Freedom251 › Continuous Integration Software
Drone
What Drone is
Drone is a self-service continuous integration platform for automating software builds and testing. Pipelines are defined in files committed to Git repositories, and each step runs in an isolated Docker container. Documented source-control integrations include GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, Gitee, GitLab, Gogs, Gitea, Bitbucket Cloud, and Bitbucket Server. Community plugins can connect pipelines with services such as AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and Slack. Drone uses a server plus one or more standalone runners that poll for work; its website says installation uses a single binary and scales automatically. Listed platforms include API, Linux, self-hosted, web, and Windows. It supports pull request checks, YAML pipeline configuration, and artifact or dependency caching. The free Open Source Edition runs on one machine with embedded SQLite and is described for individuals and small teams. Enterprise starts at $299 a month, priced per developer, with a free trial for up to 5000 builds.
Who it suits
Drone suits individuals and small teams needing automated builds and testing, including complex pipelines. Enterprise features address organizations needing multiple repositories, builds, and servers.
What it does well
- Runs each pipeline step in an isolated Docker container
- Connects with major Git hosting services
- Supports plugins for AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, and Slack
- Offers pull request checks and dependency caching
- Free Open Source Edition available
What to know first
- Open Source Edition lacks distributed and Kubernetes runners
- Open Source Edition lacks autoscaling and cron scheduling
- Enterprise starts at $299 a month
- Secret encryption must be enabled before storing secrets
Limits
The Open Source Edition is limited to one machine with embedded SQLite and lacks distributed and Kubernetes runners, organization and Vault secrets, cron scheduling, autoscaling, and extensions. The Enterprise trial is free for up to 5000 builds; Enterprise starts at $299 a month.
Plans
| Plan | Billed and limits | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Open Source Edition | Free · Apache 2.0 · single machine · embedded SQLite · lacks distributed and Kubernetes runners, organization and Vault secrets, cron scheduling, autoscaling, and extensions | Free |
| Enterprise Edition | Starting at $299 per month · Priced per developer · unlimited repositories · unlimited builds · unlimited servers · free for individuals, students, and organizations with under $1 million US dollars in annual gross revenue | $299 a month |
As drone.io lists them, read 5 Oct 2026. The maker's own page has the final word.
Getting started
- Choose the Open Source or Enterprise Edition
- Install Drone from its single binary or use a hosted option
- Connect a supported Git provider
- Commit a YAML pipeline file to the repository
- Configure a server and one or more standalone runners
- Enable secret encryption before storing secrets
Verdict
Drone provides repository-based CI pipelines with isolated containers, runners, plugins, and broad source-control integrations. The free edition targets single-machine use, while Enterprise adds scale and features at $299 a month or more.
Questions
Is Drone free?
The Open Source Edition is free under Apache 2.0. Enterprise Edition starts at $299 a month, and its trial is free for up to 5000 builds.
Which source-control services does Drone integrate with?
Documented integrations include GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, Gitee, GitLab, Gogs, Gitea, Bitbucket Cloud, and Bitbucket Server.
How are Drone pipelines configured?
Pipelines are configured in files committed to Git repositories, and Drone supports YAML pipeline configuration.
What does the Open Source Edition lack?
It runs on a single machine with embedded SQLite and lacks distributed and Kubernetes runners, organization and Vault secrets, cron scheduling, autoscaling, and extensions.
How does Drone handle secrets and configuration integrity?
It supports AES-GCM encryption for database secrets when enabled before storage. YAML files can be signed and verified, with manual approval possible when verification fails; Starlark and Jsonnet files cannot be signed and verified.
Does Drone provide an API?
Yes. Its remote API uses access tokens and has official Go, JavaScript, and Node libraries.
Facts from Drone's own pages
- API
- Drone provides a remote API that uses access tokens for authorization and lists official Go, JavaScript, and Node libraries. · docs.drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Architecture
- Drone uses a server and one or more standalone runners that poll the server for pipelines to execute. · docs.drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Configuration integrity
- Drone can sign YAML configuration files and block a pipeline for manual approval if signature verification fails; Starlark and Jsonnet files cannot be signed and verified. · docs.drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Deployment
- Drone’s website says it installs from a single binary and scales automatically. · drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Pipelines
- Pipelines are configured in a file committed to the Git repository, and each pipeline step runs inside an isolated Docker container. · drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Plugins
- The plugin marketplace describes community plugins for customizing continuous integration pipelines, including plugins for AWS, Docker, Kubernetes, Slack, and other services. · plugins.drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Drone is a self-service continuous integration platform for automating software builds and testing. · drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Security
- Drone supports AES-GCM encryption for secrets stored in its database, but encryption must be enabled before secrets are stored. · docs.drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Source control
- Drone documents integrations with GitHub, GitHub Enterprise, Gitee, GitLab, Gogs, Gitea, Bitbucket Cloud, and Bitbucket Server. · docs.drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Support
- Drone documentation directs users to its community forum and chatroom for questions and comments. · docs.drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Trial
- The Enterprise Edition trial is free for up to 5000 builds. · docs.drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
- Use case
- The Open Source Edition is described as capable of complex pipelines and optimized for individuals and small teams. · docs.drone.io, 5 Oct 2026
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