CircleCI Free Plan 2026: What's Included & What's Not
Honest breakdown of the free tier limits and features
CircleCI pricing varies by team size and features, ranging from $0 to $15 per month in 2026. Your actual cost depends on the tier you choose, contract length, and negotiated discounts.
Use the interactive pricing calculator to estimate your exact cost based on team size and requirements.
- Free tier: No free tier available
- Billing: Monthly and annual (save 15-20%)
- Hidden costs: Add ~35% for implementation, support, and training
CircleCI offers a freemium model with limited features; upgrade to unlock more.
What's Included in the Free Plan
- Up to 6,000 build minutes/month (using small Docker resource class)
- Up to 5 active users/month
- 30x concurrency (Docker/Linux/Arm/Windows)
- 1x concurrency for macOS
- 2 GB storage included
- 1 GB network included
- Community support only
What's NOT Included (Paid Only)
- 30,000 credits included monthly
- 5 active users included (additional users $15/month each)
- 80x concurrency across most environments
- Access to larger resource classes (X-large, 2X-large)
- Docker Layer Caching available
- 2 GB storage, 5 GB network included
- Ticket-based global support (8x5 and 12x5 SLA options)
- Additional credits: $15 for every 25,000 credits
Free Plan Limits
| Limit | Free Plan | Paid Plans |
|---|---|---|
| buildMinutes | 6,000/month (small Docker class) | Unlimited/Higher |
| activeUsers | 5 | Unlimited/Higher |
| concurrency | 30x Docker/Linux/Arm/Windows, 1x macOS | Unlimited/Higher |
| storage | 2 GB | Unlimited/Higher |
| network | 1 GB | Unlimited/Higher |
You'll Need to Upgrade When...
- You exceed the user limit
- You need features like 30,000 credits included monthly or 5 active users included (additional users $15/month each)
- You require premium support or SLA guarantees
- You need to remove branding or watermarks
- You need advanced integrations or API access
Hidden Restrictions on Free Plan
- CircleCI branding may appear on your content or communications
- Support is limited to community forums or email with longer response times
- Export options may be restricted or include watermarks
- API access is typically limited or not available
- Advanced reporting and analytics require paid plans
Free vs Paid: Which Do You Need?
Free Plan is Enough If...
- You're an individual or very small team
- You need only basic features
- You don't mind usage limits
- Branding on output is acceptable
- Community support is sufficient
You Need Paid If...
- Your team is growing beyond limits
- You need advanced features
- Professional branding is required
- You need priority support
- Integrations/API access is critical
Free vs Performance Plan Comparison
| Free $0 | Performance $15/month (starting) | |
|---|---|---|
| Features | 7 included | 8+ included |
| Support | Community/Email | Priority Support |
| Branding | CircleCI branding | Your branding |
| Best For | Open source and side projects | Professional teams |
Frequently Asked Questions
01 Is CircleCI free?
Yes, CircleCI offers a freemium plan with 7 core features included. However, there are limits on buildminutes, activeusers that may require upgrading.
02 What's included in CircleCI's free plan?
CircleCI's free plan includes: Up to 6,000 build minutes/month (using small Docker resource class), Up to 5 active users/month, 30x concurrency (Docker/Linux/Arm/Windows), 1x concurrency for macOS, 2 GB storage included, and 2 more features. Key limits include buildMinutes: 6,000/month (small Docker class), activeUsers: 5, concurrency: 30x Docker/Linux/Arm/Windows, 1x macOS.
03 What's NOT included in CircleCI's free plan?
The free plan excludes: 30,000 credits included monthly, 5 active users included (additional users $15/month each), 80x concurrency across most environments, Access to larger resource classes (X-large, 2X-large), Docker Layer Caching available. You'll also have CircleCI branding and limited support options.
04 When should I upgrade from CircleCI's free plan?
Consider upgrading when: you hit user or storage limits, need features like 30,000 credits included monthly or 5 active users included (additional users $15/month each), require premium support, or want to remove branding. The cheapest paid plan starts at $15/month (starting).
05 Is CircleCI's free plan really free forever?
Yes, CircleCI's free plan is available indefinitely with no time limit. However, feature and usage limits may restrict what you can do without upgrading to a paid plan.
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