We're currently in beta! Payments and tier upgrades are disabled. Usage is tracked but not charged.
Simple, Credits-Based Pricing
Start with $10 free. Pay only for what you use. Up to 50% cheaper than GitHub Actions.
Starter
- $10 welcome credits
- Up to 3 runner configurations
- All machine types
- Pay-as-you-go (service pauses when credits run out)
- Community support
Growth
- $10 welcome credits
- 10% credit discount on all usage
- Up to 10 runner configurations
- Pay-as-you-go (continuous service)
- Warm runner add-ons available
- Email support (48h response)
Pro
- $10 welcome credits
- 20% credit discount on all usage
- Unlimited runner configurations
- 2 warm runners included ($30/mo value)
- Docker layer caching (coming soon)
- Sticky disks (coming soon)
- Priority support + Slack
Why RunnerForge?
We built what we wished existed: a simple, cost-effective way to run GitHub Actions on your own infrastructure.
50% Cheaper Than GitHub
GitHub charges $0.008/min for Linux runners. We pass through GCP compute at cost (~$0.004/min) plus a tiny $0.001/min platform fee.
Private Repo Support
Unlike competitors who only support organizations, RunnerForge works with private repositories from day one—no restrictions.
BYOC Option
Have GCP credits or want full control? Bring your own cloud and only pay our platform fee. Compute bills directly to your GCP project.
Choose Your Infrastructure
Same powerful platform, two ways to run. Both options work with all tiers.
RunnerForge Infra
We manage everything. One simple bill.
Bring Your Own Cloud
Use your GCP project. We handle orchestration.
Calculate Your Savings
See exactly how much you'll save compared to GitHub Actions and competitors.
| Provider | Monthly Cost | Welcome Credits | Private Repos | BYOC | GCP Credits | Setup |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GitHub Actions | $40.00 | 2,000 min/mo | Built-in | |||
| Blacksmith | $20.00 | 3,000 min/mo* | Orgs only | ~5 min | ||
| RunnerForge (Starter) | $8.00 | $10 | ~3 min |
RunnerForge Cost Breakdown
How We Compare
Transparent pricing vs the competition. No surprises.
| Feature | RunnerForge | GitHub Actions | Blacksmith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Linux runner rate | ~$0.005/min | $0.008/min | $0.004/min |
| Private repos | Orgs only | ||
| BYOC option | — | — | |
| Welcome credits | $10 (all tiers) | 2,000 minutes/mo | 3,000 minutes/mo* |
| Use GCP credits | — | — | |
| Transparent billing |
RunnerForge rate = $0.001/min platform + ~$0.004/min compute (e2-medium). Compute varies by machine type.
* Blacksmith free minutes are for 2 vCPU only (scales down for larger runners).
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the credits system work?
1 credit = $0.01 USD. Credits scale with machine size (e.g., e2-medium uses ~0.16 credits/min, e2-standard-16 uses ~1.0 credits/min). All tiers start with $10 welcome credits. Growth tier gets 10% off, Pro tier gets 20% off all credit rates. With BYOC, compute bills directly to your GCP project.
What are "configurations"?
A configuration is a runner setup—like "linux-large" or "arm64-builder". Starter allows 3 different configurations, Growth allows 10, and Pro is unlimited. Each config can run multiple concurrent jobs.
What happens when I use all my credits?
Starter: Service pauses until you upgrade to Growth or Pro.
Growth/Pro: We automatically charge your payment method for more credits.
What are warm runners?
Warm runners are pre-provisioned VMs that start instantly when a job is queued. Growth tier can add warm runners for $15/mo each. Pro tier includes 2 warm runners free ($30/mo value).
Do I need a credit card to start?
Starter: No credit card required. Start with $10 free credits.
Growth/Pro: Payment method required for continuous service.
Why should I upgrade to Pro?
Pro is best for teams and heavy users: $29/mo includes 2 warm runners ($30/mo value), 20% credit discount, unlimited configurations, and priority support. If you'd buy 2+ warm runners on Growth ($30+/mo), Pro actually saves you money.
Ready to cut your CI/CD costs?
Start with $10 free credits. Set up in under 5 minutes. No credit card required.
Get $10 Free Credits