes and 5 active users a month; PocketBase not recommended for production critical applications until reaching v1.0.0

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which CircleCI and PocketBase actually diverge.

Attributes where CircleCI and PocketBase differ
AttributeCircleCIPocketBase
Pricing modelfreemiumUnknown
PlatformsWebLinux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD
CategoryTesting & QAAPI Management
Founded20112021

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

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 CircleCI

Nothing recorded that PocketBase does not also cover.

Only in PocketBase

  • REST API
  • Real-time subscriptions
  • Admin UI
  • SQLite
  • Webhooks
  • File storage
  • Go support
  • Docker support

What people use each for

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

CircleCI

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

PocketBase

  • Embedded realtime database with REST APInot CircleCI
  • Backend-as-a-service for single-file deploymentsnot CircleCI
  • Rapid application development with email/OAuth2 authenticationnot CircleCI
  • File storage and media attachment managementnot CircleCI
  • Lightweight alternative to Firebase or traditional backend infrastructurenot CircleCI
  • Go and JavaScript customisable application frameworknot 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

PocketBase

  • Not recommended for production critical applications until reaching v1.0.0
  • Full backward compatibility not guaranteed before v1.0.0 (breaking changes possible with version updates)
  • Pull requests for new features are disabled due to spam concerns (feature contributions limited)

Pricing, plan by plan

CircleCI

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the CircleCI review.

PocketBase

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the PocketBase review.

Which should you pick?

Choose CircleCI if

  • You want to start without paying.
CircleCI review

Choose PocketBase if

  • You need rest api.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
  • You also want real-time subscriptions.
PocketBase review

Questions people ask

Is CircleCI or PocketBase better?
Neither clearly leads. CircleCI starts at Free and PocketBase at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, CircleCI or PocketBase?
CircleCI starts at Free and PocketBase at Free.
Does CircleCI or PocketBase run on more platforms?
CircleCI runs on Web. PocketBase runs on Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD.
Can I use CircleCI for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 PocketBase is typically brought in for.
What can CircleCI do that PocketBase cannot?
PocketBase covers REST API, Real-time subscriptions, Admin UI, SQLite.
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Related pages

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