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There's a free plan; paid tiers are quoted.
Blacksmith lists 3,000 free minutes per month for its managed GitHub Actions runners. After that, compute is priced per minute: Ubuntu ARM is $0.0025/min, Ubuntu x64 $0.004/min, Windows x64 $0.008/min and macOS M4 $0.08/min. The pricing page does not state whether the free allocation is per account, organization or runner type, so confirm its scope before estimating spend. Enterprise pricing is custom.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu x64 | — | Quote | Teams running Ubuntu x64 CI |
| Ubuntu ARM | — | Quote | Teams running Ubuntu ARM CI |
| Windows x64 | — | Quote | Teams running Windows CI |
| macOS M4 | — | Quote | Teams running macOS CI |
| Enterprise | — | Quote | Enterprises needing support and SLAs |
Add-ons and overages
- Docker layer caching: +$0.50/GB/month on Ubuntu plans
- Sticky disks: +$0.50/GB/month on Ubuntu plans
- Static IPs: +$100/IP/month on Ubuntu and Windows plans
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Docker layer caching
Adds $0.50/GB/month on Ubuntu plans. Estimate retained cache size and confirm how usage is measured.
Sticky disks
Adds $0.50/GB/month on Ubuntu plans, separate from per-minute compute charges.
Static IP addresses
Adds $100/IP/month on Ubuntu and Windows plans. The listed add-on does not include macOS.
Enterprise support
Enterprise has custom pricing. Its listed package includes a 99.9% SLA, 24/7 priority support, a dedicated Slack channel and white-glove onboarding.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Small team testing CI | Ubuntu x64 | The plan includes 3,000 free minutes per month, then charges $0.004 per minute. |
| ARM-based CI workloads | Ubuntu ARM | The listed rate is $0.0025 per minute, with 3,000 free minutes per month. |
| Enterprise CI operations | Enterprise | Custom pricing includes a 99.9% SLA, 24/7 priority support and a dedicated Slack channel. |
04Is Blacksmith worth the money?
Blacksmith’s free allocation and per-minute rates make it practical to evaluate with real GitHub Actions jobs before committing budget. The listed Ubuntu rates are lower than the Windows and macOS rates, and optional caching or IPs add separate monthly charges. The homepage claims a 60% saving against GitHub runners, but teams should compare their own workload and billing assumptions. Ask how the free minutes are allocated, what standard-plan support includes and whether logs can be exported. The vendor does not publish monthly or annual subscription terms.
Blacksmith pricing FAQ
What is the cheapest Blacksmith runner?
Ubuntu ARM is the lowest listed rate at $0.0025 per minute. Ubuntu x64 costs $0.004 per minute, Windows x64 $0.008 per minute and macOS M4 $0.08 per minute. Each plan lists 3,000 free minutes per month.
What happens after the 3,000 free minutes?
Blacksmith lists per-minute prices for each runner type, but the pricing page does not explain whether the free allocation is per organization, account or runner type. Confirm the allocation scope and billing treatment with the vendor before forecasting usage.
Are Blacksmith caching features included?
The Ubuntu plans list Docker layer caching and sticky disks as paid add-ons, each at $0.50 per GB per month. The pricing page also lists static IPs at $100 per IP per month for Ubuntu and Windows plans.
Does Blacksmith offer monthly or annual subscriptions?
Blacksmith prices compute per minute. Monthly or annual subscription billing terms are not published. Enterprise pricing is custom; contact the vendor for a quote and to confirm any billing or support terms.