Instead of Jenkins: GitHub Actions

Why GitHub Actions is better

• There is nothing to host. GitHub provides Linux, Windows and macOS virtual machines, and you can still add self-hosted runners in your own data centre or cloud.
• Workflows are YAML files in .github/workflows, versioned and reviewed with the code, and can run on pull requests, issues, releases, a schedule or by hand.
• Reusable actions and reusable workflows replace most plugins, and each job pulls in the steps it needs instead of sharing server-wide plugins.
• Standard runners are free for public repositories and self-hosted runners are free. Private repositories get an included allowance; beyond it, a 10-minute job on a standard Linux runner costs $0.06.
• GitHub Actions Importer converts Jenkins pipelines automatically, apart from constructs such as unknown plugins that need manual work.

When to keep Jenkins

Keep Jenkins when builds must run entirely on your own infrastructure with no hosted service involved, when your code lives outside GitHub, or when you depend on Jenkins plugins for tools such as Perforce or ClearCase. Jenkins remains open source, actively maintained and a graduated Continuous Delivery Foundation project.

Switching

Run GitHub Actions Importer to audit your Jenkins setup and draft equivalent workflows, then review each one. Jenkinsfile stages become jobs and steps, credentials move into GitHub secrets, and agents become GitHub-hosted or self-hosted runners. Pipelines that lean on Groovy scripting or unusual plugins need rewriting by hand.

Watch out

Actions ties your CI to GitHub and its pricing, and billed minutes on private repositories add up for heavy builds. Third-party actions run with access to your secrets, so pin them to a commit and review them. Larger runners, including GPU machines, are billed even for public repositories.

Also worth a look

• Woodpecker CI A lightweight, container-based CI server you host yourself, small enough to run on a Raspberry Pi; pick it for self-hosted CI without Jenkins's upkeep.
• GitLab CI/CD CI built into GitLab with YAML pipelines; the natural pick when your code lives on GitLab.