As software development teams seek to optimize workflows and enhance collaboration, many are exploring alternatives to Azure DevOps. While Azure DevOps offers a comprehensive suite of tools for project management, version control, and CI/CD, it may not be the perfect fit for every organization.
In this guide, we’ll explore some popular Azure DevOps alternatives that cater to different needs and preferences. From the comprehensive and flexible platform of monday dev to GitHub’s robust version control and GitLab’s all-in-one DevOps platform, we’ll examine how these tools stack up against Azure DevOps and help you find the best fit for your team’s unique requirements.
Try monday devWhat is Azure DevOps?
Microsoft’s Azure DevOps is a comprehensive software development platform with integrated tools and services to support the entire software development lifecycle. It consists of five main components to help teams plan, develop, test, and deliver software more efficiently:
- Azure Boards: For agile planning, work item tracking, and visualization of project progress.
- Azure Repos: Provides version control systems, including Git repositories and Team Foundation Version Control (TFVC).
- Azure Pipelines: Enables continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) for various platforms and languages.
- Azure Test Plans: Offers tools for manual and exploratory testing.
- Azure Artifacts: Manages packages for software development.
You can use all the components or choose what you need to complement your existing workflows.
Azure DevOps is available as both a cloud service — Azure DevOps Services — and an on-premises solution — Azure DevOps Server. It supports various development methodologies, including Scrum, Kanban, and hybrid approaches, making it adaptable to different team needs and project requirements. Its key features and benefits include:
- Collaboration: Facilitates teamwork across different functions within an organization.
- Workflow planning: Enables teams to plan and manage their work effectively.
- Code development: Supports collaborative coding and version control.
- Automated builds and deployments: Streamlines the build and deployment processes.
- Customizable dashboards: Provides configurable dashboards for project insights.
- Integration capabilities: Offers deep integration with community and commercial tools.
10 Azure DevOps alternative tools
While Azure DevOps is an excellent platform for software development teams, it’s not the only option. Due to its steep learning curve, potential high costs for large teams, and limited customization options, you may want an alternative that offers more flexibility, easier integration with diverse systems, and lower subscription costs while still providing robust project management and development tools.
Below, we’ve gathered ten Azure DevOps alternatives to consider when choosing your product and software development solution.
| Software | Best for | Standout feature | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| monday dev | Development teams looking for a customizable and scalable solution | Customizable sprint management and direct Git repository integration | Premium plans from $9/seat/month |
| Jira | Development teams practicing agile methodologies | Highly customizable and flexible workflow system | Free plan available; premium plans from $7/user/month |
| ClickUp | Development teams looking for a versatile project management solution | Customizable Agile workflows (Kanban boards, Scrum) | Free plan available; premium plans from $7/user/month |
| CircleCI | Development teams seeking a flexible and scalable CI/CD solution with extensive automation capabilities | Customizable workflows with support for parallel jobs | Free plan available; premium plans from $15/month |
| Bitbucket | Development teams already using Atlassian products like Jira seeking flexible deployment options | Built-in continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) | Free plan available; premium plans from $3/user/month |
| GitHub | Development teams and individuals looking to manage their code and collaborate on open-source projects | Version control with Git repositories | Free plan available; premium plans from $4/user/month |
| GitLab | Development teams seeking an all-in-one solution to prioritize customization and integration | Built-in CI/CD pipelines with automated testing and deployment | Free plan available; premium plans from $29/user/month |
| Jenkins | Development teams seeking a flexible and customizable CI/CD solution and extensive plugin ecosystem | Customizable CI/CD pipelines with support for multiple languages and tools | Free and open-source |
| Octopus Deploy | Development teams seeking a robust and scalable deployment automation solution | Comprehensive and customizable deployment process management | Premium plans from $30/month |
| TeamCity | Development teams seeking a robust and scalable CI/CD solution with coding support | Customizable build configurations and workflows | Premium plans from $15/month |
Let’s take a look at each solution in more detail.
1. monday dev
Best for: Software development teams, product managers, and R&D departments looking for a customizable and scalable solution
monday dev is a flexible yet powerful product management and software development platform for managing the entire product lifecycle, from conceptualization to launch. It provides customizable workflows, robust integrations, and collaboration features to streamline software development processes.
Key features of monday dev
- Sprint management with customizable Scrum and Kanban boards
- Git integration (GitHub, GitLab) for easy repository and pull request connections
- Customizable automations for task assignments and workflow integrations
- Highly customizable workflows and views to fit specific team needs
- Robust integration capabilities with over 200 apps and tools
- Built-in workdocs functionality for storing and linking project information
monday dev pricing
- Basic: From $9/seat/month
- Standard: From $12/seat/month
- Pro: From $20/seat/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Read more about the monday dev plans and pricing.
monday dev ratings and reviews
Compare: monday.com vs. Jira, monday.com vs. ClickUp, monday.com vs. Asana, monday.com vs. Trello
Try monday dev2. Jira
Best for: Software development teams, IT operations, and organizations practicing agile methodologies
Jira is a versatile project management and issue-tracking software developed by Atlassian and is widely used for agile software development. It offers customizable workflows, powerful tracking capabilities, and extensive integration options to streamline the software development lifecycle.
Key features of Jira
- Customizable Scrum and Kanban boards
- Advanced roadmaps for strategic planning
- Robust issue tracking and bug management
- Highly flexible and customizable workflows
- Robust integration capabilities with over 3000 apps
- Comprehensive reporting and analytics tools
Jira pricing
- Free: Up to 10 users
- Standard: From $7.75/user/month
- Premium: From $15.25/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Read more about Jira’s plans and pricing.
Jira ratings and reviews
Compare: Jira vs. ClickUp, Jira vs. Asana, Jira vs. Basecamp, Jira vs. monday.com, Jira Alternatives
3. ClickUp
Best for: Software development teams, IT professionals, and organizations looking for a versatile project management solution with product development features
ClickUp is a versatile cloud-based project management tool with a centralized platform for planning projects, managing tasks, and facilitating team communication. It provides a wide range of features and customization options to streamline workflows and enhance productivity across various industries.
Key features of ClickUp
- Customizable Agile workflows (Kanban boards, Scrum)
- Git integration (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket)
- Time tracking and estimation
- Robust automation capabilities
- Highly customizable with numerous views and features
- Comprehensive task management with dependencies and subtasks
ClickUp pricing
- Free: Basic features for unlimited users
- Unlimited: From $7/user/month
- Business: From $12/user/month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
Read more about ClickUp’s plans and pricing.
ClickUp ratings and reviews
Compare: ClickUp Alternatives, ClickUp vs. monday.com, ClickUp vs. Trello, ClickUp vs. Asana
4. CircleCI
Best for: Software development teams, DevOps professionals, and organizations seeking a flexible and scalable CI/CD solution with extensive automation capabilities
CircleCI is a cloud-based continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) platform that automates the software development pipeline, enabling teams to build, test, and deploy code faster and more reliably. It offers a wide range of integrations and supports multiple programming languages, making it a versatile choice for DevOps teams looking to streamline their development processes.
Key features of CircleCI
- Customizable workflows with support for parallel jobs
- Extensive integration capabilities with tools like GitHub and Bitbucket
- Orbs for reusable packages of configuration and simplified setup
- Easy setup and maintenance of CI/CD pipelines
- Fast build times with support for concurrent jobs
- Robust security features, including encrypted environment variables
CircleCI pricing
- Free: $0/month for up to 6,000 build minutes
- Performance: Starting at $15/month for additional features and build minutes
- Scale: Custom pricing starting at $2,000/month for large teams and enterprises
CircleCI ratings and reviews
5. Bitbucket
Best for: Software development teams, especially those already using Atlassian products like Jira, and organizations seeking flexible deployment options (cloud, server, or data center)
Bitbucket is a versatile Git-based code hosting and collaboration platform developed by Atlassian, offering robust features for version control, continuous integration, and project management. It provides deep integration with other Atlassian tools and supports both Git and Mercurial version control systems, making it a popular choice for software development teams.
Key features of Bitbucket
- Built-in continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD) with Bitbucket Pipelines
- Advanced code review capabilities with pull requests and inline comments
- Deep integration with Jira for seamless issue tracking and project management
- Unlimited private repositories with flexible per-user pricing
- Strong security features, including IP whitelisting and two-step verification
- Supports both Git and Mercurial version control systems
Bitbucket pricing
- Free: Up to 5 users
- Standard: From $3/user/month
- Premium: From $6/user/month
Bitbucket ratings and reviews
Compare: 20 Best Software Development Tools
6. GitHub
Best for: Individual developers, software development teams, open-source communities, and organizations of all sizes looking for a robust platform to manage their code and collaborate on open-source projects
GitHub is a widely adopted Git-based code hosting and collaboration platform that allows developers to manage, share, and collaborate on software projects. It offers version control, project management tools, and a vast open-source community, making it a central software development and collaboration hub.
Key features of GitHub
- Version control with Git repositories
- Pull requests and code review capabilities
- GitHub Actions for CI/CD workflows
- Extensive integration capabilities with popular development tools
- Large and active community for open-source collaboration
- AI-powered development assistance with GitHub Copilot
GitHub pricing
- Free: $0 for public repositories and basic features
- Team: From $4/user/month
- Enterprise: From $21/user/month
GitHub ratings and reviews
Compare: 20 Best Software Development Tools, 10 Best Software Development Collaboration Tools
7. GitLab
Best for: Software development teams, DevOps professionals, and organizations seeking an all-in-one solution for their entire software development lifecycle, particularly those prioritizing customization and integration
GitLab is a comprehensive DevOps platform that provides a complete CI/CD toolchain delivered in a single application, offering version control, project management, and collaboration features. It’s an open-source solution that can be self-hosted or used as a cloud-based service, making it highly flexible for various development needs.
Key features of GitLab
- Built-in CI/CD pipelines with automated testing and deployment
- Integrated issue-tracking and project management tools
- Container registry and Kubernetes integration
- All-in-one platform reducing the need for multiple tools
- Highly customizable to suit specific development needs
- Strong security features like fine-grained access controls
GitLab pricing
- Free: $0 for basic features
- Premium: From $29/user/month
- Ultimate: Custom pricing
GitLab ratings and reviews
Compare: 10 Best Software Development Collaboration Tools, 10 Best Issue Tracking Software
8. Jenkins
Best for: Software development teams, DevOps professionals, and organizations seeking a flexible and customizable CI/CD solution with a large community and extensive plugin ecosystem
Jenkins is an open-source automation server widely used for continuous integration and delivery (CI/CD). It offers extensive customization through plugins and supports various programming languages and tools, making it a versatile choice for automating build, test, and deployment processes.
Key features of Jenkins
- Customizable CI/CD pipelines with support for multiple languages and tools
- Extensive plugin ecosystem with over 1,500 plugins for integration and functionality extension
- Distributed builds and test execution across multiple machines
- Highly flexible and customizable to fit specific development needs
- Strong community support and extensive documentation
- Free and open-source with no licensing costs
Jenkins pricing
Jenkins is free and open-source. There are no direct costs for using Jenkins, but organizations may incur infrastructure, maintenance, and support expenses.
Jenkins ratings and reviews
9. Octopus Deploy
Best for: Software development teams, DevOps professionals, and organizations seeking a robust and scalable deployment automation solution, particularly those with complex multi-environment deployment needs
Octopus Deploy is a sophisticated continuous delivery (CD) platform for modern software teams, offering automated release management, application deployment, and routine operations. It excels at handling complex deployment challenges while providing a user-friendly interface that enables teams to manage application releases and streamline software delivery.
Key features of Octopus Deploy
- Comprehensive deployment process management with customizable steps and workflows
- Multi-environment support with advanced variable management
- Built-in release management and versioning capabilities
- Extensive integration capabilities with CI/CD tools and cloud platforms
- Powerful automation features for complex deployment scenarios
- User-friendly interface that simplifies deployment management
Octopus Deploy pricing
- Starter: From $360/year for 10 projects
- Professional: From $4,170/year for 20 projects
- Enterprise: From $23,400/year for 100 projects
Octopus Deploy ratings and reviews
10. TeamCity
Best for: Modern DevOps teams seeking a robust and scalable CI/CD solution with strong support for Java, .NET, and Ruby development
TeamCity is a powerful continuous integration and deployment (CI/CD) server developed by JetBrains, offering automated building, testing, and deployment capabilities for software projects. It provides a user-friendly interface, extensive integrations, and advanced features to streamline the software development lifecycle.
Key features of TeamCity
- Customizable build configurations and workflows
- Comprehensive version control system integrations
- Advanced code quality analysis and testing capabilities
- User-friendly interface with intuitive project management
- Extensive plugin ecosystem and integration options
- Real-time build monitoring and detailed reporting
TeamCity pricing
- SaaS TeamCity Pipelines: From $15/month
- SaaS TeamCity Cloud Enterprise: From $45/month
- On-Premises Professional: $0 for up to 3 build agents, then $359/year/build agent
- On-Premises Enterprise: From $2,399/year
TeamCity ratings and reviews
Choosing the best Azure DevOps alternative for your team
After reading this, you should have a clearer picture of the Azure DevOps alternatives and which would work best for your team and organizational needs. If you’re still unsure, you can start by taking free trials of a few products to see which one best fits.
But suppose you want to get started right away. In that case, it’s important to pick a platform that offers tons of customizability and flexibility to tailor the platform to your work rather than the other way around. Here’s why monday dev is the perfect choice.
- User-friendly interface: monday dev provides a more intuitive and visually appealing platform for development and collaboration.
- Customizable workflows: monday dev offers flexible and customizable workflows to fit specific development team needs.
- Seamless integration capabilities: monday dev integrates with over 200 apps and tools, including Git repository tools like GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket.
- Ease of use and support: Compared to Azure Boards and Pipelines, G2 reviewers found monday dev easier to use, set up, and administer with excellent customer support.
| Ratings | Azure Boards | Azure Pipelines | monday dev |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | 8.8 | 8.2 | 9.1 |
| Ease of setup | 8.6 | 8.2 | 9.0 |
| Ease of admin | 8.5 | 8.3 | 9.2 |
| Quality of support | 8.6 | 8.3 | 9.4 |
Overall, monday dev is a fully customizable and scalable solution that allows you to manage all aspects of your product and software development in one space.
But don’t just take our word for it — experience monday dev yourself with a free trial and see how it compares to Azure DevOps or any of the other alternatives.
Try monday devFAQs
What is the old name of Azure DevOps?
Before its 2018 rebranding, Azure DevOps was previously known as Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS). This was a rebranding of earlier names like Team Foundation Service and Visual Studio Online.
Is Microsoft retiring Azure DevOps?
Microsoft has not officially announced plans to discontinue Azure DevOps. They are still implementing regular updates and new features for Azure DevOps, like a new Boards Hub. However, the long-term strategy indicates a transition to GitHub, which Microsoft acquired in 2018.
What is the Google equivalent of Azure DevOps?
The Google equivalent of Azure DevOps is a combination of services and tools within the Google Cloud Platform (GCP), including Cloud Build, Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE), Cloud Source Repositories, and Stackdriver. While not a single, unified product like Azure DevOps, these GCP services collectively enable teams to implement DevOps practices such as version control, CI/CD, containerization, and monitoring within the Google Cloud ecosystem.
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