FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Developer Tools

Free and open first

Best Release automation tools in 2026

Release automation tools help automate parts of preparing and publishing software releases. This list is for people who want release work on Linux, Windows, macOS, the web, through an API, or on a self-hosted setup.

  1. 1

    Relic

    Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+5

    Relic combines cross-device clipboard history, varied search options, and local AI features.

    8.6 Free plan · paid from $5/mo (annual) Visit site
  2. 2

    Auto

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1

    Auto combines pull request-driven versioning, changelog generation, and release publishing with a broad plugin system.

    7.4 Open source Visit site
  3. 3

    FerrFlow

    Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+2

    FerrFlow covers versioning and release tasks for single repositories and monorepos, with multiple forge and CI options.

    7.4 Open source Visit site
  4. 4

    nFPM

    Free plan LinuxMacWeb+1

    nFPM offers package creation through a standalone binary or Go library, with configuration for multiple formats.

    7.3 Free plan Visit site
  5. 5

    Bumpy

    Free plan API

    Bumpy provides a file-based workflow for coordinated versions, releases, and changelogs, with workspace and publishing flexibility.

    7.2 Open source Visit site
  6. 6

    Lerna

    Free plan Self-hostedWebWindows

    Choose Lerna if you manage multiple JavaScript or TypeScript packages in one repository and want coordinated task execution, caching and npm publishing.

    7.2 Open source Visit site
  7. 7

    Octopus Deploy

    Free plan APILinuxSelf-hosted+2

    Octopus Deploy combines release orchestration and automation with self-managed and hosted options. Compare the tier limits, annual costs, and support coverage with your deployment needs.

    7.2 Free plan · paid from $2,080/yr · 30-day trial Visit site
  8. 8

    Beachball

    Free plan

    Beachball provides a defined path from change files to npm releases, with version checks and changelog updates.

    7.0 Open source Visit site
  9. 9

    auto-changelog

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.4 Free plan Visit site
  10. 10

    Autorel

    Free plan LinuxMac
    6.3 Free plan Visit site
  11. 11

    cargo-dist

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.3 Free plan Visit site
  12. 12

    cargo-release

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.3 Free plan Visit site
  13. 13

    cargo-smart-release

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.3 Free plan Visit site
  14. 14

    Changelogen

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.2 Free plan Visit site
  15. 15

    Changie

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.2 Free plan Visit site
  16. 16

    Cocogitto

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.2 Free plan Visit site
  17. 17

    gren

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.1 Free plan Visit site
  18. 18

    Moonlit

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.0 Free plan Visit site
  19. 19

    Nyx

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    6.0 Free plan Visit site
  20. 20

    cargo-dist

    by Axodotdev
    Free plan
    5.9 Visit site
  21. 21

    or-release

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.9 Free plan Visit site
  22. 22

    Python Semantic Release

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.9 Free plan Visit site
  23. 23

    release-plz

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.8 Free plan Visit site
  24. 24

    GitVersion

    by GitTools
    Free plan
    5.7 Visit site
  25. 25

    standard-version

    Free plan LinuxMacWindows
    5.7 Free plan Visit site

#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price

Compare the platform you need with the tool's pricing model. Check whether the plan is free, whether a free trial is available, and whether the code is open source under a licence you can use and change. Confirm the licence and platform fit before choosing.

Questions

Are release automation tools free?

Tools in this category include free plans. Check the pricing details for the specific tool you want to use.

Can I try a release automation tool before paying?

A free trial is available from tools in this category. Check the trial terms for the tool you are considering.

Are these tools open source?

Open-source code is available from tools in this category. Check the specific project's licence before using or changing its code.

Which platforms can these tools run on?

Platforms represented here include Linux, Windows, macOS, the web, self-hosted setups, and APIs. Check the tool's listed platform before choosing.

What should I compare first?

Compare platform support, pricing, free-plan or trial terms, and the software licence. These points show whether a tool fits your setup and budget.

More in Developer Tools