CircleCI Open Source Program
SaaS Startup Programs
Up to 100% off
Build open source projects for free with CircleCI's robust CI/CD platform, offering generous monthly credits and enterprise-grade features.
Who qualifies
Every condition below is taken from the vendor’s own published criteria. Read them before you spend an afternoon on the application.
Osss
The programme is aimed at osss. Vendors read this loosely, but expect to describe the company and what you are building on the application.
Build open source projects for free with CircleCI's robust CI/CD platform, offering generous monthly credits and enterprise-grade features.
About CircleCI Open Source Program
Quick answer
Build open source projects for free with CircleCI's robust CI/CD platform, offering generous monthly credits and enterprise-grade features.
CircleCI is a cloud-native CI/CD platform that automates build, test, and deployment workflows. The Open Source Program grants free monthly credits to qualifying open source projects, delivering enterprise-grade pipeline capabilities without cost. Eligible projects on GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket gain immediate access to robust testing, caching, and debugging tools.
CircleCI Open Source Program at a glance
CircleCI is a cloud-native CI/CD platform that automates build, test, and deployment workflows. The Open Source Program grants free monthly credits to qualifying open source projects, delivering enterprise-grade pipeline capabilities without cost. Eligible projects on GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket gain immediate access to robust testing, caching, and debugging tools.
- 400KMonthly Linux/Docker credits (≈80K build minutes)
- 30KMonthly macOS/Windows credits
- 100%Discount on eligible open source builds
- 3Git platforms supported (GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket)
The CircleCI Open Source Program offer explained
CircleCI credits are a usage-based currency; 400K Linux credits per month covers approximately 80,000 build minutes on a small Docker instance, while 30K macOS/Windows credits support premium OS builds. Credits renew monthly for as long as your project qualifies as open source. There is no upfront cost, no credit card required, and no expiration cliff—only continuous eligibility verification.
Heads up: credit programs change their terms and caps regularly — confirm the current offer on the application page before you plan around it.
Apply to CircleCI Open Source ProgramHow CircleCI Open Source Program compares
Here's how CircleCI Open Source Program stacks up against other discounted SaaS access in the same category:
| Program | Headline offer | Category |
|---|---|---|
| CircleCI Open Source Program | Up to 100% off | This page |
| Linear for Startups | Up to 6 months free Linear — partner code required, under 50 employees | SaaS Startup Programs |
| Clerk for Startups | 50K MAU + 100 orgs free (5x standard free tier) — auth platform for startups, direct apply | SaaS Startup Programs |
| Amplitude Startup Scholarship | 1 year free Amplitude Growth plan — under 20 employees, under $10M raised, direct apply | SaaS Startup Programs |
Who should apply — and who shouldn't
Apply if
- Your project is open source and you need reliable, scalable CI/CD without vendor lock-in concerns.
- You run frequent builds across Linux, macOS, and Windows and want to avoid credit fragmentation.
- You value Docker layer caching and advanced debugging (SSH, flaky test detection) as core workflow tools.
- You're building a library, framework, or tool that benefits from continuous integration across multiple platforms.
Skip if
- Your project is closed-source or proprietary—this program is open source only.
- You need GPU runners or specialized hardware; CircleCI's free tier does not include GPU compute.
- You require guaranteed SLA or dedicated support; the program includes community support only.
More SaaS Startup Programs
If CircleCI Open Source Program isn't the right fit, compare it against Linear for Startups, Clerk for Startups, Amplitude Startup Scholarship, 1Password for Open Source — or browse the full SaaS Startup Programs category.
What the credit covers
- 400K monthly Linux/Docker credits
- 30K monthly macOS/Windows credits
- Docker layer caching
- SSH debugging for failed builds
- Flaky test detection and re-run
- Advanced job orchestration and parallelization
- Multi-platform CI/CD (Linux, macOS, Windows)
- GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket integration
- No credit card required
- Monthly credit renewal (no expiration)
Programme tracks
What CircleCI Open Source Program publishes for each stage — confirm on the application, since credit programmes are re-cut more often than list pricing.
| Track | Value | Who it is for | What it includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Source (Free) | $0 | Monthly renewal | 400K Linux/Docker credits/month · 30K macOS/Windows credits/month · Docker layer caching · SSH debugging · Flaky test detection · Advanced orchestration · Community support |
| Pay-as-you-go (if credits exceeded) | Variable | Per-credit overage | Additional credits beyond monthly allotment · Same feature set as free tier · No minimum purchase |
How to apply
4 steps. The last one is the part most people skip.
- 1
Open CircleCI Open Source Program through the link on this page
It carries our referral tag. The terms you get are identical either way, and it never changes what this page says about the programme.
- 2
Have the eligibility evidence ready
Applications are checked against one condition — osss. Incorporation date, cap table and a one-line description of what you are building cover most of it.
- 3
Ask for the expiry window in writing
CircleCI Open Source Program does not publish how long the credit runs, and unused balance is almost always forfeited. Get the activation and expiry dates confirmed before you plan around the grant.
- 4
Know the rate you land on when it runs out
Build open source projects for free with CircleCI's robust CI/CD platform, offering generous monthly credits and enterprise-grade features.
Where this programme wins and loses
What works
- No sponsorship required Direct application; no need for VC backing, accelerator affiliation, or third-party endorsement.
- Generous monthly credits 400K Linux credits (≈80K build minutes) + 30K macOS/Windows credits—sufficient for most active open source projects.
- Enterprise features included Docker layer caching, SSH debugging, flaky test detection, and advanced orchestration—no feature gates or upsell.
- Multi-platform support Build and test on Linux, macOS, and Windows from a single config; credits span all three.
- Monthly renewal Credits refresh every month as long as your project remains open source; no annual cliff or credit expiration.
- Multi-Git integration Works seamlessly with GitHub, GitLab, and Bitbucket; no platform lock-in.
What doesn't
- Open source only Closed-source or proprietary projects are ineligible; no exceptions for internal tools or private repos.
- No GPU or specialized hardware Free tier limited to CPU-based builds; GPU runners and ARM64 large instances require paid credits.
- Community support only No priority support, SLA, or dedicated account management; support is community-driven and best-effort.
The bottom line
CircleCI's open source program is one of the most permissive and feature-rich in the market: no sponsorship gatekeeping, monthly credit renewal, and enterprise-grade tooling included. For any open source project with regular CI/CD needs, this is a no-brainer—apply immediately and reallocate budget elsewhere.
CircleCI Open Source Program FAQ
The questions we actually get asked about this programme.
Ask us something elseAny open source project with an OSI-approved license (MIT, Apache 2.0, GPL, etc.) hosted on GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. No funding stage, company affiliation, or sponsorship required.
Credits renew monthly. There is no expiration date as long as your project remains open source and you continue to use CircleCI.
No. CircleCI's open source program is direct-apply; no third-party endorsement or sponsorship is required.
Builds will fail or queue until the next month's credits arrive. You can purchase additional credits on a pay-as-you-go basis, but the program itself does not auto-charge.
CircleCI does not publicly document stacking rules. Contact support to clarify if you're also eligible for startup or nonprofit programs.
Automatic for most projects; CircleCI verifies open source status on first build. No manual review queue—you can start building immediately.
