Side by side
Auto vs Frill
Both stand on release notes management software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1
Auto combines pull request-driven versioning, changelog generation, and release publishing with a broad plugin system. Teams should account for its token requirements and plugin configuration rules when setting it up.
Visit Auto
Free trial APIExtensionWeb
Pick Frill if you need a combined feedback portal, roadmap, announcement stream, and survey toolkit. Its API, webhooks, integrations, and embeddable widget support connected workflows. Look elsewhere if you require a free plan or more than Startup’s included survey and idea limits at the entry tier.
Visit FrillThe facts
| Auto | Frill | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | A free trial |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted, Windows | API, Extension, Web |
| Lowest paid plan | Not published | Startup: $25 a month |
| Plans published | None | 4 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | intuit.github.io | frill.co |
| On release notes management software | #1 of 16 | #5 of 16 |
Auto: what it does well
- Calculates semantic version bumps from pull request labels
- Can skip releases with a `skip-release` label
- Generates configurable changelogs with pull request links
- Supports publishing plugins for many package ecosystems
- Runs in CI or locally on major operating systems
What to know first
- Publishing requires a repository-permission `GH_TOKEN`
- Publishing plugins may require additional secrets
- Explicit plugin configuration overrides defaults
- Documentation advises using one package manager plugin at a time
Frill: what it does well
- Boards support submissions, voting, comments, topics, statuses, and duplicate merging
- Public roadmaps show product work and progress
- Supports NPS, CSAT, polling, and open-feedback surveys
- Widget offers four embedding styles
- API, webhooks, and many listed integrations
What to know first
- No free plan is available
- Startup allows 50 active ideas and one survey
- Business includes three surveys
- SOC2 compliance, audit logs, IP whitelisting, dedicated hosting, and dedicated support are listed on the Enterprise plan