Side by side
fastlane vs Kamal
Both stand on deployment automation software. Which one you can start free with, which one lets you read the code, and what each costs once you pay.
fastlane brings build, beta, and store-release tasks into configurable workflows, with extensive integrations and local execution. Platform support and usage-metric collection are points to weigh when adopting it.
Visit fastlane
Pick Kamal if you are comfortable with Linux or Docker and want to deploy containerized apps to bare metal or cloud VMs. It includes rolling deployment controls, rollback, and automation hooks at no software charge. A fully managed service may suit you better if the underlying server and container concepts are difficult to use.
Visit KamalThe facts
| fastlane | Kamal | |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | Not published | Not published |
| Runs on | Android, iPhone, Linux, Mac, Windows | Linux, Mac, Self-hosted |
| Lowest paid plan | Free or on request | Free or on request |
| Plans published | 1 | 1 |
| Maker | Not published | Not published |
| Website | fastlane.tools | kamal-deploy.org |
| On deployment automation software | #7 of 34 | #11 of 34 |
fastlane: what it does well
- Workflows run as lanes with a single command.
- Supports more than 15 beta testing services.
- Integrates with more than 400 tools and services.
- Sensitive credentials remain on the user's machine or server.
What to know first
- Linux and Windows support is partial.
- Collects usage metrics unless users opt out.
- Requires Ruby 3.2 or newer.
Kamal: what it does well
- Free open-source deployment tool from 37signals.
- Works with any web app that can be containerized.
- Supports zero-downtime deploys, rolling restarts, and rollback.
- Setup can install Docker and start the app over SSH.
- Secret helpers support multiple named providers.
What to know first
- Deploying to multiple servers requires a load balancer.
- Docker-based installation has some limitations.
- Users unfamiliar with basic Linux or Docker may find it difficult.
Alternatives to fastlane Alternatives to Kamal The whole list