Best Apache Ant Alternatives in 2026
Updated
20 platforms from build automation software ranked against Apache Ant on the same published basis.
- 1Apache Ant vs Nx
- 2Apache Ant vs Gradle
- 3Apache Ant vs Pants
- 4Apache Ant vs Bazel
- 5Apache Ant vs Rush
- 6Apache Ant vs Buck2
- 7Apache Ant vs Meson
- 8Apache Ant vs AWS CodeBuild
- 9Apache Ant vs build2
- 10Apache Ant vs moon
- 11Apache Ant vs Xmake
- 12Apache Ant vs Please
- 13Apache Ant vs Google Cloud Build
- 14Apache Ant vs Apache Maven
- 15Apache Ant vs Lage
- 16Apache Ant vs Deb-o-Matic
- 18Apache Ant vs distcc
- 19Apache Ant vs Mill
- 20Apache Ant vs MSBuild
- 21Apache Ant vs Rake
Apache Ant alternatives compared
| # | Platform | Score | Free plan | From | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nx | 7.9 | Free plan | $29/mo | Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Web, Windows |
| 2 | Gradle | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 3 | Pants | 7.2 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 4 | Bazel | 7.1 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 5 | Rush | 7.0 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 6 | Buck2 | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, self-hosted, Windows |
| 7 | Meson | 6.9 | Free plan | Free | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 8 | AWS CodeBuild | 6.8 | Free plan | Free | API, Linux, Web, Windows |
| 9 | build2 | 6.7 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 10 | moon | 6.7 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 11 | Xmake | 6.6 | No | — | Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 12 | Please | 6.4 | No | — | Linux, Mac |
| 13 | Google Cloud Build | 6.3 | No | $0.01/mo | API, Linux, Web |
| 14 | Apache Maven | 6.2 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 15 | Lage | 6.2 | No | — | Linux |
| 16 | Deb-o-Matic | 6.1 | No | — | Linux |
| 18 | distcc | 6.0 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 19 | Mill | 6.0 | No | — | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| 20 | MSBuild | 6.0 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
| 21 | Rake | 6.0 | No | — | Linux, Mac, Windows |
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Questions about Apache Ant alternatives
What is the best alternative to Apache Ant?
Nx, number 1 in build automation software with a score of 7.9 out of 10. The others here: Gradle, Pants, Bazel and 16 more.
What is the best free alternative to Apache Ant?
Nx is the best-ranked alternative with a free plan. 8 of the 20 alternatives here publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
How are these alternatives ranked?
Ranked on how quickly a newcomer can get going: documentation depth, a free tier or trial, and the platforms it runs on.