Cloudsmith vs Drone CI
Updated June 2026 · A structured head-to-head comparison.
Cloud-native package and artifact registry.
The verdict
Both Cloudsmith and Drone CI are credible development it tools, and the right pick comes down to your priorities.
Choose Cloudsmith if you want a higher overall rating (4.6/5). Cloud-native package and artifact registry.
Drone CI — Container-native continuous integration.
Cloudsmith vs Drone CI: side by side
| Dimension | Cloudsmith | Drone CI |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free – $89/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Open source |
| Best for | Devops Teams, Smb | Developers, Devops Teams |
| Platforms | Web, Api | Self Hosted, Web, Api |
| Rating | 4.6/5Winner | 4.2/5 |
Cloudsmith key facts
- Vendor
- Cloudsmith
- Pricing
- Freemium — Free – $89/mo
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Web, Api
- Best for
- Devops Teams, Smb
- Editor rating
- 4.6 / 5
- Founded
- 2016
- Headquarters
- Belfast, UK
Drone CI key facts
- Vendor
- Harness
- Pricing
- Open source — Free
- Free tier
- Yes
- Platforms
- Self Hosted, Web, Api
- Best for
- Developers, Devops Teams
- Editor rating
- 4.2 / 5
- Founded
- 2014
- Headquarters
- San Francisco, USA
Frequently asked questions
Is Cloudsmith better than Drone CI?
Neither is universally better — Cloudsmith edges ahead on overall rating, but the best choice depends on price, platforms, and your use case. See the side-by-side table above.
Is Cloudsmith or Drone CI cheaper?
Cloudsmith is the more affordable of the two to get started, at free – $89/mo. Cloudsmith starts at free – $89/mo; Drone CI starts at free.
Can Cloudsmith replace Drone CI?
Yes for most teams — both are development it tools with heavily overlapping features. The main trade-offs are pricing and platform support, covered in the comparison above.