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Design · head to head

ArtRage vs Blacksmith

ArtRage logo

ArtRage

Design

A digital artist studio with tools that look and work like the real things

From
$29.9/one-time
Free plan
No
Visit ArtRageFull review
Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit BlacksmithFull review

The short version

  • Blacksmith is a GitHub Actions runner service.
  • Blacksmith has a free plan, then $0.004/mo; ArtRage starts at $29.9 one-off.
  • Where ArtRage falls short: no subscription model; each purchase is one-time.
  • Where Blacksmith falls short: per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 13 November 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which ArtRage and Blacksmith actually diverge.

Attributes where ArtRage and Blacksmith differ
AttributeArtRageBlacksmith
Starting price$29.9/one-timeFree
Free tierNoYes
PlatformsWebGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS
CategoryDesignDeveloper Tools

Not yet recorded: pricing model for Blacksmith.

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 ArtRage

Nothing recorded that Blacksmith does not also cover.

Only in Blacksmith

  • Bare metal runners
  • Multiple OS support
  • ARM support
  • Docker layer caching
  • Sticky disks
  • GitHub Actions observability
  • Free tier
  • Static IPs

What people use each for

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

ArtRage

  • Digital paintingnot Blacksmith
  • Drawingnot Blacksmith
  • Art creation and illustrationnot Blacksmith

Blacksmith

  • Replacing GitHub Actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructurenot ArtRage
  • Accelerating CI build times for organizations with heavy CI loadnot ArtRage
  • Reducing cloud spend on GitHub Actions by 60% or morenot ArtRage
  • Supporting ARM architecture builds without GitHub runnersnot ArtRage

Where each one falls short

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

ArtRage

  • No subscription model; each purchase is one-time
  • Separate purchases needed for desktop and mobile versions

Blacksmith

  • Per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs
  • macOS M4 pricing ($0.08/min) is significantly higher than GitHub Actions
  • Docker layer caching and sticky disks are paid add-ons at $0.50/GB/mo
  • Static IP add-on costs $100/IP/mo

Pricing, plan by plan

ArtRage

$29.9/one-time
  • ArtRage Vitae Desktop$80 one-off
    • Windows and macOS
    • Full painting and drawing tools
  • ArtRage Vitae Mobile$4.99 one-off
    • iOS and Android
    • Mobile painting and drawing tools
  • ArtRage Lite$29.9 one-off
    • Basic painting and drawing tools
    • Selected subset for beginners

Blacksmith

Free
  • Ubuntu x64$0.004/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • Ubuntu ARM$0.0025/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • Windows x64$0.008/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads
  • macOS M4$0.08/minute
    • 3,000 free minutes per month
    • 2x faster hardware
    • 4x faster cache downloads

Which should you pick?

Choose ArtRage if

Nothing in the data separates ArtRage from Blacksmith on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.

ArtRage review

Choose Blacksmith if

  • You need bare metal runners.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS.
  • You also want multiple os support.
Blacksmith review

Questions people ask

Is ArtRage or Blacksmith better?
Neither clearly leads. ArtRage starts at $29.9/one-time and Blacksmith at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, ArtRage or Blacksmith?
Blacksmith has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at $29.9/one-time for ArtRage and Free for Blacksmith.
Does ArtRage or Blacksmith run on more platforms?
ArtRage runs on Web. Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Yes. Blacksmith has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. ArtRage starts at $29.9/one-time.
What is ArtRage best used for?
ArtRage is most often used for digital painting, drawing, art creation and illustration. Of those, digital painting and drawing are not what Blacksmith is typically brought in for.
What can ArtRage do that Blacksmith cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

ArtRage: How much does ArtRage cost?

ArtRage Vitae Desktop (Windows/macOS) is $80 as a one-time purchase. ArtRage Vitae Mobile (iOS/Android) is $4.99. ArtRage Lite is $29.90 for a basic tool set.

Source
Blacksmith: How much do Blacksmith runners cost compared to GitHub Actions?

Blacksmith offers 60-75% cost savings depending on OS. Ubuntu x64 costs $0.004/min vs GitHub at $0.012/min. All plans include 3,000 free minutes monthly.

Source
ArtRage: Are ArtRage purchases one-time or subscription?

All ArtRage products are one-time purchases available through the Windows Store, Apple App Store, and Google Play Store with no ongoing subscription fees.

Source
Blacksmith: Can I use Docker layer caching with Blacksmith?

Yes, Docker layer caching is available as an add-on at $0.50/GB/mo. Managed Docker layer persistence is included with the base service.

Source
Blacksmith: What is the SLA for Enterprise plans?

Enterprise Blacksmith plans include a 99.9% SLA guarantee along with 24/7 priority support, dedicated Slack channels, white-glove onboarding, and CI optimization support.

Source
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