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Software Development · head to head

TeamCity vs WarpBuild

TeamCity logo

TeamCity

Software Development

JetBrains continuous integration and delivery server

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
WarpBuild logo

WarpBuild

Developer Tools

2x faster, 50% cheaper GitHub Actions runners

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only TeamCity has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: TeamCity detailed pricing requires visiting a calculator and isn't transparent on the main pricing page.; WarpBuild per-minute pricing requires tracking usage to estimate monthly costs
  • They diverge on capability: TeamCity covers Build Chains, WarpBuild covers Optimized runner infrastructure.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which TeamCity and WarpBuild actually diverge.

Attributes where TeamCity and WarpBuild differ
AttributeTeamCityWarpBuild
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelfreemiumUsage-based per minute, varies by runner configuration
Free tierYesNo
Platformsweb, windows, mac, linux, apiGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS, Cloud
CategorySoftware DevelopmentDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: 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 TeamCity

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

Only in WarpBuild

  • Optimized runner infrastructure
  • Intelligent caching
  • Incremental builds
  • Multi-architecture support
  • Unlimited concurrency
  • Autoscaling
  • BYOC support
  • Docker builders

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 WarpBuild
  • Self-hosting CI/CD infrastructure behind a firewallnot WarpBuild
  • Coordinating multi-stage build chains with dependenciesnot WarpBuild
  • Scaling build capacity with additional agentsnot WarpBuild

WarpBuild

  • Accelerating CI builds for teams with high test volumesnot TeamCity
  • Running tests generated by AI coding assistants efficientlynot TeamCity
  • Reducing GitHub Actions costs by 50% or morenot TeamCity
  • Supporting teams that need ARM64 architecture runnersnot 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.

WarpBuild

  • Per-minute pricing requires tracking usage to estimate monthly costs
  • Large configuration runners (32 vCPU) expensive at $0.064/min
  • macOS M4 Pro 12-core at $0.16/min is highest-cost option
  • BYOC option requires cloud setup by customer

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

WarpBuild

On request
  • Linux x86-64 (2vCPU, 8GB)$0.004/minute
    • 2 vCPU
    • 8 GB RAM
    • Standard performance
  • Linux x86-64 (4vCPU, 16GB)$0.008/minute
    • 4 vCPU
    • 16 GB RAM
    • Increased performance
  • Linux x86-64 (8vCPU, 32GB)$0.016/minute
    • 8 vCPU
    • 32 GB RAM
    • High performance
  • Linux x86-64 (16vCPU, 64GB)$0.032/minute
    • 16 vCPU
    • 64 GB RAM
    • Enterprise performance

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 WarpBuild if

  • You need optimized runner infrastructure.
  • You work on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS, Cloud.
  • You also want intelligent caching.
WarpBuild review

Questions people ask

Is TeamCity or WarpBuild better?
Neither clearly leads. TeamCity starts at Free and WarpBuild at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, TeamCity or WarpBuild?
TeamCity has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for TeamCity and On request for WarpBuild.
Does TeamCity or WarpBuild run on more platforms?
TeamCity runs on web, windows, mac, linux, api. WarpBuild runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS, Cloud.
Can I use TeamCity for free?
Yes. TeamCity has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. WarpBuild starts at On request.
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 WarpBuild is typically brought in for.
What can TeamCity do that WarpBuild cannot?
TeamCity covers Build Chains, Parallel Test Execution, VCS Integration, Build History & Analytics. WarpBuild covers Optimized runner infrastructure, Intelligent caching, Incremental builds, Multi-architecture support.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

TeamCity: How much does TeamCity cost?

TeamCity offers a free download option but specific pricing for commercial use is not detailed on the website. Customers must contact JetBrains for licensing and pricing information.

Source
WarpBuild: How much cheaper is WarpBuild compared to GitHub Actions?

WarpBuild offers approximately 50% cost savings compared to GitHub-hosted runners. For example, Linux x86-64 2vCPU/8GB costs $0.004/min with WarpBuild vs $0.008/min with GitHub Actions.

Source
TeamCity: Is TeamCity free to use?

TeamCity has a free option available for download, but full pricing and licensing details require contacting JetBrains directly.

Source
WarpBuild: What is BYOC and how does it differ from managed runners?

BYOC (Bring Your Own Cloud) allows customers to run WarpBuild on their own cloud infrastructure at $0.002/min. Managed runners use WarpBuild's cloud infrastructure. BYOC provides lower costs but requires customer setup.

Source
WarpBuild: Does WarpBuild support ARM64 runners?

Yes, WarpBuild offers ARM64 runners at lower costs than x86-64. Linux ARM64 starts at $0.003/min for 2vCPU/8GB configuration.

Source
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