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Semaphore

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Company health

Employee growth
14% decrease in the last year
Web traffic
28% decrease in the last quarter

Ratings

G2
4.7/5
(174)

Semaphore description

Semaphore is a fast and reliable platform designed to help software development teams release software updates quickly and safely. It automates the testing and deployment process, catching errors early and allowing developers to focus on writing code. Semaphore works with popular tools like Docker and Kubernetes and offers detailed performance reports to optimize the development process. It is available via cloud, on-premise, or a hybrid setup.


What companies are using Semaphore?

Simply Business is using Semaphore
Simply Business
BetterUp is using Semaphore
BetterUp
Hunter.io is using Semaphore
Hunter.io
Nourish Care is using Semaphore
Nourish Care
TravelJoy is using Semaphore
TravelJoy
GOCo is using Semaphore
GOCo
Zapier is used by Simply Business, BetterUp, Hunter.io, Nourish Care, TravelJoy, GOCo.

Who is Semaphore best for

Semaphore is a CI/CD platform that helps software teams ship updates faster and safer. Users love its speed, reliability, and excellent customer support. Semaphore integrates with tools like Docker and Kubernetes, offering detailed performance reports. However, some users find the API cumbersome and the UI design needing improvement.

  • Ideal for small, medium, and enterprise software teams.

  • Best fit for software, IT, and telecommunications companies.


Semaphore features

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

Semaphore fully integrates with Kubernetes for CI/CD.

Supported

Semaphore CI supports managing and monitoring deployment pipelines centrally.

Supported

Semaphore automates deployments to various environments like development, staging, and production.

Supported

Semaphore generates reports on test runs and results.

Supported

Semaphore CI automates CI/CD pipelines, building, testing, and deploying code through automated pipelines.

Qualities

We evaluate the sentiment that users express about non-functional aspects of the software

Value and Pricing Transparency

Neutral
+0.2

Customer Service

Strongly positive
+0.9

Ease of Use

Strongly positive
+0.88

Reliability and Performance

Strongly positive
+0.86

Ease of Implementation

Strongly positive
+1

Scalability

Rather positive
+0.5

Semaphore reviews

We've summarised 174 Semaphore reviews (Semaphore G2 reviews) and summarised the main points below.

Pros of Semaphore
  • Fast and reliable CI/CD.
  • Excellent and responsive customer support.
  • Easy to use and integrate with existing workflows.
  • Powerful configuration options and flexibility.
  • Detailed performance reports and debugging tools.
Cons of Semaphore
  • The API is still in v1alpha and is often cumbersome to use.
  • Coordinating deployments of multiple projects to the same place can be tricky.
  • The UI design could use some work.
  • Unpublished, breaking changes to the API occur occasionally.
  • Limited documentation and small community support

Semaphore pricing

The commentary is based on 26 reviews from Semaphore G2 reviews.

Semaphore's pricing is generally perceived as competitive and economical, with a pay-as-you-go model based on resource usage. While some users find the cost high for larger teams or frequent deployments, many appreciate the speed and flexibility it offers at a lower price than competitors. The detailed billing insights are also praised.

Users sentiment

Neutral
+0.2

See the Semaphore pricing page.

  • Semaphore has a free plan.

  • Semaphore has a free trial.

Free

$0

Includes 7,000 cloud minutes/month, access to 5 self-hosted agents, concurrency of 40 parallel jobs, for a maximum of 5 users.

Startup

$0user/month

This plan offers unlimited users, unlimited concurrency, pay-as-you-go for cloud minutes, and priority email support.

Scaleup

Custom

Includes everything from Startup plus machine usage discount, advanced access control features, SCIM/SAML support, additional payment options, SLA and premium support available.

Free

$0

Includes 7,000 cloud minutes/month, access to 5 self-hosted agents, concurrency of 40 parallel jobs, for a maximum of 5 users.

Startup

$9user/month

Includes free self-hosted minutes, unlimited concurrency & agents, pay-as-you-go for cloud minutes, and priority email support.

Scaleup

$20user/month

Includes everything from Startup plus annual plans with discount, advanced access control features, SCIM/SAML support, additional payment options, SLA and premium support available.

Semaphore On-Premise

Custom

Fully hosted in your infrastructure, license-based model, assistance with initial set-up and onboarding, 24/7 engineering support.


Semaphore alternatives

  • Logo of Buildkite
    Buildkite
    Better suited for larger companies. Offers more integrations, test analytics, and package registries. Has a larger community and is growing faster. Provides more flexible configuration options, but initial setup can be more complex. A strong Semaphore competitor and alternative.
    Read more
  • Logo of Provar
    Provar
    Better for Salesforce testing. Has a more user-friendly interface, but slower performance. Is growing faster than Semaphore. A Semaphore competitor and alternative.
    Read more
  • Logo of Google Cloud Build
    Google Cloud Build
    Better for larger companies already using Google Cloud. More scalable and reliable but potentially more expensive with heavy usage. Easier to use and implement, with excellent documentation. Stronger security features.
    Read more
  • Logo of Travis CI
    Travis CI
    Better fit for organizations using GitHub. Has broader industry applicability, including Finance, Banking & Insurance, E-commerce, and Education. Travis CI is growing faster. Easier to use, but less reliable.
    Read more
  • Logo of Postman
    Postman
    Better for API management, testing, and design. Has broader community support and more extensive documentation. More established, with significantly more momentum.
    Read more
  • Logo of Smartbear Continuous Testing
    Smartbear Continuous Testing
    Better for larger projects with robust reporting and integrations with popular development tools. A Semaphore alternative and competitor, it offers a more mature API for easier integration. However, it has negative customer reviews regarding performance and scalability.
    Read more

Semaphore FAQ

  • What is Semaphore and what does Semaphore do?

    Semaphore is a CI/CD platform enabling software teams to automate testing and deployment, ensuring rapid and secure releases. It integrates with tools like Docker and Kubernetes, providing detailed performance reports for development optimization. Semaphore is praised for its speed, reliability, and excellent customer support.

  • How does Semaphore integrate with other tools?

    Semaphore integrates with Docker and Kubernetes for streamlined CI/CD. It also supports various deployment environments and offers robust API integration capabilities, though users note the API documentation could be improved.

  • What the main competitors of Semaphore?

    Top Semaphore competitors include Buildkite, GitLab, and GitHub. These alternatives offer similar features for CI/CD automation, testing, and deployment. While Semaphore excels in speed and reliability, consider these alternatives depending on your specific needs and preferences.

  • Is Semaphore legit?

    Yes, Semaphore is a legitimate CI/CD platform. It's known for its speed, reliability, and excellent customer support. Users appreciate its ease of use and powerful features, but some have noted the API can be cumbersome. It's considered safe and effective for automating software releases.

  • How much does Semaphore cost?

    Semaphore pricing starts with a Free plan offering 7,000 cloud minutes/month. Startup is $9/user/month with unlimited concurrency and agents. Scaleup is $20/user/month with added security features and premium support. On-Premise offers custom pricing for self-hosting. A free trial is also available.

  • Is Semaphore customer service good?

    Semaphore's customer service receives overwhelmingly positive feedback. Users praise the support team's responsiveness, helpfulness, and expertise in resolving technical issues. Support agents provide timely solutions and even offer proactive suggestions for workflow optimization.


Reviewed by

MK
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.

TT
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.