Softwr

API Management · head to head

Akana vs GitHub Actions

Akana logo

Akana

API Management

Enterprise API lifecycle management platform

From
$2500/monthly
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
GitHub Actions logo

GitHub Actions

Testing & QA

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: Akana owned by Perforce and sold within their portfolio rather than independently, and akana.com redirects to perforce.com; 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 Akana and GitHub Actions actually diverge.

Attributes where Akana and GitHub Actions differ
AttributeAkanaGitHub Actions
Starting price$2500/monthlyFree
Pricing modelsubscriptionfreemium
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsCloud, On-premise, HybridWeb
CategoryAPI ManagementTesting & QA
Founded20012008

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

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 Akana

  • API Lifecycle Management
  • API Security
  • Governance Controls
  • OAuth
  • SAML
  • LDAP
  • Active Directory
  • Cloud support

Only in GitHub Actions

Nothing recorded that Akana does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Akana

  • API lifecycle management across REST, SOAP and GraphQLnot GitHub Actions
  • Applying OAuth, JWT and SAML policies at the gatewaynot GitHub Actions
  • Running the same platform on-premises, in Kubernetes or across cloudsnot GitHub Actions
  • Developer portal and API monetisationnot GitHub Actions
  • Monitoring API traffic and enforcing quotasnot GitHub Actions

GitHub Actions

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

Where each one falls short

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

Akana

  • Owned by Perforce and sold within their portfolio rather than independently, and akana.com redirects to perforce.com
  • Pricing is not published; only a 30 day trial is offered

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

Akana

$2500/monthly
  • Professional$2500/monthly
    • API Gateway
    • Developer Portal
    • Basic analytics
  • Enterprise$5000/monthly
    • Advanced governance
    • Multi-cloud support
    • Premium support
  • Custom$undefined/monthly
    • Custom solutions
    • Dedicated support
    • SLA guarantee

GitHub Actions

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the GitHub Actions review.

Which should you pick?

Choose Akana if

  • You need api lifecycle management.
  • You work on Cloud, On-premise, Hybrid.
  • You also want api security.
Akana review

Choose GitHub Actions if

  • You want to start without paying.
GitHub Actions review

Questions people ask

Is Akana or GitHub Actions better?
Neither clearly leads. Akana starts at $2500/monthly and GitHub Actions at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Akana or GitHub Actions?
GitHub Actions has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $2500/monthly for Akana and Free for GitHub Actions.
Does Akana or GitHub Actions run on more platforms?
Akana runs on Cloud, On-premise, 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. Akana starts at $2500/monthly.
What is Akana best used for?
Akana is most often used for api lifecycle management across rest, soap and graphql, applying oauth, jwt and saml policies at the gateway, running the same platform on-premises, in kubernetes or across clouds, developer portal and api monetisation. Of those, api lifecycle management across rest, soap and graphql and applying oauth, jwt and saml policies at the gateway are not what GitHub Actions is typically brought in for.
What can Akana do that GitHub Actions cannot?
Akana covers API Lifecycle Management, API Security, Governance Controls, OAuth.
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