CircleCI vs Inngest: Full Comparison (2026)
Pricing, features, scores, and a clear verdict on which one is right for you.
The bottom line
CircleCI positions itself as "ci/cd platform for fast, flexible pipelines" while Inngest goes after "durable workflows for serverless" — so the right pick depends on which problem you're actually solving. Both use freemium pricing, but CircleCI charges per credit while Inngest charges per operation — a meaningful difference for larger teams. CircleCI (founded 2011) has had more time to build out its ecosystem and integrations, while Inngest (2021) tends to move faster on modern UX and newer workflows.
At a glance
| CircleCI | Inngest | |
|---|---|---|
| Our score | 74/100 | 85/100 |
| Starting price | $15/mo | Free |
| Free tier | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | CI/CD platform for fast, flexible pipelines | Durable workflows for serverless |
Pricing comparison
Calculate your cost
Feature comparison
core
| Feature | CircleCI | Inngest |
|---|---|---|
| Docker support | Yes | No |
| Pipeline configuration (YAML) | Yes | No |
| Parallelism | Yes | No |
| Caching | Yes | No |
| Test splitting | Yes | No |
| Durable workflows | No | Yes |
| Step functions | No | Yes |
| Scheduled jobs | No | Yes |
| Event-driven triggers | No | Yes |
| Fan-out | No | Yes |
Ratings breakdown
What the data tells us
Key capabilities you'd miss
Choosing CircleCI means going without Durable workflows, Step functions, Scheduled jobs (which Inngest offers). Choosing Inngest means losing Docker support, Pipeline configuration (YAML), Parallelism. These are the features that typically drive the final decision — check whether your workflow depends on any of them before committing.
What company size tells you
CircleCI (501-1,000 employees) has the engineering bench to ship features across many fronts but may iterate slower on individual requests. Inngest (1-10 employees) typically ships faster on its core product but may lag on peripheral features. Consider which matters more for your roadmap.
Choose CircleCI if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value powerful features over simplicity
- You need enterprise-grade capabilities
Choose Inngest if...
- You want a free tier to get started
- You value an intuitive, easy-to-use interface
- Getting strong value for money is a priority
Frequently asked questions
Is CircleCI or Inngest better?
Inngest scores 85/100 compared to CircleCI's 74/100 on VendorVS. However, the best choice depends on your needs — CircleCI excels at ease of use (7/10) while Inngest scores 9/10.
How much does CircleCI cost compared to Inngest?
CircleCI starts at $15/mo (free tier available). Inngest starts at free (free tier available). Inngest is the more affordable option.
Does CircleCI or Inngest have a free plan?
Yes, both CircleCI and Inngest offer free tiers, so you can try each before committing to a paid plan.
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