Developer Tools
AppVeyor
Hosted CI with configurable build jobs and self-hosted worker options.
What it is
AppVeyor is a hosted continuous-integration service with YAML or UI build configuration, build matrices, hosted workers and bring-your-own-cloud workers. Its public free tier is scoped to open-source projects; private-project allowances, concurrent jobs and self-hosted job capacity vary by paid plan.
Key features
YAML or UI configuration
Defines the pipeline in appveyor.yml or through project settings, with documented precedence rules.
Build matrix
Expands selected environment dimensions into separate build jobs.
Build workers
Runs jobs on hosted environments or qualifying self-hosted and BYOC capacity.
Secure variables
Encrypts secret values for YAML and restricts their default use in pull-request builds.
Strengths and trade-offs
What works well
- Repository configuration: Builds can be defined in appveyor.yml and carried with the source repository.
- Build matrices: Creates jobs across selected operating systems, platforms, configurations and environment variables.
- Hosted and self-hosted execution: Pricing documents Windows, Linux and macOS options plus BYOC workers.
- Secret variables: Account-specific encryption supports protected values in visible YAML files.
Where it falls short
- Narrow free scope: The listed free plan is for unlimited public open-source projects, not private repositories.
- Concurrency queue: Jobs beyond the plan's concurrent-job allowance wait for capacity.
- Plan limits: Private projects, concurrent hosted jobs and simultaneous self-hosted jobs differ by tier.
- Script error handling: AppVeyor warns that PowerShell non-terminating errors can leave a build reported as successful unless configured to stop.
Who it is for
Software teams that want hosted CI or managed BYOC workers and can fit repository, concurrency and platform needs to an AppVeyor plan.
Our verdict
Choose AppVeyor when its hosted or BYOC worker model matches your build matrix; test failure semantics, pull-request secret behavior and queueing before making it a required release gate.
Closest alternatives we track
Same category, ordered by verified starting price.
What we checked
- Public APIOffers a documented API you can build against.Yes
- Mobile appHas a native app for iOS or Android, not just a mobile website.No
- Open source / self-hostableSource is open and the tool can be run on your own infrastructure.No
- SSO (SAML)Supports SAML single sign-on on at least one plan.No
“Not checked” means exactly that — we have not verified it, and we do not guess.
Evidence and freshness
Status: Official sources reviewedReviewed: 2026-08-24
- AppVeyor — Pricing ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: open-source free tier, private-project tiers, concurrent-job limits, queued jobs, self-hosted capacity, BYOC platforms, trial period
- AppVeyor Docs — Build configuration ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: YAML and UI configuration, configuration precedence, build matrix, secure variables, pull-request secret behavior, PowerShell error handling
- AppVeyor Docs — appveyor.yml reference ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: worker image, build scripts, environment variables, encrypted values, job configuration
- AppVeyor Docs — Environment variables ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: hosted and on-premise service URLs, worker image variable, timeouts, cache controls, CI metadata
- AppVeyor Docs — REST API ↗
Checked 2026-08-24 · Supports: REST API, teams and projects interfaces, build and deployment interfaces, bearer-token authentication, JSON responses
Limit: Vendor pricing and documentation were reviewed; ToolCompare did not create an account, run hosted or BYOC workers, measure queue or build performance, test repository integrations, inspect support quality or audit isolation and secret handling.