diff --git a/.github/actions/install-couchdb/action.yml b/.github/actions/install-couchdb/action.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 42721a640a..0000000000
--- a/.github/actions/install-couchdb/action.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-name: Install CouchDB
-description: Intall CouchDB with the version specified in `inputs.couchdb-version`
-
-inputs:
-  couchdb-version:
-    description: the version of CouchDB to install
-    required: false
-    default: '3.1'
-
-runs:
-  using: composite
-
-  steps:
-    - uses: iamssen/couchdb-github-action@master
-      with:
-        couchdb-version: ${{ inputs.couchdb-version }}
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index 036e1b9c5f..c9035c8a64 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -75,6 +75,14 @@ jobs:
           - TYPE=find PLUGINS=pouchdb-find ADAPTERS=http npm test
           - TYPE=mapreduce ADAPTERS=http npm test
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    services:
+      couchdb:
+        image: couchdb:${{ matrix.couchdb }}
+        ports:
+          - 5984:5984
+        env:
+          COUCHDB_USER: admin
+          COUCHDB_PASSWORD: password
     env:
       CLIENT: node
       SERVER: couchdb-master
@@ -87,9 +95,6 @@ jobs:
       - uses: ./.github/actions/install-node-package
         with:
           node-version: ${{ matrix.node }}
-      - uses: ./.github/actions/install-couchdb
-        with:
-          couchdb-version: ${{ matrix.couchdb }}
       - uses: ./.github/actions/build-pouchdb
       - id: test
         run: ${{ matrix.cmd }}
@@ -119,6 +124,14 @@ jobs:
           - TYPE=find PLUGINS=pouchdb-find ADAPTERS=http npm test
           - TYPE=mapreduce ADAPTERS=http npm test
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    services:
+      couchdb:
+        image: couchdb:${{ matrix.couchdb }}
+        ports:
+          - 5984:5984
+        env:
+          COUCHDB_USER: admin
+          COUCHDB_PASSWORD: password
     env:
       USE_MINIFIED: 1
       CLIENT: ${{ matrix.client }}
@@ -133,9 +146,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           node-version: ${{ env.NODE_VERSION }}
       - uses: ./.github/actions/install-playwright
-      - uses: ./.github/actions/install-couchdb
-        with:
-          couchdb-version: ${{ matrix.couchdb }}
       - uses: ./.github/actions/build-pouchdb
       - id: test
         run: ${{ matrix.cmd }}