---
stage: Verify
group: Runner
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments
---

# Executors **(FREE)**

GitLab Runner implements a number of executors that can be used to run your
builds in different scenarios. If you are not sure what to select, read the
[I am not sure](#i-am-not-sure) section.
Visit the [compatibility chart](#compatibility-chart) to find
out what features each executor does and does not support.

To jump into the specific documentation for each executor, visit:

- [SSH](ssh.md)
- [Shell](shell.md)
- [Parallels](parallels.md)
- [VirtualBox](virtualbox.md)
- [Docker](docker.md)
- [Docker Machine (auto-scaling)](docker_machine.md)
- [Kubernetes](kubernetes.md)
- [Custom](custom.md)

The list of executors above is locked. We no longer are developing or
accepting new ones. Please check
[CONTRIBUTION.md](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/blob/main/CONTRIBUTING.md#contributing-a-new-executors)
to check the details.

## Selecting the executor

The executors support different platforms and methodologies for building a
project. The table below shows the key facts for each executor which will help
you decide which executor to use.

| Executor                                          | SSH  | Shell   | VirtualBox | Parallels | Docker | Kubernetes | Custom         |
|:--------------------------------------------------|:----:|:-------:|:----------:|:---------:|:------:|:----------:|---------------:|
| Clean build environment for every build           | ✗    | ✗       | ✓          | ✓         | ✓      | ✓          |conditional (4) |
| Reuse previous clone if it exists                 | ✓    | ✓       | ✗          | ✗         | ✓      | ✗          |conditional (4) |
| Runner file system access protected (5)           | ✓    | ✗       | ✓          | ✓         | ✓      | ✓           |conditional    |
| Migrate runner machine                            | ✗    | ✗       | partial    | partial   | ✓      | ✓          |✓               |
| Zero-configuration support for concurrent builds  | ✗    | ✗ (1)   | ✓          | ✓         | ✓      | ✓          |conditional (4) |
| Complicated build environments                    | ✗    | ✗ (2)   | ✓ (3)      | ✓ (3)     | ✓      | ✓          |✓               |
| Debugging build problems                          | easy | easy    | hard       | hard      | medium | medium     |medium          |

1. It's possible, but in most cases it is problematic if the build uses services
   installed on the build machine
1. It requires to install all dependencies by hand
1. For example using [Vagrant](https://developer.hashicorp.com/vagrant/docs/providers/virtualbox "Vagrant documentation for VirtualBox")
1. Dependent on what kind of environment you are provisioning. It can be
   completely isolated or shared between each build.
1. When a runner's file system access is not protected, jobs can access the entire
   system including the runner's token, and the cache and code of other jobs.
   Executors marked ✓ don't allow the runner to access the file system by default.
   However, security flaws or certain configurations could allow jobs
   to break out of their container and access the file system hosting the runner.

### I am not sure

#### Shell executor

**Shell** is the simplest executor to configure. All required dependencies for
your builds need to be installed manually on the same machine that GitLab Runner is
installed on.

#### Virtual Machine executor (VirtualBox / Parallels)

This type of executor allows you to use an already created virtual machine, which
is cloned and used to run your build. We offer two full system virtualization
options: **VirtualBox** and **Parallels**. They can prove useful if you want to run
your builds on different operating systems, since it allows the creation of virtual
machines on Windows, Linux, macOS or FreeBSD, then GitLab Runner connects to the
virtual machine and runs the build on it. Its usage can also be useful for reducing
infrastructure costs.

#### Docker executor

A great option is to use **Docker** as it allows a clean build environment,
with easy dependency management (all dependencies for building the project can
be put in the Docker image). The Docker executor allows you to easily create
a build environment with dependent [services](https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/ci/services/index.html),
like MySQL.

#### Docker Machine executor

The **Docker Machine** is a special version of the **Docker** executor
with support for auto-scaling. It works like the normal **Docker** executor
but with build hosts created on demand by _Docker Machine_.

#### Kubernetes executor

The **Kubernetes** executor allows you to use an existing Kubernetes cluster
for your builds. The executor will call the Kubernetes cluster API
and create a new Pod (with a build container and services containers) for
each GitLab CI job.

#### SSH executor

The **SSH** executor is added for completeness, but it's the least supported
among all executors. It makes GitLab Runner connect to an external server
and runs the builds there. We have some success stories from organizations using
this executor, but usually we recommend using one of the other types.

#### Custom executor

The **Custom** executor allows you to specify your own execution
environments. When GitLab Runner does not provide an executor (for
example, LXC containers), you are able to provide your own
executables to GitLab Runner to provision and clean up any environment
you want to use.

## Compatibility chart

Supported features by different executors:

| Executor                                     | SSH  | Shell   |VirtualBox  | Parallels | Docker | Kubernetes | Custom |
|:---------------------------------------------|:----:|:-------:|:----------:|:---------:|:------:|:----------:|:------:|
| Secure Variables                             | ✓    | ✓       | ✓          | ✓         | ✓      | ✓          | ✓      |
| GitLab Runner Exec command                   | ✗    | ✓       | ✗          | ✗         | ✓      | ✓          | ✓      |
| `.gitlab-ci.yml`: image                      | ✗    | ✗       | ✓ (1)      | ✓ (1)     | ✓      | ✓          | ✓ (via [`$CUSTOM_ENV_CI_JOB_IMAGE`](custom.md#stages))      |
| `.gitlab-ci.yml`: services                   | ✗    | ✗       | ✗          | ✗         | ✓      | ✓          | ✓      |
| `.gitlab-ci.yml`: cache                      | ✓    | ✓       | ✓          | ✓         | ✓      | ✓          | ✓      |
| `.gitlab-ci.yml`: artifacts                  | ✓    | ✓       | ✓          | ✓         | ✓      | ✓          | ✓      |
| Passing artifacts between stages             | ✓    | ✓       | ✓          | ✓         | ✓      | ✓          | ✓      |
| Use GitLab Container Registry private images | n/a  | n/a     | n/a        | n/a       | ✓      | ✓          | n/a    |
| Interactive Web terminal                     | ✗    | ✓ (UNIX)| ✗          | ✗         | ✓      | ✓          | ✗      |

1. Support [added](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-runner/-/merge_requests/1257) in GitLab Runner 14.2.
   Refer to the [Overriding the base VM image](../configuration/advanced-configuration.md#overriding-the-base-vm-image) section for further details.

Supported systems by different shells:

| Shells  | Bash        | PowerShell Desktop | PowerShell Core | Windows Batch (deprecated) |
|:-------:|:-----------:|:------------------:|:---------------:|:--------------------------:|
| Windows | ✗ (4)       | ✓ (3)              | ✓               | ✓ (2)                      |
| Linux   | ✓ (1)       | ✗                  | ✓               | ✗                          |
| macOS   | ✓ (1)       | ✗                  | ✓               | ✗                          |
| FreeBSD | ✓ (1)       | ✗                  | ✗               | ✗                          |

1. Default shell.
1. Deprecated. Default shell if no
   [`shell`](../configuration/advanced-configuration.md#the-runners-section)
   is specified.
1. Default shell when a new runner is registered.
1. Bash shell on Windows is not supported.

Supported systems for interactive web terminals by different shells:

| Shells  | Bash        | PowerShell Desktop    | PowerShell Core    | Windows Batch (deprecated) |
|:-------:|:-----------:|:---------------------:|:------------------:|:--------------------------:|
| Windows | ✗           | ✗                     | ✗                  | ✗                          |
| Linux   | ✓           | ✗                     | ✗                  | ✗                          |
| macOS   | ✓           | ✗                     | ✗                  | ✗                          |
| FreeBSD | ✓           | ✗                     | ✗                  | ✗                          |
