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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Check Point Software

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Full reviewWebsite
Check Point Software logo

Check Point Software

Cybersecurity

AI Transforms the Network. We Transform the Firewall.

From
On request
Free plan
No
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Only Blacksmith has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
  • Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; Check Point Software no pricing published; directed to contact sales or find a partner
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Check Point Software actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Check Point Software differ
AttributeBlacksmithCheck Point Software
Starting priceFreeOn request
Pricing modelUnknownquote
Free tierYesNo
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb
CategoryDeveloper ToolsCybersecurity

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 Blacksmith

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

Only in Check Point Software

Nothing recorded that Blacksmith does not also cover.

What people use each for

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

Blacksmith

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

Check Point Software

  • Protecting hybrid cloud from ransomwarenot Blacksmith
  • Implementing zero trust on endpointsnot Blacksmith
  • Securing AI deployments from threatsnot Blacksmith
  • Detecting advanced threats across networksnot Blacksmith

Where each one falls short

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

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

Check Point Software

  • No pricing published; directed to contact sales or find a partner
  • Cybersecurity enterprise software typically sold on quote-only basis
  • No transparent pricing for any product suite

Pricing, plan by plan

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

Check Point Software

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Check Point Software review.

Which should you pick?

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

Choose Check Point Software if

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

Check Point Software review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Check Point Software better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Check Point Software at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Check Point Software?
Blacksmith has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Blacksmith and On request for Check Point Software.
Does Blacksmith or Check Point Software run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Check Point Software runs on Web.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Yes. Blacksmith has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Check Point Software starts at On request.
What is Blacksmith best used for?
Blacksmith is most often used for replacing github actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructure, accelerating ci build times for organizations with heavy ci load, reducing cloud spend on github actions by 60% or more, supporting arm architecture builds without github runners. Of those, replacing github actions runners with faster, cheaper infrastructure and accelerating ci build times for organizations with heavy ci load are not what Check Point Software is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Check Point Software cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

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
Check Point Software: How much does Check Point Software cost?

Check Point Software does not publish pricing. The vendor directs customers to contact sales or find a partner. Pricing is quote-based and customized per deployment.

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
Check Point Software: Does Check Point Software offer a free trial or demo?

No pricing or free tier information is published on the Check Point website. Contact their sales team or find an authorized partner to request a demo.

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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