CircleCI vs Windmill: Pricing Comparison 2026
Side-by-side pricing comparison of CircleCI and Windmill. See all plans, features, and costs at a glance.
Bottom line: Windmill starts at $1/mo, making it $14/mo cheaper than CircleCI ($15/mo). CircleCI offers a free plan.
Last updated: March 16, 2026
CircleCI vs Windmill: Quick Pricing Facts
| Feature | CircleCI | Windmill |
|---|---|---|
| Starting Price | $15/mo | $1/mo |
| Number of Plans | 3 | 2 |
| Free Tier | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing Model | usage-based | open-source |
| Annual Discount | N/A | N/A |
Windmill is the more affordable option, starting at $1/mo compared to CircleCI's $15/mo. Both are Dev Tools with 5 combined pricing plans and 0 features compared.
Both tools offer free plans, making them accessible for teams on a budget. CircleCI uses usage-based pricing while Windmill 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 Try it free |  Windmill Try it free |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Free $0/monthCheapest | developer $1/month |
| Tier 2 | Performance $15/month | operator $0/monthCheapest |
| Tier 3 | Scale Custom pricing | — |
Swipe to compare plans →
Which Should You Choose?
Choose CircleCI if:
- •You prefer CircleCI's free tier features—features
- •You need 3 pricing tiers for flexible team sizing—more options mean less overpaying for features you don't need
- •Your team needs custom enterprise pricing—CircleCI offers negotiated terms for large deployments
Choose Windmill if:
- •You want lower per-user costs—Windmill starts at $1/mo, saving $14/mo compared to CircleCI at $15/mo
- •You prefer Windmill's free tier features—features
- •You prefer Windmill's open-source model with its 2-tier structure
Both CircleCI and Windmill 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 Windmill includes multiple 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.
Frequently Asked Questions: CircleCI vs Windmill
Which is cheaper, CircleCI or Windmill?
How many pricing plans does CircleCI have vs Windmill?
Does CircleCI or Windmill offer a free plan?
Does CircleCI or Windmill offer custom enterprise pricing?
What pricing models do CircleCI and Windmill use?
How do CircleCI and Windmill compare for Dev Tools?
Sources
- CircleCI Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
- Windmill Official Pricing— Vendor pricing page
Related Articles
Track Price Changes
Get notified when pricing changes for these tools.