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Developer Tools · head to head

Blacksmith vs Cube

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit BlacksmithFull review
Cube logo

Cube

Business Intelligence

AI-native analytics platform with semantic layer and governed access

From
Free
Free plan
Yes
Visit CubeFull review

The short version

  • Blacksmith is a GitHub Actions runner service.
  • Free plans on both; paid from $0.004/mo and $40/mo.
  • Only Blacksmith lists bare metal runners; only Cube lists analytics Chat.
  • Where Blacksmith falls short: per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs.
  • Where Cube falls short: per-developer licensing can be expensive for large analytics teams.
  • Prices and features on this page were last checked on 29 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Cube actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Cube differ
AttributeBlacksmithCube
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSWeb, Self-hosted
CategoryDeveloper ToolsBusiness Intelligence

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

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 Blacksmith

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

Only in Cube

  • Analytics Chat
  • Workbooks
  • Dashboards
  • Embedded Analytics
  • AI Integrations
  • Core Data APIs
  • Caching and pre-aggregations

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

Cube

  • Building governed semantic data models for analyticsnot Blacksmith
  • Embedding analytics into customer-facing productsnot Blacksmith
  • Enabling natural language data queries for teamsnot Blacksmith
  • Creating conversational dashboards with AI assistancenot 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

Cube

  • Per-developer licensing can be expensive for large analytics teams
  • Additional cost for Explorer and Viewer roles beyond developers
  • Semantic layer approach requires upfront modeling investment
  • Smaller connector ecosystem than dedicated BI platforms
  • May be overengineered for simple reporting needs

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

Cube

Free
  • FreeFree
    • For hobbyists and personal projects
    • Basic data source connection
    • Semantic modeling
  • Starter$40
    • Extended agent limits
    • Premium LLMs
    • Unlimited workbooks
  • Premium$80
    • All Starter features
    • Embedded dashboards
    • Embedded analytics chat
  • EnterpriseOn request
    • 99.990% uptime SLA
    • Dedicated single-tenant installation
    • Bring Your Own Cloud

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 Cube if

  • You need analytics chat.
  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on Web, Self-hosted.
  • You also want workbooks.
Cube review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Cube better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Cube at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Cube?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Cube at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Cube run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Cube runs on Web, Self-hosted.
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 Cube is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Cube cannot?
Blacksmith covers Bare metal runners, Multiple OS support, ARM support, Docker layer caching. Cube covers Analytics Chat, Workbooks, Dashboards, Embedded Analytics.

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
Cube: What is the cost per developer on Cube?

Starter plan costs $40/developer/month. Premium adds embedded analytics at $80/developer/month. Explorer and Viewer roles cost $40 and $20/month respectively.

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
Cube: What uptime SLAs does Cube offer?

Premium plan offers 99.950% uptime SLA. Enterprise plan provides 99.990% uptime SLA with dedicated support.

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
Cube: Can I use Cube for free?

Yes, the Free plan includes basic data source connection, semantic modeling, workbooks, and dashboards for hobbyists and personal projects.

Source
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