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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Craft Docs

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit BlacksmithFull review
Craft Docs logo

Craft Docs

Project Management

Beautiful document and note-taking app for Apple devices

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit Craft DocsFull review

The short version

  • Blacksmith is a GitHub Actions runner service.
  • Craft Docs is free; Blacksmith starts at $0.004/mo.
  • Only Blacksmith lists bare metal runners; only Craft Docs lists rich document editing.
  • Where Blacksmith falls short: per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs.
  • Where Craft Docs falls short: primarily designed for Apple ecosystem; limited support for Windows or Android.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 30 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Craft Docs actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Craft Docs differ
AttributeBlacksmithCraft Docs
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSiOS, macOS, Web
CategoryDeveloper ToolsProject Management

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

Not yet recorded: founded 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 Blacksmith

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

Only in Craft Docs

  • Rich document editing
  • Beautiful templates
  • Collaboration in real-time
  • Comments and discussions
  • iCloud sync
  • Powerful search
  • Dark and light themes
  • File attachments

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 Craft Docs
  • Accelerating CI build times for organizations with heavy CI loadnot Craft Docs
  • Reducing cloud spend on GitHub Actions by 60% or morenot Craft Docs
  • Supporting ARM architecture builds without GitHub runnersnot Craft Docs

Craft Docs

  • Productivitynot Blacksmith
  • Collaborationnot Blacksmith
  • Task managementnot Blacksmith
  • Organizationnot 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

Craft Docs

  • Primarily designed for Apple ecosystem; limited support for Windows or Android
  • Smaller ecosystem and community compared to Notion or Obsidian
  • Collaboration features less mature than dedicated team document platforms
  • Requires learning Craft-specific formatting and structure

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

Craft Docs

Free

No published plan breakdown. See the Craft Docs 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 Craft Docs if

  • You need rich document editing.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on iOS, macOS, Web.
  • You also want beautiful templates.
Craft Docs review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Craft Docs better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Craft Docs at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Craft Docs?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Craft Docs at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Craft Docs run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Craft Docs runs on iOS, macOS, Web.
Can I use Blacksmith for free?
Both have a free tier, so you can try either at no cost before committing.
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 Craft Docs is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Craft Docs cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Craft Docs covers Rich document editing, Beautiful templates, Collaboration in real-time, Comments and discussions.

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
Craft Docs: What platforms does Craft Docs support?

Craft Docs is available on iOS, iPad, and Mac, with deep integration into Apple's ecosystem. A web version is also available.

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
Craft Docs: Can you collaborate on documents in Craft Docs?

Yes. Craft Docs supports real-time collaboration, allowing multiple users to edit documents simultaneously.

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
Craft Docs: Does Craft Docs have AI features?

Yes. Craft Docs includes AI-powered writing assistance and editing features.

Source
Craft Docs: Can you use Craft Docs offline?

Yes. Craft Docs allows offline editing with synchronization when connectivity is restored.

Source
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