Compare
GitHub vs GitHub Actions
Short answer: Pick GitHub if you want repository hosting with integrated CI/CD; pick GitHub Actions if you want integrated CI/CD on GitHub. GitHub has a free plan, paid from $4/month per user; GitHub Actions has a free plan.
GitHubWhere developers host code, review pull requests and run CI
GitHub ActionsCI/CD and automation built into GitHubWhich to pick
Pick GitHub if you want…
- Repository hosting with integrated CI/CD
- Integrations with GitHub Actions, GitHub Copilot or GitHub Codespaces (on GitHub's list, not GitHub Actions')
Pick GitHub Actions if you want…
- Integrated CI/CD on GitHub
- CI/CD pipelines
- Integrations with Node.js, Python or Java (on GitHub Actions' list, not GitHub's)
Side by side
- What it is
- GitHub:GitHub is a platform for hosting code repositories, collaborating via pull requests, and automating CI/CD pipelines.
- GitHub Actions:GitHub Actions automates CI/CD and other workflows directly from GitHub repositories.
- Best for
- GitHub:Repository hosting with integrated CI/CD
- GitHub Actions:Integrated CI/CD on GitHub
- Who it’s for
- GitHub:Developers, teams, and enterprises needing version control and DevOps tools
- GitHub Actions:Developers and teams using GitHub who need build, test, and deployment automation.
- Pricing
- GitHub:Freemium
- GitHub Actions:Freemium
- Starting price
- GitHub:$4/month per user (Team)
- GitHub Actions:—
- Free plan or trial
- GitHub:Free plan (Free) · Free trial
- GitHub Actions:Free plan (Free) · Free trial
- Plans
- GitHub:Free $0 USD · Team $4 USD per user / month per month · Enterprise $21 USD per user / month per month
- GitHub Actions:Free $0
- Works with
- GitHub:GitHub Actions, GitHub Copilot, GitHub Codespaces, Dependabot
- GitHub Actions:Node.js, Python, Java, Ruby, PHP, Go, Rust, .NET
GitHub features
- Unlimited repositories. Host unlimited public and private repositories with Git.
- Pull request reviews. Collaborate on code changes with reviews, approvals, and automated status checks.
- GitHub Actions. Automate builds, tests, and deployments with CI/CD workflows.
- Dependabot security. Automatically receive security and version updates for dependencies.
- Codespaces. Spin up cloud development environments instantly for any project.
- Copilot AI assistance. Get AI-generated code suggestions and automated fixes directly in the IDE.
GitHub Actions features
- Hosted runners. Run jobs on Linux, macOS, Windows, ARM, GPU, or containers using GitHub-provided VMs.
- Matrix builds. Execute the same workflow across multiple OSes and runtime versions in parallel.
- Secret store. Store encrypted secrets at repository, environment, or organization level.
- Multi-container testing. Add docker-compose to workflows to test services together.
- Event-driven triggers. Start workflows on any GitHub event, from pushes to issue comments.
- Actions Marketplace. Discover and reuse community-built actions for common tasks.
GitHub vs GitHub Actions FAQ
What is the difference between GitHub and GitHub Actions?+
GitHub Actions provides CI/CD only, while GitHub includes full repository hosting and collaboration features.
Should I use GitHub or GitHub Actions?+
Pick GitHub if you want repository hosting with integrated CI/CD or integrations with GitHub Actions, GitHub Copilot or GitHub Codespaces (on GitHub's list, not GitHub Actions'). Pick GitHub Actions if you want integrated CI/CD on GitHub, CI/CD pipelines or integrations with Node.js, Python or Java (on GitHub Actions' list, not GitHub's).
Is GitHub or GitHub Actions free?+
GitHub has a free plan; paid plans start at $4/month per user (Team). GitHub Actions has a free plan and paid plans.
Do GitHub and GitHub Actions integrate with the same tools?+
Their integration lists don't overlap: GitHub lists GitHub Actions, GitHub Copilot, GitHub Codespaces and Dependabot; GitHub Actions lists Node.js, Python, Java, Ruby and 6 more.
On DevHunt
Based on each tool's website and DevHunt data. Details may change; check the official sites.