---
title: "GitHub Actions Alternatives: Compare Runner Providers"
description: "Compare 9apes, Blacksmith, Depot, WarpBuild, and RunsOn as GitHub Actions runner alternatives. Check workload cost, platforms, setup, and job isolation."
url: https://9apes.com/compare/
---

# GitHub Actions Alternatives: Compare Runner Providers

Compare 9apes, Blacksmith, Depot, WarpBuild, and RunsOn when you want different runner compute for GitHub Actions. These services let you keep GitHub Actions as your workflow platform while changing where jobs run. Compare workload cost, measured duration, platform support, and isolation, then test one representative job.

## Is 9apes a GitHub Actions alternative?

9apes is a GitHub Actions runner alternative for teams looking to change build compute while keeping their GitHub Actions workflows. It runs compatible jobs on managed Ubuntu Linux x86_64 runners while GitHub Actions continues to handle workflow triggers and orchestration. Compare 9apes alongside Blacksmith, Depot, WarpBuild, and RunsOn when evaluating build time, compute cost, and runner maintenance.

| Your requirement | Start with | Check before switching |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Managed Linux compute | [9apes runner labels](https://9apes.com/docs/available-runners/), [Pricing](https://9apes.com/pricing/) | Run a representative job on a matched CPU and memory size |
| Existing standard-runner allowances or public-repository CI | [GitHub-hosted comparison](https://9apes.com/compare/github-hosted-runners/) | Whether the current job is billable at all |
| Execution in your own AWS account | [Managed service versus RunsOn](https://9apes.com/compare/runs-on/) | Infrastructure ownership, operating effort, network access, and total cost |
| An existing provider shortlist | [Blacksmith](https://9apes.com/compare/blacksmith/), [Depot](https://9apes.com/compare/depot/), [WarpBuild](https://9apes.com/compare/warpbuild/) | Current rates, platform availability, and contract terms |
| Isolation-sensitive jobs | [9apes security](https://9apes.com/security/) | VM lifecycle, persistent stores, credentials, and network permissions |

Use the benchmark methodology to understand the existing 9apes versus GitHub-hosted measurements. Those results do not establish performance rankings for other providers. Move one job first with the quick start, check the outputs, and retain the previous runner label for rollback.

[Benchmark methodology](https://9apes.com/benchmarks/)

[Quick start](https://9apes.com/docs/quick-start/)

[Guide to choosing managed GitHub Actions runners](https://9apes.com/blog/managed-github-actions-runners/)

## Comparisons

- [9apes vs GitHub-hosted runners](https://9apes.com/compare/github-hosted-runners/) — Compare 9apes with GitHub-hosted runners on Linux workload cost, supported sizes, allowances, isolation, and migration. Test one job before moving a workflow. Prices checked 2026-10-17.

- [9apes vs WarpBuild](https://9apes.com/compare/warpbuild/) — Per-minute rates, free minutes, and platform coverage compared between 9apes and WarpBuild runners for GitHub Actions. Prices checked 2026-10-17.

- [9apes vs Blacksmith](https://9apes.com/compare/blacksmith/) — Per-minute rates, free minutes, and platform coverage compared between 9apes and Blacksmith runners for GitHub Actions. Prices checked 2026-08-25.

- [9apes vs Depot](https://9apes.com/compare/depot/) — Per-minute rates, plan fees, and runner sizes compared between 9apes and Depot GitHub Actions runners. Prices checked 2026-10-17.

- [9apes vs RunsOn](https://9apes.com/compare/runs-on/) — A managed per-minute runner service compared against RunsOn, which runs in your own AWS account under an annual licence. Costs, operational burden, and isolation. Prices checked 2026-10-17.

## How these are written

Rival prices are transcribed from each provider's own published pricing page and stamped with the date they were read. Every comparison names the cases where the other product is the better choice. 9apes publishes Linux x86_64 runners only, and several of these providers cover more platforms.