Best JFrog Artifactory Alternatives in 2026

If you’re searching for an Artifactory alternative, you’ve likely hit a tipping point. Maybe it’s the unpredictable bills from consumption-based pricing. Maybe your $150/month plan turned into $800/month once your CI/CD pipelines started running. Or maybe you just need a repository manager that doesn’t require a dedicated administrator.

Whatever brought you here, you’re not alone. In 2026, more teams than ever are evaluating JFrog alternatives - and for good reason.

This guide compares the five best Artifactory alternatives available today. We’ll cover real pricing (not just what’s on the marketing page), honest pros and cons, and which tool fits which use case. Our goal is to help you make the right decision for your team - even if that decision isn’t CloudRepo.

Why Teams Are Leaving Artifactory

Before diving into alternatives, it helps to understand why teams switch. Based on conversations with hundreds of engineering managers, here are the top reasons:

1. Consumption Pricing Creates Budget Chaos

Artifactory’s pricing model combines storage and data transfer into a single “consumption” metric. Every time your CI/CD pipeline downloads dependencies, the meter runs. A $150/month plan can easily become $600+ for an active team.

2. Feature Bloat

JFrog has evolved into a full DevOps platform with pipelines, distribution, security scanning, and more. If you just need artifact storage, you’re paying for features you’ll never use.

3. Self-Hosted Complexity

Running Artifactory on-premises requires significant infrastructure and expertise. The self-hosted Pro X plan starts at $27,000/year - and that’s before hardware and maintenance costs.

4. Enterprise Sales Process

Getting a custom quote often means weeks of calls with sales teams. For teams that just want to store Maven or Docker artifacts, this is overkill.

Quick Comparison: Artifactory Alternatives at a Glance

Here’s how the top alternatives compare on the metrics that matter most:

Alternative	Starting Price	Consumption Model	Best For
Sonatype Nexus	$135/month	Yes - storage + egress ($0.90-$1.10/GB)	Teams wanting self-hosted control
CloudSmith	$149/month	Yes - $1.50/GB additional data	Multi-format package management
GitHub Packages	Free / included	Yes - $0.25/GB storage + $0.50/GB egress	Teams already on GitHub
AWS CodeArtifact	Pay-per-use	Yes - but at wholesale rates	AWS-native shops
CloudRepo	$199/month	No - flat, predictable pricing	Teams wanting predictable costs

Now let’s dive deeper into each option.

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Sonatype Nexus Repository

What it is: The original open-source repository manager, now offered in both free (OSS) and commercial (Pro) versions. Nexus has been a staple of Java development for over 15 years.

Pricing:

Plan	Price	Includes
Nexus Repository OSS	Free	Self-hosted, community support
Nexus Repository Pro	$135/month	20GB included, commercial support
Nexus Repository Pro+	$720/month	Advanced features, HA support

Important: Like Artifactory, Nexus Pro uses the same consumption-based pricing model. After your included 20GB, you’ll pay $0.90-$1.10 per GB for combined storage and transfer. This means you’re charged for both storing artifacts AND downloading them - the exact same model that makes Artifactory bills unpredictable.

For a detailed analysis, see our Sonatype Nexus Pricing Guide.

Best for: Teams that want self-hosted control, have existing Nexus expertise, or need the free OSS version for budget reasons.

Pros:

• Free OSS version available for self-hosting
• Mature, well-documented platform
• Supports Maven, npm, PyPI, Docker, and more
• Strong security scanning with Nexus Lifecycle (additional cost)

Cons:

• Same consumption pricing as Artifactory - charges for storage + egress combined
• Budget unpredictability remains if you switch from Artifactory to Nexus Pro
• Self-hosted OSS requires infrastructure management
• UI feels dated compared to newer alternatives
• Commercial support requires additional contracts

Website: sonatype.com

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CloudSmith

What it is: A modern, cloud-native package management platform supporting 28+ package formats. CloudSmith focuses on universal package management with a developer-friendly interface.

Pricing:

Plan	Base Price	Included	Additional Data
Open Source	Free	2GB storage, 10GB bandwidth	N/A
Starter	$149/month	Limited	$1.50/GB
Professional	$499/month	More capacity	$1.50/GB
Enterprise	Custom	Custom	Custom

The catch: CloudSmith uses the same consumption model as JFrog and Sonatype. That $1.50/GB charge applies to additional data usage - meaning you’re paying consumption fees just like with Artifactory. The base prices look different, but the underlying model is the same.

Best for: Teams needing support for many package formats (npm, Maven, PyPI, Docker, Helm, Cargo, etc.) in a single platform.

Pros:

• Supports 28+ package formats natively
• Modern, intuitive UI
• Good API and CLI tooling
• Strong compliance features

Cons:

• Same consumption pricing model - $1.50/GB for additional data adds up fast
• Budget unpredictability similar to Artifactory and Nexus
• Smaller company, less established than JFrog or Sonatype
• Limited enterprise features compared to Artifactory

Website: cloudsmith.com

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GitHub Packages

What it is: GitHub’s built-in package registry, tightly integrated with GitHub repositories. If your code lives on GitHub, Packages provides native artifact storage without leaving the platform.

Pricing:

Plan	Storage Included	Data Transfer Included
Free (public repos)	500MB	1GB/month
Free (private repos)	500MB	1GB/month
GitHub Pro	2GB	10GB/month
GitHub Team	2GB	10GB/month
GitHub Enterprise	50GB	100GB/month

Overage charges:

• Additional storage: $0.25/GB per month
• Additional data transfer (outside GitHub Actions): $0.50/GB

The reality: GitHub Packages looks cheaper at first glance, but it’s still consumption-based pricing. You pay for storage ($0.25/GB), and if you access packages from outside GitHub Actions, you pay egress ($0.50/GB). GitHub’s intent is to keep you locked into their ecosystem - stay within GitHub Actions and egress is free, but step outside and the meter runs.

Even within GitHub Actions, you’re still paying for storage consumption. And the included limits are low - a team with 50GB of artifacts and moderate CI/CD activity will quickly exceed the free tiers.

Best for: Teams already deeply invested in GitHub that want simple, integrated package storage and are willing to stay within the GitHub Actions ecosystem.

Pros:

• Zero setup if you’re already on GitHub
• Native integration with GitHub Actions
• Familiar interface for GitHub users
• Free egress within GitHub Actions ecosystem

Cons:

• Still consumption-based - $0.25/GB storage + $0.50/GB egress outside Actions
• Storage and bandwidth limits are low for active teams
• Locks you into GitHub ecosystem
• Fewer package formats than dedicated managers
• Missing features you’d expect from a dedicated repository manager (advanced access control, detailed audit logs, etc.)
• Enterprise tier required for meaningful limits

Website: github.com/features/packages

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AWS CodeArtifact

What it is: Amazon’s managed artifact repository service. CodeArtifact integrates natively with AWS services and uses familiar AWS IAM for access control.

Pricing:

CodeArtifact uses pure pay-as-you-go pricing at near-wholesale rates:

Resource	Price
Storage	$0.05/GB per month
Requests	$0.05 per 10,000 requests
Data Transfer (out)	$0.09/GB (first 10TB)

Example monthly cost: 100GB storage + 500GB transfer = $5 + $45 = ~$50/month

Why this matters: CodeArtifact pricing reveals what artifact storage actually costs at wholesale. AWS is essentially passing through their infrastructure costs with a small margin. Compare this to JFrog ($1.25/GB), Sonatype ($0.90-$1.10/GB), and CloudSmith ($1.50/GB) - they’re charging 10-15x wholesale rates. This is how those companies achieve the high margins that keep investors and VCs happy.

CodeArtifact is intentionally bare-bones - it does storage, access control, and not much else. But that simplicity makes the pricing transparent and shows the huge gap between wholesale infrastructure costs and what the traditional vendors charge.

Best for: Teams deeply invested in AWS that want the lowest possible costs and can live with minimal features.

Pros:

• Near-wholesale pricing - reveals what storage actually costs
• Native AWS IAM integration
• No minimum commitment
• Scales automatically
• Supports npm, PyPI, Maven, NuGet

Cons:

• Very bare-bones - lacks many features of dedicated repository managers
• No support for Docker or Helm charts
• No advanced repository features (staging, promotion, detailed analytics)
• Requires AWS expertise to configure properly
• Still charges egress, which adds up with heavy CI/CD
• AWS lock-in concerns
• Limited support compared to dedicated vendors

Website: aws.amazon.com/codeartifact

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CloudRepo

What it is: A cloud-native repository manager built specifically for teams tired of consumption pricing. CloudRepo offers predictable, all-inclusive pricing with no egress fees - because we believe artifact storage shouldn’t punish you for being productive.

Pricing:

Plan	Price	Storage	Data Transfer	Users
Starter	$199/month	50GB	Unmetered	Unlimited
Team	$399/month	250GB	Unmetered	Unlimited
Business	$699/month	1TB	Unmetered	Unlimited
Enterprise	Custom	Custom	Unmetered	Unlimited

Every plan includes unmetered data transfer, unlimited users, SSL encryption, and support from real engineers.

Our philosophy: We saw what AWS CodeArtifact pricing reveals - artifact storage doesn’t cost $1.25/GB. The traditional vendors charge 10-15x wholesale because that’s what maximizes margins for investors and VCs. We’re a bootstrapped, founder-led company with 10 years of experience serving development teams - and no VC pressure to hit 90% margins. We’ve chosen to price fairly and put customers first - because we believe that’s how you build a company that lasts.

Best for: Teams wanting predictable costs, those with heavy CI/CD usage, and organizations tired of consumption-based surprises.

Pros:

• No consumption pricing - flat monthly fee, no surprises
• No egress fees - download as much as your CI/CD needs
• Predictable monthly cost - same bill every month
• Support included - no expensive contracts required
• Simple pricing - upgrade or downgrade anytime
• Bootstrapped, founder-led company that prioritizes customers over investors

Cons:

• Smaller feature set than Artifactory (focused on core repository functionality)
• No on-premises option (cloud-only)
• Fewer supported formats than CloudSmith (Maven, Gradle, PyPI, Docker, NuGet)
• Newer company, smaller market presence

Website: cloudrepo.io

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Cost Comparison: Real-World Scenarios

Let’s calculate what each alternative actually costs for common team sizes. Note how consumption pricing makes costs scale dramatically with usage:

Scenario 1: Small Team (5 developers, 50GB storage, 100GB monthly transfer)

Alternative	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost	Pricing Model
JFrog Artifactory Pro	~$306	$3,672	Consumption
Sonatype Nexus Pro	~$278	$3,336	Consumption
CloudSmith Starter	$149 + overages	~$2,500	Consumption
GitHub Team	~$60	~$720	Consumption
AWS CodeArtifact	~$14	~$168	Consumption (wholesale)
CloudRepo Starter	$199	$2,388	Flat

Scenario 2: Medium Team (15 developers, 200GB storage, 500GB monthly transfer)

Alternative	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost	Pricing Model
JFrog Artifactory Pro	~$869	$10,428	Consumption
Sonatype Nexus Pro	~$783	$9,396	Consumption
CloudSmith	~$650+	$7,800+	Consumption
AWS CodeArtifact	~$55	~$660	Consumption (wholesale)
CloudRepo Team	$399	$4,788	Flat

Scenario 3: Large Team (50 developers, 800GB storage, 3TB monthly transfer)

Alternative	Monthly Cost	Annual Cost	Pricing Model
JFrog Artifactory Enterprise	$3,500+	$42,000+	Consumption
Sonatype Nexus Pro+	$2,800+	$33,600+	Consumption
AWS CodeArtifact	~$310	~$3,720	Consumption (wholesale)
CloudRepo Business	$699	$8,388	Flat

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Decision Framework: Which Alternative is Right for You?

Use this framework to narrow your decision:

Choose Sonatype Nexus if:

• You need to self-host for compliance reasons
• Budget allows for free OSS version with your own infrastructure
• Your team has existing Nexus expertise
• You need Nexus Lifecycle for security scanning

Choose CloudSmith if:

• You need support for many package formats (28+)
• You want a modern UI and developer experience
• Your bandwidth usage is predictable and within plan limits
• Universal package management is a priority

Choose GitHub Packages if:

• Your code already lives on GitHub
• You want zero-setup integration with GitHub Actions
• Package storage needs are modest (under 50GB)
• You’re already paying for GitHub Enterprise

Choose AWS CodeArtifact if:

• You’re all-in on AWS infrastructure
• IAM-based access control is a requirement
• Your team has AWS expertise
• Usage is light and predictable

Choose CloudRepo if:

• Predictable billing is a top priority
• You have heavy CI/CD with frequent downloads
• You want support included without contracts
• You primarily use Maven, Gradle, PyPI, or Docker
• You prefer working with a founder-led company that prioritizes your success

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Migration: Making the Switch

Switching repository managers isn’t as hard as it might seem. Most migrations follow this pattern:

1. Set up the new repository - Create your repos and credentials
2. Configure upstream proxying - Point new repos at your old ones during transition
3. Update build configs - Point your build tools at the new repository
4. Migrate artifacts - Copy existing artifacts (optional - many teams start fresh)
5. Cut over CI/CD - Update pipeline configs to use new endpoints
6. Decommission old system - Cancel after confirming everything works

Most teams complete migrations in a few hours to a few days, depending on the number of repositories and complexity of their CI/CD setup.

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The Bottom Line

JFrog Artifactory is a capable product with enterprise features. But for many teams, it’s overkill - and the consumption pricing model punishes active development.

If you need Artifactory’s advanced features (multi-region replication, advanced security scanning, JFrog ecosystem integration), it may be worth the premium. For everyone else, there are alternatives that deliver what you actually need at a fraction of the cost.

Our recommendation: Start by calculating your real Artifactory cost - not the base price, but what you actually pay with consumption. Then compare that to alternatives. You might be surprised how much you can save without sacrificing functionality.

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Ready to Switch?

If CloudRepo sounds like a fit, here’s how to get started:

1. Start a free 14-day trial - No credit card required. Test with your actual workflows.
2. Book a call with the founder - Get your specific questions answered by someone who built the product.
3. Compare pricing in detail - See exactly what you’ll pay.

We’re a bootstrapped, founder-led company. When you reach out, you’re talking to engineers who use repository managers daily - not a sales team working from scripts. We’ll help you make the right decision, even if that means recommending a different solution.