AWS CodeBuild vs GitHub Actions comparison

Amazon Web Services (AWS) and GitHub are both solutions in the Build Automation category. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is ranked #9 with an average rating of 8.2, while GitHub is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.4. Amazon Web Services (AWS) holds a 1.7% mindshare in BA, compared to GitHub’s 10.0% mindshare. Additionally, 91% of Amazon Web Services (AWS) users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of GitHub users who would recommend it.

AWS CodeBuild

Read 12 AWS CodeBuild reviews

608 Views
608 Comparison Views

91% willing to recommend

GitHub Actions

Read 22 GitHub Actions reviews

2,938 Views
2,938 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

AWS CodeBuild

GitHub Actions

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 5, 2025

AWS CodeBuild and GitHub Actions are contenders in the CI/CD tools category, offering solutions for automating software deployments. AWS CodeBuild is advantageous for those integrated into the AWS ecosystem, while GitHub Actions is ideal for developers leveraging GitHub repositories for version control.

Features: AWS CodeBuild supports multiple programming languages and provides scalable build environments, integrating seamlessly with other AWS services. GitHub Actions offers flexible CI/CD pipelines, enabling workflow customization and integration through the GitHub Marketplace. It suits those already using GitHub by enhancing the functionality of version control with a wide range of reusable workflows.

Room for Improvement: AWS CodeBuild could enhance its user interface for those not familiar with AWS, reduce dependencies on AWS services, and improve documentation clarity for non-AWS components. GitHub Actions might expand integration options beyond GitHub, provide more comprehensive error reporting, and enhance the scalability for extremely high-volume projects to improve its utility outside GitHub-focused environments.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: AWS CodeBuild's deployment model is optimized for AWS, backed by an extensive support system, making it comfortable for teams entrenched in AWS. GitHub Actions' intuitive setup aligns perfectly with the GitHub environment and is supported by responsive service that adeptly manages user issues, making it easier for GitHub users to navigate and implement.

Pricing and ROI: AWS CodeBuild operates on a pay-as-you-go basis, suitable for AWS heavy projects demanding scalability, while GitHub Actions offers free tiers and competitive pricing for larger projects, especially those centered around GitHub, providing strong ROI.

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

Buyer's Guide

AWS CodeBuild vs. GitHub Actions

September 2025

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Helped 868,787 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 CodeBuild

Ranking in Build Automation

9th

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

GitHub Actions

Ranking in Build Automation

3rd

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Build Automation category, the mindshare of AWS CodeBuild is 1.7%, up from 1.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of GitHub Actions is 10.0%, up from 9.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Build Automation Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
GitHub Actions	10.0%
AWS CodeBuild	1.7%
Other	88.3%

Build Automation

Featured Reviews

Mahadev Metre

DevOps Engineer at Paydoh

Integration with diverse environments boosts productivity and automation

AWS CodeBuild's support for a wide range of programming languages and build environments benefits development teams significantly in terms of productivity and ease of use. There are extensive libraries of code structures available, making it a universal pipeline. All programming languages I have worked with are supported in AWS CodeBuild, eliminating the need for alternative deployment services. The service supports iOS builds, Kotlin, Java, NodeJS, and ReactJS. AWS has made it accessible to all languages, allowing developers to simply open the console and trigger builds. AWS manages all the background server operations for building or deploying code. For standard builds such as ReactJS or Java, a Linux or Ubuntu server suffices. AWS provides its own operating system for these purposes. For builds requiring physical servers, such as Apple macOS server, AWS rents Mac minis specifically for iOS and SwiftUI builds. While this incurs higher charges, it demonstrates AWS's commitment to providing comprehensive solutions for all use cases.

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MuhammadAzhar Khan

Senior DevOps Engineer at Alibaba Group

Integration with various environments and cloud providers enhances automation

I use GitHub Actions for CI/CD pipelines. I automate infrastructure, deployment, and all processes. Most companies use CI/CD pipelines, and GitHub Actions is one of the tools available for this purpose The most valuable feature of GitHub Actions is that it is completely free. It can be integrated…

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The solution provides good integrations."

"It works seamlessly with AWS Elastic Container Registry (ECR)."

"The tool is used to build and test code. I find its biggest advantages are elasticity and reliability. We can easily assign as many computing resources as needed to build our code, which is much simpler than traditional methods that require server upgrades. It's a serverless tool, so it's very flexible and elastic."

"One of the main features I value in CodeBuild compared to previous experiences, like using Jenkins, is its ability to handle tasks automatically with AWS, requiring only proper setup of the check file."

"The initial setup of CodeBuild is easy."

"A valuable feature is the support for third-party repositories such as Bitbucket, GitLab, or GitHub."

"AWS CodeBuild reduces wait time and optimizes workflows."

"The integration is a good feature."

More AWS CodeBuild pros

"GitHub Actions is a beautiful tool that integrates smoothly with all major tools, reducing CI/CD work by 30% to 40%."

"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."

"It offers numerous built-in features for pipeline management, release management, and even work item tracking on boards, which makes it a versatile tool that seamlessly integrates with hardware and facilitates optimization."

"GitHub Actions helps automate the deployment process, eliminating manual copying and testing, which saves time and minimizes errors."

"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."

"GitHub Actions can be easily configured, especially for environment variables and secrets. The UI is understandable and user-friendly for setting up CI/CD pipelines. I prefer tools like GitLab, where the pipeline starts quickly and is accessible near the commits for easy access. However, many CI/CD tools are interchangeable due to similar features of GitHub Actions and other similar tools."

"The level of automation achievable is really good. So, the custom workflow creation and Marketplace Actions improved our project's efficiency."

"The product's most beneficial feature is the ability to create workflows within the solution."

More GitHub Actions pros

Cons

"There is no persistent storage or preservation of workspace between the builds."

"For improvement, I'd suggest more build instance-type options. There's a big jump from 15 gigabytes of RAM to 150, and I'd like something in between as the larger option is too expensive for our needs."

"The front-end interface and the management are somewhat challenging, and there's a lot of space for improvement."

"We had integration issues with a tool called Octopus Deploy while using CodeBuild. AWS support helped us resolve it, however, it could be better."

"While working on building images for multiple applications within a single script, I encountered an issue where looping functionality was not supported as expected."

"There have been times when CodeBuild has shown some instability, like bugs or breakdowns."

"The deployment fails sometimes."

"One of the main challenges is that if the environment is not set up properly, it will result in issues such as image errors."

More AWS CodeBuild cons

"The minor drawback of GitHub Actions is the management of the dashboard and pipeline runs, which needs improvement. The dashboard for running pipelines could be better."

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

"My company would want to see some AI features in the tool as it can add value to the product."

"The primary area for improvement I see is in artifact management, especially for saving screenshots or videos from failed tests or data-driven actions. Currently, the configuration for saving these artifacts is complex."

"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 only issue I have faced is with authorization, particularly when configuring the GitHub token correctly."

"Improvements could be made in terms of time-saving capabilities and resolving potential complexities in centralized workflows."

More GitHub Actions cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"AWS CodeBuild is free. We only pay for our code's compute resources during the build process. For example, if our code takes ten minutes to build, we only pay for those ten minutes of computing time. CodeDeploy and CodePipeline are free because they're serverless and don't require computing resources. CodeCommit has minimal costs for storing code."

"We pay a monthly licensing fee."

"Despite the cost, it is worth the investment."

"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."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

17%

Media Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Financial Services Firm

18%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Computer Software Company

11%

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	2

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	9
Midsize Enterprise	3
Large Enterprise	11

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about AWS CodeBuild?

It works seamlessly with AWS Elastic Container Registry (ECR).

See all answers

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

The cost structure is affordable for most builds except macOS servers. Standard builds can utilize AWS EC2 servers for background operations. However, macOS or iOS builds require physical servers m...

See all answers

What needs improvement with AWS CodeBuild?

The servers used for macOS and iOS builds are limited in availability, operating only in US East 1 and East 2, and US West 1 and West 2. This geographical limitation causes latency issues and exten...

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?

Frankly, I cannot imagine something that could be improved in GitHub Actions; there's a lot of capabilities, and the feature set is more advanced than we use. The pricing is high for the advanced s...

See all answers

Comparisons

AWS CodePipeline vs AWS CodeBuild

Compared 27% of the time

GitLab vs AWS CodeBuild

Compared 19% of the time

Jenkins vs AWS CodeBuild

Compared 15% of the time

More AWS CodeBuild Competitors

Tekton vs GitHub Actions

Compared 29% of the time

Harness vs GitHub Actions

Compared 14% of the time

Bamboo vs GitHub Actions

Compared 10% of the time

TeamCity vs GitHub Actions

Compared 10% of the time

CircleCI vs GitHub Actions

Compared 3% of the time

More GitHub Actions Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

AWS CodeBuild

September 2025

Download AWS CodeBuild product report

Buyer's Guide

GitHub Actions

September 2025

Download GitHub Actions product report

Also Known As

CodeBuild

No data available

Overview

AWS CodeBuild is a fully managed continuous integration service that compiles source code, runs tests, and produces software packages that are ready to deploy. With CodeBuild, you don’t need to provision, manage, and scale your own build servers. CodeBuild scales continuously and processes multiple builds concurrently, so your builds are not left waiting in a queue. You can get started quickly by using prepackaged build environments, or you can create custom build environments that use your own build tools. With CodeBuild, you are charged by the minute for the compute resources you use.

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 CodeBuild vs. GitHub Actions

September 2025

Free Report: AWS CodeBuild vs. GitHub Actions

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

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