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Software · head to head

3scale vs GitHub Actions

3scale logo

3scale

Software

API management platform for designing, securing, and monetizing APIs

From
$300/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GitHub Actions logo

GitHub Actions

Software

Automate your software workflows

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only GitHub Actions has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: 3scale red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date; GitHub Actions private repository usage is capped at 2,000 minutes per month on GitHub Free and 3,000 on Pro and Team, with anything beyond billed

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which 3scale and GitHub Actions actually diverge.

Attributes where 3scale and GitHub Actions differ
Attribute3scaleGitHub Actions
Starting price$300/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premises, HybridWeb
Founded19932008

Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in 3scale

  • API Gateway
  • Developer Portal
  • API Monetization
  • Red Hat OpenShift
  • AWS
  • Azure
  • Kubernetes
  • Cloud support

Only in GitHub Actions

Nothing recorded that 3scale does not also cover.

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

3scale

  • API gateway and lifecycle managementnot GitHub Actions
  • Rate limiting and traffic control across API consumersnot GitHub Actions
  • Developer portal and access key managementnot GitHub Actions
  • Monetising APIs with usage-based plansnot GitHub Actions
  • Hybrid deployment across on-premises and cloudnot GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions

  • Running CI builds and tests on pushes and pull requestsnot 3scale
  • Automating releases, container image builds and deployments from a repositorynot 3scale
  • Scheduled maintenance jobs and repository automationnot 3scale

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

3scale

  • Red Hat's managed 3scale services end on 30 June 2027, so anyone adopting the hosted option now is choosing a product with a published end date
  • Sold as part of Red Hat middleware rather than standalone, and 3scale.net redirects into redhat.com
  • Pricing is not published and a subscription is required for some services

GitHub Actions

  • Private repository usage is capped at 2,000 minutes per month on GitHub Free and 3,000 on Pro and Team, with anything beyond billed
  • Artifact storage is only 500 MB on GitHub Free and 2 GB on Team, and it is shared with GitHub Packages storage
  • Larger runners are always charged for, even on public repositories and even when plan quota remains
  • Windows runners cost $0.010 per minute against $0.006 for a 2-core Linux runner, so the same workflow costs more per platform
  • macOS runners are charged at a higher per-minute rate than Linux runners
  • Failed runs consume minutes, so a job that fails after 5 minutes and is re-run for 10 uses 15 minutes of quota
  • Storage is billed on hourly accrual in GB-Hours, so deleting artifacts stops future charges but does not remove charges already accrued in the cycle
  • Cache storage is a separate 10 GB per repository allowance and peak hourly usage above it is charged
  • Minutes are charged to the repository owner, not the person who triggered the run, and anyone with write access can trigger runs
  • Without a valid payment method on file, workflows are blocked as soon as the quota is exhausted

Pricing, plan by plan

3scale

$300/monthly
  • Starter$300/monthly
    • API gateway
    • Developer portal
    • Basic analytics
  • Professional$750/monthly
    • Advanced features
    • API monetization
    • Enhanced support
  • Enterprise$undefined/monthly
    • Custom deployment
    • Dedicated support
    • Premium SLA

GitHub Actions

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GitHub Actions review.

Which should you pick?

Choose 3scale if

  • You need api gateway.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid.
  • You also want developer portal.
3scale review

Choose GitHub Actions if

  • You want to start without paying.
GitHub Actions review

Questions people ask

Is 3scale or GitHub Actions better?
Neither clearly leads. 3scale starts at $300/monthly and GitHub Actions at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, 3scale or GitHub Actions?
GitHub Actions has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $300/monthly for 3scale and Free for GitHub Actions.
Does 3scale or GitHub Actions run on more platforms?
3scale runs on Cloud, On-premises, Hybrid. GitHub Actions runs on Web.
Can I use GitHub Actions for free?
Yes. GitHub Actions has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. 3scale starts at $300/monthly.
What is 3scale best used for?
3scale is most often used for api gateway and lifecycle management, rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers, developer portal and access key management, monetising apis with usage-based plans. Of those, api gateway and lifecycle management and rate limiting and traffic control across api consumers are not what GitHub Actions is typically brought in for.
What can 3scale do that GitHub Actions cannot?
3scale covers API Gateway, Developer Portal, API Monetization, Red Hat OpenShift.
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