Softwr

Software · head to head

TeamCity vs Jenkins

TeamCity logo

TeamCity

Software

JetBrains continuous integration and delivery server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Jenkins logo

Jenkins

Software

The leading open source automation server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: TeamCity detailed pricing requires visiting a calculator and isn't transparent on the main pricing page.; Jenkins described by the vendor as the leading open source automation server and a community-driven project, with no commercial edition or license fee
  • They diverge on capability: TeamCity covers Build Chains, Jenkins covers Continuous integration.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which TeamCity and Jenkins actually diverge.

Attributes where TeamCity and Jenkins differ
AttributeTeamCityJenkins
Pricing modelfreemiumopen-source
Platformsweb, windows, mac, linux, apiLinux, Windows, Macos, Docker
FoundedUnknown2011

Identical on both: starting price (Free), 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 TeamCity

  • Build Chains
  • Parallel Test Execution
  • VCS Integration
  • Build History & Analytics
  • Docker & Kubernetes Support
  • Access Control

Only in Jenkins

  • Continuous integration
  • Continuous delivery
  • Pipeline as code
  • Distributed builds
  • Plugin ecosystem
  • REST API
  • CLI tools
  • Build triggers

What people use each for

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

TeamCity

  • Running build and test pipelines for enterprise software teamsnot Jenkins
  • Self-hosting CI/CD infrastructure behind a firewallnot Jenkins
  • Coordinating multi-stage build chains with dependenciesnot Jenkins
  • Scaling build capacity with additional agentsnot Jenkins

Jenkins

  • CI/CD pipelinesnot TeamCity
  • Automated testingnot TeamCity
  • Build automationnot TeamCity
  • Deployment automationnot TeamCity
  • Infrastructure as codenot TeamCity

Where each one falls short

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

TeamCity

  • Detailed pricing requires visiting a calculator and isn't transparent on the main pricing page.
  • Self-hosted setup and agent management require more operational overhead than fully managed CI/CD services.
  • Additional build agents and users are priced incrementally, which can add up for larger teams.
  • The UI and configuration model have a steeper learning curve compared to YAML-first CI tools.

Jenkins

  • Described by the vendor as the leading open source automation server and a community-driven project, with no commercial edition or license fee

Pricing, plan by plan

TeamCity

Free
  • Free TierFree
    • Includes 3 build agents
    • 100 build configurations
    • On-premises or Cloud
  • TeamCity Cloud / On-Premises$undefined/month
    • Priced per additional build agent
    • Additional users on Cloud plans
    • Enterprise support options

Jenkins

Free
  • Open SourceFree
    • Unlimited builds
    • 1000+ plugins
    • Self-hosted
  • CloudBees CI$undefined/month
    • Enterprise features
    • High availability
    • Role-based access

Which should you pick?

Choose TeamCity if

  • You need build chains.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on web, windows, mac, linux, api.
  • You also want parallel test execution.
TeamCity review

Choose Jenkins if

  • You need continuous integration.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Linux, Windows, Macos, Docker.
  • You also want continuous delivery.
Jenkins review

Questions people ask

Is TeamCity or Jenkins better?
Neither clearly leads. TeamCity starts at Free and Jenkins at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, TeamCity or Jenkins?
TeamCity starts at Free and Jenkins at Free.
Does TeamCity or Jenkins run on more platforms?
TeamCity runs on web, windows, mac, linux, api. Jenkins runs on Linux, Windows, Macos, Docker.
Can I use TeamCity for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is TeamCity best used for?
TeamCity is most often used for running build and test pipelines for enterprise software teams, self-hosting ci/cd infrastructure behind a firewall, coordinating multi-stage build chains with dependencies, scaling build capacity with additional agents. Of those, running build and test pipelines for enterprise software teams and self-hosting ci/cd infrastructure behind a firewall are not what Jenkins is typically brought in for.
What can TeamCity do that Jenkins cannot?
TeamCity covers Build Chains, Parallel Test Execution, VCS Integration, Build History & Analytics. Jenkins covers Continuous integration, Continuous delivery, Pipeline as code, Distributed builds.
Share

Related pages

More on TeamCity

More on Jenkins

Keep looking

Other head to heads