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CircleCI vs Dagger: Pricing Comparison 2026

Side-by-side pricing comparison of CircleCI and Dagger. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.

Bottom line: CircleCI starts at $15/mo, making it $35/mo cheaper than Dagger ($50/mo). CircleCI offers a free plan.

Last updated: March 16, 2026

Data compiled by Arthur Jacquemin
Updated March 16, 2026

CircleCI vs Dagger: Quick Pricing Facts

FeatureCircleCIDagger
Starting Price$15/mo$50/mo
Number of Plans33
Free TierYesYes
Pricing Modelusage-basedopen-source
Annual DiscountN/AN/A

CircleCI is the more affordable option, starting at $15/mo compared to Dagger's $50/mo. Both are Dev Tools with 6 combined pricing plans and 5 features compared.

Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget. CircleCI uses usage-based pricing while Dagger uses open-source pricing, which may affect your total cost at scale.

Review the detailed tier-by-tier comparison above to see exactly which features are included at each price point and find the best fit for your Dev Tools needs.

Pricing Plans
CircleCI
CircleCI
Try it free
Tier 1
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Start with Free
Free
$0/monthCheapest
Includes
  • Observability for one
  • Community Support
Start with Free
Tier 2
Performance
$15/monthCheapest
Start with Performance
Team
$50/month
$4 / year
Includes
  • Observability and module sharing for up to 10 users
  • Email Support
Start with Team
Tier 3
Scale
Custom pricing
Start with Scale
Enterprise
Custom pricing
Includes
  • Enterprise-level confidence and support for teams running Dagger at scale
Start with Enterprise

Swipe to compare plans →

CircleCI

Continuous integration and delivery platform

View all CircleCI plans

Dagger

Programmable CI/CD engine running pipelines in containers

View all Dagger plans

Which Should You Choose?

Choose CircleCI if:

  • You want lower per-user costs—CircleCI starts at $15/mo, saving $35/mo compared to Dagger at $50/mo
  • You prefer CircleCI's free tier features—features
  • You want CircleCI's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 3 pricing tiers

Choose Dagger if:

  • You prefer Dagger's free tier features—Observability for one, Community Support
  • You want more features built-in—Dagger offers 5 additional features across its plans
  • You want Dagger's approach to incremental feature unlocking across its 3 pricing tiers

Both CircleCI and Dagger offer free plans [1], eliminating cost barriers for evaluation. This means you can test both tools thoroughly with your actual workflows before any financial commitment. The free tiers differ in scope: CircleCI includes multiple features, while Dagger includes 2 features. Evaluate which free tier matches your evaluation needs before deciding to upgrade. Your best approach is to activate both free trials and evaluate which tool's workflow, integrations, and user experience align better with your team's needs before committing to paid plans.

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Frequently Asked Questions: CircleCI vs Dagger

Which is cheaper, CircleCI or Dagger?
As of March 2026, CircleCI starts at a lower price point. CircleCI starts at $15/mo while Dagger starts at $50/mo. However, the best value depends on the features you need at each tier.
How many pricing plans does CircleCI have vs Dagger?
CircleCI offers 3 pricing plans, while Dagger offers 3 plans. More plans typically means more flexibility to match your exact needs and budget.
Does CircleCI or Dagger offer a free plan?
Yes, both CircleCI and Dagger offer free plans. Compare the feature limits of each free tier to see which better fits your use case before upgrading.
Can I save money by paying annually for CircleCI or Dagger?
Both CircleCI and Dagger offer annual billing options. Check each plan's yearly pricing for potential savings compared to monthly billing.
Does CircleCI or Dagger offer custom enterprise pricing?
Yes, both CircleCI and Dagger offer custom enterprise pricing tiers with quote-based pricing. Contact each vendor for a tailored quote.
What pricing models do CircleCI and Dagger use?
CircleCI uses a usage-based pricing model, while Dagger uses open-source pricing. The right model depends on your team size and usage patterns.
How do CircleCI and Dagger compare for Dev Tools?
Both CircleCI and Dagger are Dev Tools. CircleCI offers 3 plans starting at $15/mo, while Dagger offers 3 plans starting at $50/mo. Review the feature breakdowns above to see which better fits your Dev Tools needs.

Sources

  1. CircleCI Official PricingVendor pricing page
  2. Dagger Official PricingVendor pricing page

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