Kubernetes vs Jenkins

by Gralio Mar 10, 2025

Kubernetes and Jenkins address different needs within the software development lifecycle. Kubernetes is best suited for managing complex, containerized applications at scale, while Jenkins excels at automating the build, test, and deployment processes. Choose Kubernetes if you prioritize scalability and resilience for containerized applications, and Jenkins if you need a flexible automation platform for your CI/CD pipeline.

At Gralio.ai we help to simplify your decision-making process by offering detailed, side-by-side software comparisons like this one, to help you confidently choose the tool that aligns with your business goals.

This comparison was created by analysing 1186 reviews and 60 websites, saving 7 hours, 5 minutes of reading.

Kubernetes

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Jenkins

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About

Kubernetes (or "K8s") is an open-source tool that makes it easier to build and manage large, complex applications. It works by grouping the individual components of your applications into containers and then helps you automate the process of running those containers across your infrastructure. Kubernetes is particularly beneficial for large, rapidly growing applications as it excels at scaling resources up or down based on demand. It can be used with various on-site and cloud providers, giving you flexibility in how you deploy your applications.

Jenkins is a free and customizable tool that helps businesses automate the building, testing, and deployment of software. Through its extensive plugin library, Jenkins integrates with a wide range of development tools, making it suitable for diverse projects and teams.

Summary

Main difference

Kubernetes excels at orchestrating and managing containerized applications, focusing on scalability and resilience. Jenkins specializes in automating the software development lifecycle, from building and testing to deployment, through a plugin-based architecture.

Relative strengths of Kubernetes (compared to Jenkins)

Superior container orchestration and management, offering advanced features like autoscaling, self-healing, and automated rollouts/rollbacks.
Highly scalable and resilient, ideal for large, complex applications with demanding performance requirements.
Portable across various environments, providing flexibility in deployment choices (on-premise, cloud, hybrid).

Relative weaknesses of Kubernetes (compared to Jenkins)

Steeper learning curve and higher complexity compared to Jenkins, requiring specialized expertise.
Resource-intensive, potentially leading to higher infrastructure costs.
Limited GUI options, often relying on command-line interface or third-party tools.

Who should use Kubernetes VS. Jenkins

Kubernetes simplifies containerized application deployment, scaling, and management. Users praise its automation, high availability, and flexibility. However, some find the learning curve steep and networking complex. Best suited for DevOps teams managing cloud-native apps at scale, offering portability across diverse environments.

Jenkins is a free, open-source automation server simplifying software development. Users praise its extensive plugin ecosystem and customizability, enabling seamless integration with various tools. However, some find the initial setup complex and the interface outdated. Jenkins is ideal for teams seeking a powerful, adaptable automation solution.

Ideal for medium to large enterprises (101+ employees), especially those with cloud-native applications.
Strong fit for Software, IT, and Telecommunications, with potential applications in Healthcare, Finance, and Media & Entertainment.

Ideal for software teams of all sizes seeking to automate development processes.
Best fit for software, IT, and telecommunications companies.

Kubernetes and Jenkins features

Supported

Partially supported

Not supported

Type in the name of the feature or in your own words tell us what you need

Container management automation

Supported

Kubernetes automates container deployment, scaling, and management, abstracting infrastructure complexities.

Partially supported

Jenkins automates container deployments via integrations with tools like Kubernetes or Amazon ECS.
Automated rollouts and rollbacks

Supported

Kubernetes excels at automating deployments and rollbacks to minimize downtime.

Supported

Jenkins excels at automating deployments and updates, including reliable rollouts and automatic rollbacks.
Automatic scaling and self-healing

Supported

Kubernetes automatically scales applications and restarts failed containers to maintain a desired state.

Partially supported

Jenkins supports automatic scaling and self-healing via integration with AWS Auto Scaling and Kubernetes.
Automated testing

Supported

Kubernetes fully supports automated testing within CI/CD pipelines.

Supported

Jenkins fully supports running automated tests within CI/CD pipelines.
Kubernetes integration

Supported

Kubernetes is designed for CI/CD integration and offers tools like Argo CD for automation.

Supported

Jenkins supports Kubernetes integration for efficient CI/CD processes.
Pipeline configuration

Partially supported

Kubernetes supports custom CI/CD pipelines through integration with CI/CD tools.

Supported

Jenkins users can create custom CI/CD pipelines using Jenkinsfile which describes pipeline steps.

Qualities

Value and Pricing Transparency

No data

-0.33

Rather negative sentiment
Customer Service

No data

No data
Ease of Use

-1

Strongly negative sentiment

-0.14

Neutral sentiment
Reliability and Performance

+1

Strongly positive sentiment

+0.7

Strongly positive sentiment
Ease of Implementation

-1

Strongly negative sentiment

-0.67

Rather negative sentiment
Scalability

+1

Strongly positive sentiment

+0.5

Rather positive sentiment

Kubernetes and Jenkins Pricing

No data

User sentiment

Strongly negative

-1

We couldn't find a pricing page for Kubernetes.

No data

User sentiment

Rather negative

-0.33

We couldn't find a pricing page for Jenkins.

Kubernetes and Jenkins review insights

1186 reviews analysed from and

Users love

Automates containerized application deployment, scaling, and management, simplifying complex tasks.
Enables high availability and fault tolerance, ensuring applications run reliably with minimal downtime.
Offers scalability and flexibility, allowing applications to adapt to changing resource demands.
Large and active community, providing extensive documentation, support, and resources.
Portability across different environments, including on-premises, cloud providers, and hybrid setups.

Extensive plugin ecosystem allows for integration with a wide range of tools and technologies.
Highly customizable and adaptable to various development environments and workflows.
Automates the entire software development lifecycle, including building, testing, and deployment.
Strong community support and extensive documentation make it easier to find solutions.

Users dislike

Steep learning curve for new users, requiring significant time investment to master.
Networking configuration can be complex, posing challenges for setup and management.
Frequent updates require constant adaptation and can lead to compatibility issues.
Resource intensive, potentially costly for smaller projects or organizations.
Limited GUI options, often relying on third-party tools or command-line interfaces.

Initial setup can be complex and time-consuming, especially for large-scale projects.
The user interface feels outdated and can be cumbersome to navigate at times.
Managing and updating a large number of plugins can be cumbersome.
Some plugins are outdated or poorly maintained, leading to compatibility issues.

Kubernetes and Jenkins Ratings

G2

4.6/5

(139)

G2

4.4/5

(496)
Capterra

4.5/5

(555)

Company health

Employee growth

6% decrease in the last year

10% decrease in the last year

Web traffic

65% increase in the last quarter

38% increase in the last quarter

Financing

No data

How do Kubernetes's scaling capabilities compare to Jenkins's pipeline automation for CI/CD?

Kubernetes's scaling capabilities and Jenkins's pipeline automation are distinct but complementary aspects of CI/CD. Kubernetes focuses on scaling the *runtime environment* of applications by automatically adjusting the number of container instances based on demand. Jenkins, on the other hand, automates the *software delivery process* itself, including building, testing, and deploying code. Jenkins can leverage Kubernetes to deploy applications to a scalable cluster, but Jenkins itself doesn't directly handle the scaling of the underlying infrastructure. Essentially, Jenkins automates the steps, while Kubernetes provides the scalable platform where the application runs.

Which product better supports diverse development environments needing extensive plugin integrations?

Jenkins better supports diverse development environments needing extensive plugin integrations. Its primary strength lies in its vast plugin library, enabling integration with a wide array of development tools and technologies. While Kubernetes is powerful for container orchestration, Jenkins focuses on the entire software development lifecycle and offers greater flexibility for connecting disparate systems through its plugin architecture.

What are the advantages of Kubernetes?

Kubernetes excels at automating containerized application deployment, scaling, and management, simplifying complex tasks for large, rapidly growing applications. Its portability across various environments offers flexibility in deployment, while its autoscaling and self-healing capabilities ensure high availability and fault tolerance. A large, active community provides extensive support and resources.

What are the disadvantages of Kubernetes?

Kubernetes has a steep learning curve and can be complex to manage, especially regarding networking. It requires significant time investment to master and frequent updates necessitate constant adaptation, potentially leading to compatibility issues. Its resource-intensive nature can also be costly for smaller projects. Finally, limited GUI options often necessitate using third-party tools or the command line.

Alternatives to Kubernetes and Jenkins

Slack

Slack is a communication platform designed to streamline teamwork. It offers real-time messaging, file sharing, and searchable archives of conversations, all in one place. Slack integrates with numerous other business applications to centralize workflows. It suits companies of all sizes seeking to improve collaboration and internal communication.

Azure Pipelines

Azure Pipelines is a cloud-based service that automates software building and deployment. It allows developers to test code automatically, ensuring higher quality and faster releases. Azure Pipelines integrates with various programming languages and tools, making it suitable for diverse development teams and projects.

Jira

Jira is a popular work management tool from Atlassian used by teams of all sizes to track tasks and projects. It helps organize, prioritize, and track work progress through customizable workflows, boards, and reporting features. Although highly configurable and initially popular for software development, Jira is now used by various teams for project management, bug tracking, and issue resolution.

Azure DevOps Server

Azure DevOps Server is a comprehensive, on-premises toolset designed to streamline software development. It enables your teams to manage code, track work progress, and automate software releases. With built-in features for version control, code reviews, continuous integration, and continuous delivery, it offers a centralized platform for managing your entire software development lifecycle. Geared towards enterprise-level needs, it seamlessly integrates with popular development tools.

Travis CI

Travis CI is a cloud-based platform that helps software developers test and deploy their code automatically. It works with projects of all sizes and integrates with popular cloud platforms. Using simple instructions, developers can set up automatic testing in multiple environments. Travis CI is known for its ease of use, speed, and trusted reputation among developers. It's particularly helpful for catching errors early in the development process and speeding up software releases.

Vim

Vim is a software platform designed for construction projects of all sizes. It helps manage and analyze large amounts of data from design, scheduling, and cost estimation tools. This data is then presented in easy-to-understand visuals and reports, helping teams make better decisions and reduce costly mistakes. Vim offers different subscription options, including cloud-based and on-premise solutions, to fit the specific needs of a project.

Page co-authored by

Michal Kaczor

CEO at Gralio

Michal has worked at startups for many years and writes about topics relating to software selection and IT management. As a former consultant for Bain, a business advisory company, he also knows how to understand needs of any business and find solutions to its problems.

Tymon Terlikiewicz

CTO at Gralio

Tymon is a seasoned CTO who loves finding the perfect tools for any task. He recently headed up the tech department at Batmaid, a well-known Swiss company, where he managed about 60 software purchases, including CX, HR, Payroll, Marketing automation and various developer tools.

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