---
title: "9apes vs GitHub-hosted runners - Cost and Speed Compared"
description: "Per-minute rates, free minutes, and job isolation compared between 9apes runners and GitHub-hosted runners for GitHub Actions. Migrate by changing one runs-on line."
url: https://9apes.com/compare/github-hosted-runners/
---

# 9apes vs GitHub-hosted runners - Cost and Speed Compared

If your jobs run on `ubuntu-latest` in a private repository and you are paying for the minutes, 9apes runs the same workflow on faster hardware for a lower per-minute rate. Stay on GitHub-hosted runners for public repositories, where they cost nothing, and for anything needing Windows or macOS.

## Per-minute rates

GitHub-hosted list prices for the equivalent runner size, against the published 9apes rate. Checked 2026-08-25.

### Linux x86_64 runners

| `runs-on` label | vCPU | RAM | Architecture | OS | OS version | 9apes price/min | GitHub-hosted price/min |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `9apes-1vcpu-ubuntu-2404` | 1 | 4 GB | x86_64 | Ubuntu | 24.04 | $0.0009 | $0.002 |
| `9apes-2vcpu-ubuntu-2404` | 2 | 8 GB | x86_64 | Ubuntu | 24.04 | $0.0018 | $0.006 |
| `9apes` | 4 | 16 GB | x86_64 | Ubuntu | 24.04 | $0.0036 | $0.012 |
| `9apes-4vcpu-ubuntu-2404` | 4 | 16 GB | x86_64 | Ubuntu | 24.04 | $0.0036 | $0.012 |
| `9apes-8vcpu-ubuntu-2404` | 8 | 32 GB | x86_64 | Ubuntu | 24.04 | $0.0072 | $0.022 |

## Free minutes

- **9apes** — 3000 free runner minutes every month on every account, no card required.

- **GitHub-hosted runners** — GitHub includes 2,000 minutes per month on Free plans and 3,000 on Pro and Team, for private repositories only. Public repositories run free on standard runners.

## What each one covers

| Capability | 9apes | GitHub-hosted runners |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Linux x86_64 runners | Yes | Yes |
| Linux ARM64 runners | On demand | Yes |
| Windows runners | On demand | Yes |
| macOS runners | On demand | Yes |
| Free for public repositories | No | Yes |
| Free monthly minutes on every plan (GitHub ties its allowance to the plan; 9apes gives every account 3,000.) | Yes | No |
| Per-minute billing with no seat fee | Yes | Yes |
| One-line migration | Yes | Yes |
| Ephemeral Firecracker microVM per job | Yes | No |
| Runs inside GitHub Actions | Yes | Yes |

**On demand** means the platform is not on the public 9apes label list, but the team will arrange it. Email support@9apes.com with your workflow, expected scale, and timing.

## When to choose GitHub-hosted runners

- Your repositories are public. GitHub-hosted standard runners are free for public repositories, and nothing 9apes charges can beat zero.

- You need Windows or macOS runners self-serve today. GitHub lists them as standard; on 9apes they are arranged with the team rather than picked off a label list.

- You need Linux ARM64 today. It is not on the public 9apes label list.

- Your organization cannot install third-party GitHub Apps, which is how 9apes integrates.

## Moving to 9apes

```yaml
jobs:
  test:
    runs-on: 9apes
    steps:
      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
      - run: npm test
```

## Common questions

**Do I have to leave GitHub Actions to use 9apes?**

No. 9apes replaces the machine your job runs on, not the CI platform. Workflows, secrets, logs, and the Actions UI stay exactly where they are.

**How hard is it to switch back?**

Change the runs-on value back to ubuntu-latest and push. The next run goes to GitHub-hosted runners. There is no contract and nothing to migrate.

**Are my secrets exposed to 9apes?**

Each job receives a just-in-time token scoped to that job and expiring after an hour. The integration cannot directly access organization or repository secrets.

## Related pages

- [All runner comparisons](https://9apes.com/compare/)

- [9apes pricing](https://9apes.com/pricing/) — every label and rate

- [Quick Start](https://9apes.com/docs/quick-start/) — move your first job