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Astro vs Blacksmith

Astro logo

Astro

Web Development

Web framework for content-driven sites shipping minimal JavaScript by default

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Astro limited to static site generation and server-side rendering; real-time applications requiring constant client-server communication are unsuitable; Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Astro and Blacksmith actually diverge.

Attributes where Astro and Blacksmith differ
AttributeAstroBlacksmith
Pricing modelopen-sourceUnknown
PlatformsWeb, Node.js, Cloudflare, Vercel, Netlify, AWS, DenoGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS
CategoryWeb DevelopmentDeveloper Tools

Identical on both: starting price (Free), free tier (Yes), 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 Astro

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.

Astro

  • Marketing websites and landing pages prioritising performance and SEOnot Blacksmith
  • Documentation and blog platforms with high page volumesnot Blacksmith
  • E-commerce storefronts where page speed affects conversion ratesnot Blacksmith
  • Portfolio and personal websites showcasing static content with minimal interactivitynot Blacksmith
  • Multi-language sites requiring efficient content management and translationnot Blacksmith
  • JAMstack projects integrating headless CMS platforms (Contentful, Sanity, Strapi)not Blacksmith

Blacksmith

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

Where each one falls short

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

Astro

  • Limited to static site generation and server-side rendering; real-time applications requiring constant client-server communication are unsuitable
  • Smaller ecosystem compared to Next.js; fewer third-party component libraries and integrations readily available
  • Build time increases with large content volumes (1,000+ pages); incremental builds not yet as optimised as Gatsby or Next.js
  • API routes and serverless functions are less mature than Next.js; complex backend integrations require additional tooling

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

Astro

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Astro review.

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 Astro if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Node.js, Cloudflare, Vercel, Netlify, AWS, Deno.
Astro 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 Astro or Blacksmith better?
Neither clearly leads. Astro starts at Free and Blacksmith at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Astro or Blacksmith?
Astro starts at Free and Blacksmith at Free.
Does Astro or Blacksmith run on more platforms?
Astro runs on Web, Node.js, Cloudflare, Vercel, Netlify, AWS, Deno. Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS.
Can I use Astro for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
What is Astro best used for?
Astro is most often used for marketing websites and landing pages prioritising performance and seo, documentation and blog platforms with high page volumes, e-commerce storefronts where page speed affects conversion rates, portfolio and personal websites showcasing static content with minimal interactivity. Of those, marketing websites and landing pages prioritising performance and seo and documentation and blog platforms with high page volumes are not what Blacksmith is typically brought in for.
What can Astro do that Blacksmith cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

Astro: Is Astro free?

Yes. Astro is free and open-source under MIT licence. Deployment hosting (Vercel, Netlify, Cloudflare, AWS) may incur costs depending on usage.

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
Astro: Can I use React components in Astro?

Yes. Astro supports React, Vue, Svelte, Preact, and Solid components. Components are server-rendered by default; add client: directives to enable client-side interactivity only where needed.

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
Astro: How does Astro compare to Next.js for performance?

Astro achieves superior Core Web Vitals scores (66% pass rate vs Next.js 30%) by shipping minimal JavaScript. Next.js defaults to client-side rendering; Astro renders on the server by default.

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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