AWS CodePipeline vs GitHub Actions comparison

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and GitHub are both solutions in the Build Automation category. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.4, while GitHub is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.5. Amazon Web Services (AWS) holds a 5.6% mindshare in BA, compared to GitHub’s 11.4% mindshare. Additionally, 95% of Amazon Web Services (AWS) users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of GitHub users who would recommend it.

AWS CodePipeline

Read 23 AWS CodePipeline reviews

2,709 Views
2,128 Comparison Views

95% willing to recommend

GitHub Actions

Read 21 GitHub Actions reviews

2,330 Views
2,011 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

AWS CodePipeline

GitHub Actions

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 5, 2025

AWS CodePipeline and GitHub Actions both compete in the CI/CD tools category. AWS CodePipeline might have the upper hand for users deeply integrated into the AWS ecosystem due to its strong integration capabilities, while GitHub Actions is preferred for ease of use and integration within GitHub.

Features: AWS CodePipeline offers seamless integration with AWS services, making transitions between environments easier. Users find its management of deployments efficient and appreciate its integration with tools like Slack and Jira. In contrast, GitHub Actions is valued for its simplicity and scalability, supporting processes through editable YAML files and automation with various tools including Jenkins.

Room for Improvement: AWS CodePipeline faces challenges with its cost and limited integration with non-AWS platforms like Azure and Google Cloud. The documentation could be more comprehensive, and integration with third-party tools could be improved. For GitHub Actions, enhancements in artifact management and dashboards are needed, along with better debugging capabilities and integration with more platforms.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both AWS CodePipeline and GitHub Actions are usually deployed on public clouds. CodePipeline benefits from strong AWS integration but is slightly more complex. AWS's customer service is generally positive, though response time can vary. GitHub Actions is noted for its user-friendliness and broad accessibility due to its open-source nature, but customer support response time may need improvement.

Pricing and ROI: AWS CodePipeline follows a pay-as-you-go pricing model, deemed affordable by some but expensive by others compared to alternatives, offering strong ROI by saving time and optimizing resources. GitHub Actions is a cost-effective choice, being free for most users with extra enterprise features at a cost, making it appealing for individuals and enterprises alike. Both tools are recognized for enhancing development efficiency and time optimization.

To learn more, read our detailed AWS CodePipeline vs. GitHub Actions Report (Updated: April 2025).

Buyer's Guide

AWS CodePipeline vs. GitHub Actions

April 2025

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Helped 849,686 peers since 2012

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

AWS CodePipeline

Ranking in Build Automation

4th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.7

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

GitHub Actions

Ranking in Build Automation

5th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2025, in the Build Automation category, the mindshare of AWS CodePipeline is 5.6%, down from 8.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of GitHub Actions is 11.4%, up from 5.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Build Automation

Featured Reviews

Udhay Prakash Pethakamsetty

Data Engineer Manager at Capgemini

A fully managed service with excellent integrations and a flexible architecture

Compared to any other tools, AWS products provide better integrations. We have tools for all our needs. The integrations are good. The product is a fully managed service. We specify the various stages in the CI/CD process. We can do it without any external tools. Going through everything is usually an overhead for developers. It is like a configuration. We need to configure it only once. The integration with other AWS services has helped us. Our life as a developer is easy. We need not focus on the integration manually. If we work with third-party tools, we must consider connectivity, role management, security, authentication, and authorization. In AWS CodePipeline, if we have IAM roles configured and KMS for the credentials, we need not worry about anything else. Everything can be done within the tool. The integrations are the best part. We can track everything. The connectivity and scalability are good. The architecture is also flexible enough. We can add multiple things.

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Muzammil Riaz

Senior Test Engineer at 10Pearls

Offers version control, automated script execution and reduces manual efforts

Its integration and deployment are quite easy. You need to create a YAML file in your project, detailing configurations within this file. It integrates itself, requiring you to specify titles, descriptions, parameters, and a trigger scheduler if needed. Apart from that, it's just a simple YAML file, so there's no need for complex configurations. In one project, I used GitHub to automate an application related to email marketing, focusing on actions for data scraping. This required running scripts daily, sometimes even twice or thrice a day. Manually executing these scripts is inefficient and overly reliant on individual team members. However, by integrating the project with GitHub Actions, we automated script execution. Triggers were set up to initiate the pipeline automatically with every new commit or push to a branch. Additionally, we implemented schedulers to run pipelines at predetermined times, like 9 PM or 2 PM. Another enhancement was executing five tests in parallel through data actions, making the process more robust. GitHub Actions also offers stepwise execution details, greatly aiding in understanding and managing workflows. I have optimized job execution time by running test scripts in parallel and creating multiple pipelines; we've significantly reduced execution times. What could take 50 minutes can be cut down to just 8 to 10 minutes through these optimizations.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"It helps develop CI/CD implementations with centralized management of code building, deployment, and version control."

"The integration with other applications is fabulous."

"I find performance to be the most valuable CodePipeline feature. It works perfectly and smoothly."

"It's a perfect solution if you are just using AWS."

"I prefer using CodePipeline and CodeBuild in AWS due to their integration with AWS services, like directly deploying to ECS using Cloud Deploy."

"Different applications can be enhanced with AWS CodePipeline"

"In AWS, the Cloud DevOps is a managed service from CodeCommit and this has removed the need for a lot of manual steps."

"The notification and approval approach in the production environment are very useful."

More AWS CodePipeline pros

"We can trigger files manually or automate processes."

"It is a very stable solution as we have not faced any issues."

"It improves efficiency as it involves no downtime and is managed by GitHub."

"The most valuable feature of GitHub Actions is the ability to automate various tasks, such as backups and deployments, to ease the development workflow."

"I find the automation feature of GitHub Actions most valuable for our building processes. It integrates seamlessly with GitHub, so there's no extra configuration needed, making the building process easy and efficient. GitHub Actions handles scalability well, automatically managing execution infrastructure without requiring additional configurations. We haven't yet explored GitHub Actions' support for AI projects, as we haven't used its AI capabilities."

"The most valuable features of GitHub Actions include its seamless integration within GitHub, which simplifies the CI/CD pipeline setup. The scalability of using different types of runners—both public and private runners—enhances deployment flexibility."

"Creating workflows in YAML format is straightforward and easy to comprehend. This includes both understanding and writing workflows. Additionally, the downloading aspect for third-party instances can also be easily done. It's worth noting that vulnerability analysis and similar tasks should be part of our automation through data workflows. Furthermore, we can break down our processes step by step, starting from building, then moving on to analysis, testing, and finally deploying in production and the clear environment. All of these tasks can be efficiently managed within this platform."

"I am familiar with the entire life cycle of the product."

More GitHub Actions pros

Cons

"It would be a much better tool if it could be made compatible with other cloud services as well since this is an area the product currently lacks."

"While CodePipeline's UI has improved, further enhancements in user experience are necessary to make it more intuitive."

"The tool does not provide automated features for evidence collection."

"Improved enhancements and features could make it more intuitive."

"In the next release, I would like to see fewer timeout errors."

"The migration process from one source code to another needs improvement."

"The setup time is a bit long."

"AWS CodePipeline functions well, but there's room for improvement in providing technical support to regular customers who haven't purchased developer support. I mean, having it available for everyone, even if it's not a 24-hour service. It would be more useful if specific support hours were available for assistance."

More AWS CodePipeline cons

"Switching between hosted and self-hosted agents can be a bit complex, as self-hosted agents need to be provisioned in platforms like Azure or AWS."

"Sometimes incremental steps should be taken during deployment instead of trying to execute all tasks simultaneously, particularly when dealing with AWS EKS clusters and Helm charts."

"The UI could be better."

"The main challenge I've experienced is with integration, particularly uploading to OneDrive, which was more complex compared to Google Drive or AWS S3 bucket."

"The main improvement would be to add support for more programming languages and frameworks."

"The reporting capabilities are somewhat limited."

"We can leverage this database tool to manage everything within our environment and data burners, allowing for customization and execution. An additional advantage is the capability to modify aspects like file size, making processes more efficient and faster across the pipelines. Regarding improvements or implementations, I believe there should be enhancements made to the deployment tool. It should be integrated as part of the solution. Infrastructure-wise, we already have tools like GitHub and RobSpot, and data enables us to automate various processes, which is quite beneficial. As for further enhancements, I'm uncertain. I've shared everything I know. However, if there's something specific you'd like to see in future releases, a feature that may not exist yet but would be desirable, I can't provide any input on that matter."

"There is a part that detects outdated libraries. If that feature could be more intuitive and informative, that would be nice."

More GitHub Actions cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing of this solution is dependent upon your needs including how many jobs you daily and how many times the developer will be changing codes and completing deployments."

"AWS offers free business or enterprise support services."

"Compared to other cloud services, AWS CodePipeline falls a bit more on the pricey side. I see that the price of the product has been increasing for the past few years."

"The pricing is manageable."

"AWS charges you based on the number of pipelines you have and how active they are, and I also think that the root account user knows about all the price-related metrics."

"It is a straightforward approach where you pay for the resources you consume as they offer a subscription-based licensing model."

"The product is quite expensive compared to other solutions."

"AWS CodePipeline is quite affordable. I've been running around four pipelines and the cost is around one dollar per month. It rarely exceeds two dollars."

More AWS CodePipeline pricing and cost advice

"Price-wise, GitHub Actions is okay. If I want to use the product's advanced features, then I need to pay the licensing charges for the solution."

"The cost for GitHub Actions may be around $45 dollars per user."

"It's low-priced. Not high, but definitely low."

"It is free and open platform, so I would rate it 1 out of 10."

"Regarding cost, as an enterprise, we negotiate our license and expenses, so I can't provide a specific rating for that."

"The tool's price is okay and reasonable."

"For our basic usage, we didn't have to pay."

"The product is slightly more expensive than some alternatives."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

14%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

17%

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

Questions from the Community

Which AWS solution would you choose - CodeStar or CodePipeline?

Both AWS solutions deliver solid options, with uniquely different features. AWS CodeStar allows for quick development, building, and deployments of apps. It also provides web application and web se...

See all answers

What do you like most about AWS CodePipeline?

Code deployment is the best feature.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for AWS CodePipeline?

AWS CodePipeline and its associated services do not incur significant additional charges. The cost primarily comes from deploying other AWS resources like EC2 and S3 alongside the pipeline.

See all answers

What do you like most about GitHub Actions?

I have optimized job execution time by running test scripts in parallel and creating multiple pipelines; we've significantly reduced execution times. What could take 50 minutes can be cut down to j...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for GitHub Actions?

I would rate pricing a seven, which leans toward the expensive side. However, there is still value for money, and that's why we continue using it.

See all answers

What needs improvement with GitHub Actions?

I would need to check with my team about specific shortcomings. We still use Jenkins ( /products/jenkins-reviews ) for some tasks, which suggests there may be areas for improvement in GitHub Actions.

See all answers

Comparisons

GitLab vs AWS CodePipeline

Compared 63% of the time

Jenkins vs AWS CodePipeline

Compared 11% of the time

AWS CodeStar vs AWS CodePipeline

Compared 7% of the time

Tekton vs AWS CodePipeline

Compared 4% of the time

Harness vs AWS CodePipeline

Compared 4% of the time

More AWS CodePipeline Competitors

Tekton vs GitHub Actions

Compared 35% of the time

Bamboo vs GitHub Actions

Compared 15% of the time

Harness vs GitHub Actions

Compared 13% of the time

TeamCity vs GitHub Actions

Compared 10% of the time

GitLab vs GitHub Actions

Compared 3% of the time

More GitHub Actions Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AWS CodePipeline

April 2025

Download AWS CodePipeline product report

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Actions

April 2025

Download GitHub Actions product report

Also Known As

CodePipeline

No data available

Overview

AWS CodePipeline is a fully managed continuous delivery service that helps you automate your release pipelines for fast and reliable application and infrastructure updates. CodePipeline automates the build, test, and deploy phases of your release process every time there is a code change, based on the release model you define. This enables you to rapidly and reliably deliver features and updates. You can easily integrate AWS CodePipeline with third-party services such as GitHub or with your own custom plugin. With AWS CodePipeline, you only pay for what you use. There are no upfront fees or long-term commitments.

Amazon Web Services (AWS)

GitHub Actions streamlines CI/CD processes with an intuitive YAML workflow and robust automation, enhancing efficiency and integration with third-party tools and cloud providers.

GitHub Actions automates development pipelines, supports scalable public and private runners, and manages secure secrets. This tool integrates seamlessly with platforms like AWS, Kubernetes, Google Cloud, and Databricks. It enhances DevOps workflows with reliable task automation. Users note areas for UI and deployment tool improvements, artifact management simplification, and additional programming language support. Debugging complexity and hosting agent transitions pose challenges, along with integration enhancements for tools like OneDrive.

What are GitHub Actions' key features?

YAML Workflow Creation: Simplifies configuration with intuitive YAML.
CI/CD Integration: Provides seamless integration within DevOps pipelines.
Automation Capabilities: Automates tasks with minimal manual intervention.
Third-Party Tool Compatibility: Works well with diverse tools and platforms.
Secure Secrets Management: Protects sensitive information effectively.

What benefits do users find in GitHub Actions?

Enhanced Performance: Boosts task execution speed and reliability.
Scalability: Supports growth with flexible runner options.
Improved Release Cycles: Ensures consistent updates and deployments.
Workflow Efficiency: Reduces manual tasks, increasing operational efficiency.

Companies in tech and software development frequently utilize GitHub Actions for integrating, deploying, and versioning projects. It is often employed for deploying applications to cloud environments like AWS and Kubernetes, managing extensive CI/CD workflows, and automating test and security operations, thereby streamlining production cycles across industries.

GitHub

Sample Customers

Expedia, Intuit, Royal Dutch Shell, Brooks Brothers

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

AWS CodePipeline vs. GitHub Actions

April 2025

Free Report: AWS CodePipeline vs. GitHub Actions

Find out what your peers are saying about AWS CodePipeline vs. GitHub Actions and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.

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