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Blacksmith vs Cypress

Blacksmith logo

Blacksmith

Developer Tools

2x faster GitHub Actions with 60% cost savings

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Cypress logo

Cypress

Testing

JavaScript end-to-end testing framework with browser-based runner and cloud service

From
Free
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Blacksmith per-minute pricing model requires estimating usage to predict costs; Cypress limited to web applications; mobile and desktop app testing not supported

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Blacksmith and Cypress actually diverge.

Attributes where Blacksmith and Cypress differ
AttributeBlacksmithCypress
Pricing modelUnknownfreemium
PlatformsGitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOSmacOS, Windows, Linux
CategoryDeveloper ToolsTesting

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 Blacksmith

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

Only in Cypress

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

Cypress

  • End-to-end testing for modern JavaScript web applicationsnot Blacksmith
  • Continuous integration pipelines with parallelised test executionnot Blacksmith
  • Visual regression testing and accessibility verificationnot Blacksmith
  • Flaky test detection and eliminationnot Blacksmith
  • Team collaboration on test maintenance and debuggingnot 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

Cypress

  • Limited to web applications; mobile and desktop app testing not supported
  • Free tier capped at 500 test results/month; insufficient for most development teams
  • Paid features (flake detection, analytics) not included in free tier
  • JavaScript/TypeScript focused; less suitable for polyglot organisations

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

Cypress

Free
  • Starter (Free)Free
    • 500 test results/month
    • 100 prompt executions/month
    • Parallelisation
  • Team$67/month
    • 120k test results/year
    • 9k prompt executions/year
    • Flake detection
  • Business$267/month
    • 120k test results/year
    • 24k prompt executions/year
    • Spec prioritisation
  • Enterprise$undefined/custom
    • 1.8M test results/year
    • 60k prompt executions/year
    • Unlimited users

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 Cypress if

  • You want to start without paying.
  • You work on macOS, Windows, Linux.
Cypress review

Questions people ask

Is Blacksmith or Cypress better?
Neither clearly leads. Blacksmith starts at Free and Cypress at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Blacksmith or Cypress?
Blacksmith starts at Free and Cypress at Free.
Does Blacksmith or Cypress run on more platforms?
Blacksmith runs on GitHub Actions, Linux, Windows, macOS. Cypress runs on macOS, Windows, Linux.
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 Cypress is typically brought in for.
What can Blacksmith do that Cypress 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
Cypress: Is Cypress free?

Yes, Cypress offers a free Starter plan with 500 test results per month, 100 prompt executions monthly, 50 users, and 30-day data retention. No credit card is required.

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
Cypress: How much does Cypress Team cost?

Cypress Team costs $67 per month when billed monthly or $799 per year for annual billing (11% savings). It includes 120,000 annual test results, 9,000 yearly prompt executions, 50 users, 90-day data retention, flake detection, Jira integration, and email 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
Cypress: What is the difference between Cypress Team and Business?

Cypress Business costs $267 per month (or $3,199 annually) compared to Team's $67/month ($799/year). Business provides twice the prompt executions (24,000 vs. 9,000 yearly), spec prioritization, auto-cancellation, and enterprise GitHub/GitLab support.

Source
Cypress: Can I purchase additional test results on Cypress?

Yes, Cypress allows purchasing bundled on-demand test results. Team costs $6 per 1,000 results, Business costs $5 per 1,000, and Enterprise pricing is custom. Open-source projects qualify for complimentary cloud services.

Source
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